Pictured: (Left-Right) Front Row Carlos Whittaker, Sisters' Heather Ruppe Day, Sisters' Kim Ruppe Ward, Francesca Battistelli, Sisters' Valerie Ruppe, Third Day's Mac Powell and Bishop Paul Morton.  Back Row LeCrae, Mandisa, GMA Chairman and President of the board Ed Leonard, David Carr, Tai Anderson and Mark Lee from Third Day.

Editor's Note: Story originally ran in newsletter incorrectly stating that Chris August and Jason Crabb led in total nominations with five each. TobyMac and Chris Tomlin in fact lead all artists with six nominations each. Corrected story is below.

Atlanta – February 16, 2011 – Diversity ruled the day at the 2011 press conference held at Atlanta’s Fox Theater, as TobyMac and Chris Tomlin led the pack with six Dove Award nominations each. 2011 marks the first time in 42 years the historic venue has hosted the event. Chris August and Jason Crabb followed close behind, each getting a nod in five artist categories, with Marvin Sapp, Francesca Battistelli, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and MIKESCHAIR each receiving four. Female Vocalist and Artist of the Year nominee Battistelli, along with Mandisa, Third Day, hip hop frontrunner Lecrae and worship artist Carlos Whittaker, were on hand to announce select categories. Click HERE to see the full list.

Bishop Paul S. Morton, official chaplain for this year’s Dove events, opened the ceremony in prayer for more than 100 industry executives, journalists and artists in attendance. Gospel Music Association (GMA) chairman of the board Ed Leonard followed, thanking the Fox Theater for being such a gracious host.

“Congratulations to all the nominees of the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards,” Leonard said. “Your immense talents and heart for ministry are cause for honor and celebration. The excitement and energy of the Dove Awards at the Fox Theatre is something we are all looking forward to.”

This year’s performance schedule is in the works and will be announced shortly.

“It’s so exciting the Doves are going to be in Atlanta this year,” Battistelli said. “It’s such an honor any time to be nominated, but especially this year, it just means a lot. I’m so grateful to be here.”

Battistelli, who recently relocated to the Atlanta area with her husband and firstborn, added that the Dove Awards would be particularly convenient for her family this year.

Hosted by The View’s Sherri Shepherd, the 42nd Annual Dove Awards will be handed out in forty-plus categories in a star-studded evening of music and celebration on Wednesday, April 20, and will air on gmc Easter Sunday, April 24 at 7 pm et. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com.

“We are humbled and blown away by this kind of recognition,” said Jason Crabb. “Two of the songs nominated are tunes that my band and I brought to life as a team in the studio, and that is exciting for us. We love the variety of what we do, and to be celebrated in this way by the GMA is an honor. I am very thankful for the team that we have that has helped us plant seeds, water them and watch them grow; and this wouldn’t be possible without wonderful fans. We thank them for letting us be who we are.”

Fans will once again be able to cast their votes online in two major categories, “Artist of the Year” and “New Artist of the Year.”  Voting opens Friday, February 18 and will be available at watchgmctv.com/doves.

And the 2011 Dove Award nominees are...

Artist of the Year
Francesca Battistelli
Jason Crabb
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Natalie Grant
Marvin Sapp
TobyMac
Chris Tomlin

New Artist of the Year
Audrey Assad
Chris August
Forever Jones
John Mark McMillan
No Other Name
Kerrie Roberts
Kristian Stanfill

Group of the Year
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Gaither Vocal Band
Sidewalk Prophets
Tenth Avenue North
MercyMe
MIKESCHAIR
NEEDTOBREATHE

Female Vocalist of the Year
Audrey Assad
Francesca Battistelli
Natalie Grant
Britt Nicole
Janet Paschal
Kerrie Roberts
Laura Story

Male Vocalist of the Year
Doug Anderson
Chris August
Jason Crabb
Brandon Heath
Israel Houghton
Marvin Sapp
Chris Tomlin

Song of the Year
“All of Creation,” MercyMe
“Beautiful, Beautiful," Francesca Battistelli
“Get Back Up,” TobyMac
“Hold My Heart,” Tenth Avenue North
“Lead Me,” Sanctus Real
“Let the Waters Rise,” MIKESCHAIR
“Love Came Calling,” Triumphant Quartet
“Our God,” Chris Tomlin
“Sometimes I Cry,” Jason Crabb
“Starry Night," Chris August
“Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along” by Karen Peck & New River

Producer of the Year
Bernie Herms
Ed Cash
Ian Eskelin
Jason Ingram & Rusty Varenkamp
Wayne Haun

For a complete list of nominees, click HERE.