Backstreet Boy to Host 2007 GMA Awards

|PIC1|The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced recently that the 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards will be presented on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 (8:00-10:00 p.m. CST) at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.

The event will be hosted by Dove-winning artists Natalie Grant, Brian Littrell, and Donnie McClurkin and broadcast in national syndication during the month of May.

Littrell, who is widely-known as a member of the legendary pop group Backstreet Boys for 13 years, won his first Dove Awards last year for his solo "In Christ Alone" earlier this year.

GMA's Dove Awards is Christian and gospel music's biggest night of the year, where top artists from every style of gospel music come together for a national night of music and celebration as the GMA bestows the industry's highest honour - the Dove Award. Nominations for the awards will be announced on February 20, 2007.

"Six months out, everything is already falling into place for a fantastic Dove Awards show in 2007. Natalie, Brian and Donnie make a striking trio of hosts who will be engaging, smart and entertaining and we are excited each accepted our invitation to host the show," said John W. Styll, president of the GMA. "Also, our television syndication plan is well underway, and in terms of broadcast confirmations, we are already well ahead of last year. There's a building enthusiasm for the GMA Dove Awards just as the national spotlight on Christian and gospel music's positive impact on our country and culture continues to radiate."

ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox broadcast affiliates in Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington DC, Atlanta, Cleveland, New Orleans and Nashville are among the more than 50 television stations that have already cleared the GMA Dove Awards for the 2007 broadcast.

The Dove Awards will be produced by Steve Gilreath Television. Handling first-run syndication through broadcast network affiliates and independent stations nationwide is Central City Productions of Chicago, Illinois, which also produces and syndicates the Stellar Awards. Following the broadcast syndication, The Gospel Music Channel will have the cable premiere of the GMA Dove Awards.

The broadcast taping of the GMA Dove Awards will begin at 8 p.m. and feature artist performances and the presentation of a number of key Dove Awards. The opening ceremony begins at 5:30pm and will include the announcement of most of the 44 categories of Dove Awards. Tickets to the show include seating at both events.