The 35th Annual GMA Music Awards (the show had a name change in 2004-05) were held on April 28, 2004 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2003. The show was held at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Deion Sanders and Yolanda Adams.Deion Sanders and Yolanda Adams to host GMA's 35th Annual Music Awards on FreeLibrary
Nominations were announced months earlier by Steven Curtis Chapman and Toby McKeehan.Nominations announced for 35th annual Dove Awards on ChristianExaminer.com
The event was transmitted live to theaters in 50 cities as part of Regal Entertainment Group "One Night Only" event. The livecast was shown at Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres, and Edwards Theatres.
The 35th GMA Music Awards was scheduled to be broadcast on May 28, on the United Paramount Network (UPN), 30 days after the ceremony. In the time between recording and intended broadcast date, on May 13, awards ceremony host Deion Sanders left The NFL Today, a CBS network program (UPN acquired CBS in 2000), in a contract dispute. Subsequently, UPN cancelled the broadcast of the awards ceremony, in a similar move to CBS' 60 Minutes in February 1989, when a story on Richard Petty intending to air on the show promoting the network's broadcast of the Daytona 500 was pulled after Diane Sawyer, who did the report, defected to ABC. That story was later edited and rewritten with Harry Reasoner the following season, in December 1989.
The ceremony was eventually broadcast in December 2004 on Pax (now Ion Television).
MercyMe won Artist of the Year, plus two other awards, while Jeremy Camp was awarded New Artist of the Year.
Performers
Telecast ceremony The following performed:2004 GMA Music Awards Winners Showcase New Talent on FreshReleases Artist(s)Song(s)TaitT-Bone"Raised In Harlem"Hezekiah WalkerByron Cage"I Need You To Survive""Presence of the Lord"MercyMe"Here with Me"Smokie Norful"I Need You Now"Jeremy Camp"Take My Life"Third Day"Wire"CeCe Winans"Hallelujah Praise"Randy Travis"Three Wooden Crosses"Jars of ClayAshley ClevelandThe Williams Brothers"Amazing Grace"Out of Eden"Love, Peace, and Happiness"Nicole C. Mullen"Freedom"Pillar"Further From Myself"Newsboys"He Reigns"
Presenters
Telecast ceremony The following presented:
Amy Grant and Vince Gill — introduced video message from Bono Bono — introduced Jars of Clay Stephen Baldwin Derrick Mason Bethany Hamilton Kristy Starling R.J. Helton LaShell Griffin Steven Curtis Chapman TobyMac Kirk Franklin Michael W. Smith Mary Mary Michelle Williams Charlie Peacock
Awards General
Artist of the Year MercyMe Michael W. Smith Randy Travis Stacie Orrico Switchfoot
New Artist of the Year Across the Sky Casting Crowns Jeremy Camp Kristy Starling Todd Agnew
Group of the Year Jars of Clay MercyMe Newsboys Switchfoot Third Day
Male Vocalist of the Year Bart Millard David Phelps Jeremy Camp Mark Schultz Steven Curtis Chapman
Female Vocalist of the Year CeCe Winans Joy Williams Nichole Nordeman Rebecca St. James Stacie Orrico
Song of the Year "All About Love" - Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman, songwriter "Everything to Me" - Avalon Chad Cates, Sue Smith, songwriters "Great Light of the World" - Bebo Norman Bebo Norman, songwriter "He Reigns" - Newsboys Peter Furler, Steve Taylor, songwriters "If We Are the Body" - Casting Crowns Mark Hall, songwriter "Lord Have Mercy" - Michael W. Smith Steve Merkel, songwriter "Meant to Live" - Switchfoot Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman, songwriter "Three Wooden Crosses" - Randy Travis Doug Johnson, Kim Williams, songwriter "You Are a Child of Mine" - Mark Schultz Mark Schultz, Chris Eaton, songwriters "Word of God Speak" - MercyMe Pete Kipley, Bart Millard, songwriters
Songwriter of the Year Mark Hall
Producer of the Year Brown Bannister Christopher Harris Marc Byrd Steve Hindalong Steven V. Taylor
Pop
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "(There's Gotta Be) More to Life" - Stacie Orrico "You Are a Child of Mine" - Mark Schultz "I Still Believe" - Jeremy Camp "If We Are the Body" - Casting Crowns "Word of God Speak" - MercyMe
