10:30 CT: Quotes from Artist of the Year Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns: "You're not a member of the audience of Christ, but the body of Christ, ...you lay what you're passionate about at the feet of Jesus, and God will honor you."
–Mark Hall

10:15 CT: Big applause for NeedtoBreathe

Big applause heard – for the first time tonight – when NeedtoBreathe wins for Group of the Year. No guess as to who the critical favorite is in this room...The Outsiders won two Doves tonight... Group of the Year and Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year for "Lay Em Down."

10 CT: a host "bit"

Host Bart Millard is giving poor Tenley Molzahn (of Bachelor fame, who's in the audience tonight and happens to be an avid Christian music fan) a hard time, pushing her on 'Chris Tomlin who's single'... Chris looks a little red-faced, too...

9:30 CT: Sidewalk Prophets take New Artist of the Year

The guys referred to scripture, Psalm 150, which talks about worshiping with the gift of song.

"You can worship God by being a great teacher, or an astronaut, which is what I wanted to be when I was growing up, but I'm just so thankful God chose me to make music," lead singer Dave Frey said.

TobyMac's "funky Jesus music"...and more

TobyMac brings the 'funky Jesus music' like nobody else dares to do it...

When legendary southern gospel songwriter Mosie Lister was asked "Who are some of the younger acts that are doing a good job?" one of the Booth Brothers whispered, jokingly, "The Booth Brothers." Lister's real answer: "There are all kinds of talented young people, and I'd love to see them all in here."

Next up...The Crabb Family

The Crabb Family singing "Through The Fire"... a signature song, not just for their family, but for the entire southern gospel genre... Somehow this bunch got the vocal chops that should've gone to, oh, about 1,000 families...

9 PM: God just hears a melody...

"Beautiful the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts...better than a hallelujah." Amy Grant's performing. Definitely better than a hallelujah.

"I wish I'd written that song," Amy said. "It's the only song on the record I didn't write.

"What it conveys to me is the most honest-to-God statement there could be...My good friend Ruth had just passed away, we'd just put my parents in assisted living, and I'll tell ya, there was no pom-pom waving in my heart anywhere. That song found me right where I was. I remembered hearing kids say, 'that song found me right where I was...', I hit play again and again...and I was just so glad to sing it."

"I'm having more fun making music...I plan to write music 'til I die. The freedom... you're doing what you love because you love it. From a work standpoint, I've done a little bit of a lot of things. I'd be fine never to act again or be on another TV show, but writing songs... I know the power of music. I had as much fun doing a concert at the place my mom and dad are living, wheelchairs and gray hairs, it was so fabulous. I have five kids (I didn't birth the oldest), and we have a wedding in two and a half weeks... When you get to keep doing something you love... Our appreciation for what we love increases."

8:45: BeBe & CeCe Winans in media room after Doves performance

CeCe Winans: "We love what we do, but we surround ourselves with younger and older producers... to stay connected to all generations... when you sing about love it connects everybody."

"It won't be another 15 years (before the next one)" –BeBe Winans

8:30: Red with Brian "Head" Welch

Rock act Red who took home Rock Album of the Year for Innocence and Instinct, are performing with Korn's former guitarist Brian Welch. They are rockin' it really hard, especially for the Dove Awards! They're doing a medley of "Fight Inside" and "Death of Me." Lead singer's doing his heavy metal screamo thing, but he's also an impressive vocalist when he sings!

8 PM: The show thus far...

Mike from Tenth Avenue North shared his perspective: "Without our wounds, where would our power be? In love's service, only wounded soldiers can serve. The comfort this song ["By Your Side" which won for Song of the Year] has brought us has been way bigger than a song..."

Francesca Battistelli took Female Vocalist of the Year and announced that she and her husband are expecting their first child! She stated that her husband was the greatest gift from God that she'd ever received, and that she just wanted everyone to know that they were working on a "project" together which would be out October 6th, and pointed to her belly.

Donald Lawrence and Jason Crabb just performed "My Tribute" as a tribute to Andrae Crouch. Crabb and Lawrence are both outstanding male vocalists and it probably qualifies as the most unique collaboration of the night.

In the media room, Brandon Heath shared: "I don't think that being Male Vocalist of the Year necessarily means being the best singer, but I think it means knowing what you want to say and being given the ability to share that with people.

Show time! 7 PM CT

Brandon Heath took the Male Vocalist of the Year award. He thanked Bebo Norman for going on tour with him, gmc for producing the Dove Awards, and radio for embracing his music.

Jars of Clay is performing "Two Hands" accompanied by Brandon Heath. They're rockin' their hearts out like always. Cool to hear Brandon sing that song. The music video for the song featuring footage from the band's trip to Africa is playing on the TVs on stage.

Wednesday, April 21, 5:30 PM CT

The pre-Doves show, where many of the awards are handed out, has been going on for about an hour and we've got front-row coverage. Christian artist Jaci Velasquez and her husband Nic Gonzalez of Salvador, co-hosted.

Bebo Norman won his first Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "The Only Hope," and said, "I've often thought of myself as the Susan Lucci of the Dove Awards," when accepting.

Norman also admitted that he has his nails done every two weeks. He gets acrylics put on his right hand for guitar-playing purposes. He stood with Todd Smith and Allan Hall of Selah to present a few awards, and commented that he might be a good stand-in for third Selah member Amy Perry due to the fingernails.

Southern Gospel Album of the Year went to Gaither Vocal Band for Reunited. Country Album of the Year went to Diamond Rio for The Reason.

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year went to Jars of Clay for The Long Fall Back to Earth. Rock Album of the Year went to Red for Innocence and Instinct. Rock Song of the Year went to Switchfoot's "Mess of Me."

"We've got a lot of gratitude to still be doing this. We could be digging a ditch somewhere. We are the hands and feet, everything that God has given to Jesus, he has given to us." –Jars of Clay on winning the pop/contemporary album category.

Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year went to "Movin'," Group 1 Crew. There was a tie for Urban Recorded Song of the Year between "Close to You" (BeBe & CeCe Winans), and "The Power of One" (Israel Houghton).

Tuesday, April 20, 7 PM CT: BMI Honors Top Songwriters
and Publishers

TobyMac, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Stevens and Jason Walker shared the Songwriter of the Year title at the 2010 BMI Christian Music Awards, presented Tuesday night at the performing rights organization's Nashville offices. Click here to read the full blog.

Tuesday, April 20, 4 PM CT: Jeremy Camp Honored at
Industry Reception

(R-L) Adie Camp, Jeremy Camp pictured with manager Matt and his wife

Industry executives and representatives of the media gathered for a reception today honoring Jeremy Camp and the success of his latest record Speaking Louder Than Before. Jeremy received a beautiful presentation of his hard-earned gold record, and had the opportunity to thank all of the people in his life who had encouraged him along the way. Jeremy has a particularly strong bond with the friends and co-workers who supported him through the tragedy of losing his first wife to cancer just months after their wedding.

"You hear people say that you have to take care of business first and keep your friends separate. I disagree. I think you have to build strong friendships first, and then everything else will fall into place," Jeremy said. "You need people around you who know your heart."

Jeremy is up for Male Vocalist of the Year, and his album is up for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at tonight's 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards in Nashville. We'll keep you posted with backstage video blogs and performance highlights tonight! Watch the Dove Awards on gmc Sunday at 8/7 c.