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April 30, 2009

Brandon Heath with Dove awards

Brandon Takes Home 3 Dove Awards!
Posted April 24, 2009

Here's the official press release from Brandon's big night!

BRANDON HEATH TAKES HOME THREE MAJOR WINS AT 40TH ANNUAL
GMA DOVE AWARDS INCLUDING MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
The Christian music industry crowned a new Male Vocalist of the Year last night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, naming singer-songwriter and radio hitmaker Brandon Heath its honored recipient. Heath’s GRAMMY-nominated hit single “Give Me Your Eyes,” off his sophomore album What If We, was also named Song of the Year, for which Heath received a Dove trophy for co-writing the No. 1 song with Jason Ingram. The live broadcast of the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards show aired nationwide on the Gospel Music Channel.

Backstage last night Heath said, “I was surprised to receive Male Vocalist of the Year. With this honor, I hope my voice is not just for singing, but for teaching and confessing and questioning my own generation.”

When asked about the Song of the Year win, he added, “It was an honor to share this award with my friend Jason Ingram. I consider myself blessed to be able to write songs that encourage and challenge others. It feels great to know that you are making a difference in the world.”

“Give Me Your Eyes,” spent 14 weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian AC radio chart, and 27 weeks at No. 1 on iTunes Christian Song Chart, during a 7-month run at the top of the download chart following the song’s release in July 2008. To date, the album’s breakout first single continues to lead digitally selling more than 310,000 total downloads of the track across all digital providers. The second single “Wait and See” is now climbing radio and iTunes charts.

A third win for Heath came in the Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song for performing and writing “Give Me Your Eyes.”

Brandon Heath was also one of the few artists selected to perform live on the telecast. Heath performed his giant, award-winning song “Give Me Your Eyes” with a full production supported by a unique step-number by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Chi Chapter of Fisk University, and a local competitive female step team.

Here are some additional photos from last night:

Brandon with Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year
Steven Curtis Chapman

GMA 2009 New Artist of the Year Tenth Avenue North with GMA 2008
New Artist of the Year Brandon Heath

Heath’s Blockbuster Hit “Give Me Your Eyes” Wins Song of the Year