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year All About Love - Steven Curtis Chapman Casting Crowns - Casting Crowns Simple Things - Amy Grant Stacie Orrico - Stacie OrricoStories & Songs - Mark Schultz
Rock
Rock Recorded Song of the Year "All About You" - Nate Sallie"Ammunition" - Switchfoot"Dirty" - Audio Adrenaline "Free" - Plumb "Get This Party Started" - TobyMac
Rock Album of the Year Believe - Big DismalLose This Life - TaitPhenomenon - Thousand Foot Krutch Picking Up the Pieces - Seventh Day Slumber Say It Loud - Sanctus Real
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Gone" - Switchfoot"Meant to Live" - Switchfoot"Sing a Song" - Third Day "This Fragile Breath (The Thunder Song)" - Todd Agnew "You Are So Good to Me" - Third Day
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage - Jars of Clay Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew So Much for Substitutes - DownhereThe Beautiful Letdown - SwitchfootWorldwide - Audio Adrenaline
Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year "Beautiful Day" - Sanctus Real"Breaking Me Down" - Downhere"Go" - Andy Hunter° "I Am Understood" - Relient K "Savior" - Skillet
Modern Rock Album of the Year A Beautiful Glow - Rock n Roll Worship Circus Beautiful Lumps of Coal - Plumb Perfect Change - DakonaTwo Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do - Relient KRap/Hip-Hop
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year"Believe" - GRITS (featuring Jennifer Knapp)"Dear Slim Pt. 2" - KJ-52 "Jubilee" - Souljahz "Love Is In The House" - TobyMac "Raised in Harlem" - T-Bone, Michael Tait and Donnie Lewis
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year Gospelalphamegafunkyboogiediscomusic - T-Bone Holy Culture - The Cross MovementIt's Pronounced Five Two - KJ-52Lil iROCC Williams - Lil iROCC Williams The Exodus - Gospel Gangstaz
Inspirational Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year"Everything To Me" - Avalon"Free (Take My Life)" - Jill Paquette "In the Garden/There Is None Like You (Remix)" - Watermark with Shane & Shane "Jesus Is" - Jaci Velasquez "My Hope" - Darlene Zschech & Hillsong
Inspirational Album of the YearAbove It All - The MartinsBecoming - Christine Dente Forgiveness - Jim Witter Live...This Is Your House - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Take Hold of Christ - Sandi Patty
Gospel
Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Gentle Shepherd" - Gaither Vocal Band "He Forgets" - Legacy Five"The Cross" - The Crabb Family"The Promise" - The Martins"When the Savior Wipes the Tears From Our Eyes" - The Hoskins Family
Southern Gospel Album of the Year A Cappella - Gaither Vocal Band Best of Friends - Joyce Martin McCollough, Karen Peck Gooch, Sheri Easter Great Day - The Hoppers Quartets - Greater VisionThe Walk - The Crabb FamilyTraditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Breakthrough" - The Born Again Church Choir "Holiness Is Right" - The Born Again Church Choir "I Need You to Survive" - Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Choir"Poor Man Lazarus" - Fisk Jubilee Singers"View The City" - Rizen
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Ann McCrary - Ann McCrary Believe - Aaron NevilleCeCe Winans Presents...The Born Again Church Choir - The Born Again Church ChoirRizen - Rizen Shirley Caesar & Friends - Shirley Caesar
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Because of Who You Are" - Vicki Yohe"Hallelujah Praise" - CeCe Winans"I Need More Love" - Robert Randolph & The Family Band "I Need You Now" - Smokie Norful "The Presence of the Lord" - Byron Cage
Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Donnie McClurkin Again - Donnie McClurkin Bringing It All Together - Vickie Winans Byron Cage: Live at New Birth Cathedral - Byron CageI Need You Now: Limited Edition - Smokie NorfulOn the Inside - Alvin Slaughter Speak Life - Joe Pace & The Colorado Mass Choir
Country & Bluegrass
