{"id":699,"date":"2014-10-08T21:44:45","date_gmt":"2014-10-08T21:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/peanutsandpopcorn\/?p=699"},"modified":"2014-10-08T21:44:45","modified_gmt":"2014-10-08T21:44:45","slug":"hillsong-united-skillet-and-gods-not-dead-win-big-at-45th-dove-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/peanutsandpopcorn\/2014\/10\/hillsong-united-skillet-and-gods-not-dead-win-big-at-45th-dove-awards.html","title":{"rendered":"Hillsong UNITED, Skillet and \u2018God\u2019s Not Dead\u2019 Win Big at 45th Dove Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(GMA Dove Awards)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For an award show, 45 years is a pretty big deal. Last night GMA celebrated its 45th\u00a0<\/span>presentation of the Dove Awards. The thing is; getting timely information from GMA (or any source for that matter) is difficult at best. The awards were given out at Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee last night and were hosted by Bart Millard of MercyMe and Lecrae and sounds like a good time was had by all, but the event will not be televised until this Sunday, October 12, 2014 on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network). Photos from the awards are not yet available and information about the TV special is either not listed or is hidden on the TBN website. Be that as it may, below are the main winners this year. If you want to be surprised, stop reading now.<\/p>\n

Hillsong UNITED were the big winners of the night with five awards for their song including Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, Pop\/Contemporary Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year. \u201cThe song \u2018Oceans\u2019 has opened so many new doors and so many great opportunities to share the message of Jesus,\u201d Hillsong United’s Jonathan Douglass said backstage as reported on Billboard.com<\/em><\/a>. \u201cOnly by the grace of God is this song doing what it\u2019s doing. . . People keep telling us the song is doing really well, but the way we gauge it is when we talk to people one on one, either back in Sydney [Australia, the worship band\u2019s home base] or all over the world. People grab me by the shoulders, look me in the eyes and say, \u2018I was going through this and that song is what helped me.\u2019 That\u2019s why we do these albums.\u201d<\/p>\n

Switchfoot won three Doves, including Rock Contemporary Song for \u201cLove Alone is Worth the Fight\u201d and Rock\/Contemporary album and Long Form Video of the Year for \u201cFading West.\u201d The rock group Skillet won Rock Album of the Year for RISE and Rock Song of the Year for \u201cNot Gonna Die.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Have to say it was pretty cool hearing the news about these wins,” remarked lead singer John Cooper in press release statement. “We couldn’t be there since we’re heading to Europe again this week [their third visit in a year], but to have this album recognized in this way is definitely an honor, and we’re really thankful.”<\/p>\n

Again, the Dove Awards took time to award Director Harold Cronk and Pure Flix Entertainment an award for Inspirational Film of the Year, God’s Not Dead<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Below is a list of the bulk of this year\u2019s winners. For the complete list and players responsible, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n