Country Recorded Song of the Year "Closer To Home" - Connie Smith, Sharon White, Barbara Fairchild (SW & F) "Family Man" - Andrew Peterson "Love Never Fails" - Connie Smith, Sharon White, Barbara Fairchild (SW & F) "Pray for the Fish" - Randy Travis "Stand by the River" - Dottie Rambo and Dolly Parton"Three Wooden Crosses" - Randy TravisCountry Album of the Year Colors - The Oak Ridge Boys Love Never Fails - Connie Smith, Sharon White, Barbara Fairchild (SW & F) Refuse To Be Afraid - LordSong The Christmas Guest - Andy Griffith The Other Side - Billy Ray CyrusWorship & Faith - Randy TravisBluegrass Recorded Song of the Year "Love is Free" - George Hamilton IV "She Found Jesus Alive" - The Hoppers"So Many Years, So Many Blessings" - The Lewis Family"Teach Me To Love Like That" - LordSong "Walkin Through The Fire" - Connie Smith, Sharon White, Barbara Fairchild (SW & F)
Bluegrass Album of the YearWondrous Love - Blue HighwayPraise & Worship
Worship Song of the Year "Above All" - Randy Travis Lenny LeBlanc, Paul Baloche, songwriters "God of Wonders" - Third Day Marc Byrd, Steve Hindalong, songwriters "He Reigns" - Newsboys Steve Taylor, Peter Furler, songwriters"Here I Am to Worship" - SalvadorTim Hughes, songwriter"Throne Room" - CeCe Winans CeCe Winans, Andraé Crouch, songwriters
Praise and Worship Album of the Year Adoration: The Worship Album - Newsboys Illuminate - David Crowder BandOfferings II: All I Have to Give - Third DayThrone Room - CeCe Winans Worship Live - Salvador
Urban
Urban Recorded Song of the Year"Dance, Dance, Dance" - Mary Mary"Let Go" - Souljahz "Love, Peace & Happiness" - Out of Eden "Nobody Like Jesus" - Darwin Hobbs "Showpiece" - Out of Eden
Urban Album of the Year Based on a True Story - Sandtown Broken - Darwin Hobbs Free - Virtue Soul Music - Lisa McClendonUnclassified - Robert Randolph & The Family BandOthers
Instrumental Album of the YearAn Acoustic Christmas - Tom HembyI Can Only Imagine - Fletch Wiley Irish Christmas - Craig Duncan Masterpiece - Anthony Burger The Trumpet Sounds - Rod McGaha
Spanish Language Album of the Year Amar a Alguien Como Yo - Patty CabreraCon Poder - SalvadorEl Poder Esta En Ti - René González Exitos de Hoy - Various artists Trono de Gracia - Don Moen
Special Event Album of the Year!Hero The Rock Opera (Forefront Records)City on a Hill: The Gathering (Essential Records) Mansion Over The Hilltop (Daywind Records) Next Door Savior (Creative Trust) Passion: Sacred Revolution (Sixsteps Records)
Children's Music Album of the Year Acorns to Oaks - Celeste Clydesdale Canciones de Gozo Para Ninos - Alejandro Allen and Edgar Arceo Crazy Praize: Songs From the Lighter Side Vol. 2 - Ed Kee and Dave Hunt I Can Only Imagine... Lullabies for a Peaceful Rest - Various artistsShout Praises Kids 3 - Jeff SandstromSongtime Kids: All New Praise Songs - Dennis Dearing and Kevin Stokes
Choral Collection of the Year Extreme! Youth Worship - Steven V. Taylor and Johnathan CrumptonHigh Praises - Phil Barfoot and Lari GossHymns for Praise & Worship - John E. Coates and Travis Cottrell Inhabit The Praise - Geron Davis, Wayne Haun and Steve Carey Simply Worship - Rob Howard, David Guthrie and Dale Bleam
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year!Hero The Rock Opera - Various artistsBethany Newman (art director)City on a Hill: The Gathering - Various artists Robert Beeson, Jordyn Thomas (art directors) Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage - Jars of Clay Tim Parker (art director) Here in America - Various artists Rusty Mitchell, Jill Paquette, Scott Hughes, Stephanie McBrayer (art directors) The Agony Scene - The Agony Scene Don Clark (art director) In Bright Mansions - The Fisk Jubilee Singers Jim McAnally (art director)
Musicals
Musical of the Year A Thrill of Hope Evidence of Grace The Love of JesusThe Wonderful Cross
Youth/Children's Musical of the Year Acorns to Oaks City on a Hill Christmas Noelle, The First The Christmas S.O.C.C.E.R. Team The First Leon
Videos
Short Form Music Video of the Year "(There's Gotta Be) More to Life" - Stacie Orrico "Dear Slim" - KJ-52 "Breathe Slow" - Mars Ill