Joseph Habedank Named Most Nominated Artist
Producer Wayne Haun Scores Most Individual Nominations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (January 17, 2020) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce the nominees for the 2020 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. As in years past, the nominees were chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives. Starting on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, the fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in several categories.
"We are excited about bringing our unique awards program in to yet another decade,” said Deon Unthank, President/CEO of AbsolutelyGospel.com. "These awards started in 2002, and we are still going strong with 2020 being our 16th live awards presentation.”
"I think what has sustained this awards program after all these years is our ability to adapt to the ever-changing musical landscape, not just in our niche genre, but also the musical world as a whole,” said Chris Unthank, Editor-In-Chief of AbsolutelyGospel.com.
Like last year, 2020 seemed to be the year of multi-hyphenate performers. Perennial favorite Joseph Habedank landed the most nominations among artists for a second consecutive year. He landed a stellar 11 nominations for his work as both a singer and songwriter. As an artist, Joseph landed key nominations in Song of the Year (for "Shame On Me”), Album of the Year (for Deeper Oceans), Male Vocalist of the Year, Fan Favorite Artist of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year (Artist) (which he's won the last two years). He also earned multiple nominations for his songwriting contributions last year.
Southern Gospel mainstays Legacy Five followed behind with eight nominations, including Song of the Year (for "What Kind of Man”), Album of the Year (for Pure Love), and Male Group of the Year. Group tenor and songwriter Lee Black landed in the Male Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year (Artist) category as well.
Three artists followed closely behind as Triumphant Quartet, The Perrys, and Jeff & Sheri Easter scored an impressive seven nominations apiece for their work in 2019.
Next in line was Karen Peck & New River, 11th Hour, Tribute Quartet, and HighRoad with six nominations. Wilburn & Wilburn, Adam Crabb, Jim & Melissa Brady, and The Nelons landed a solid five nods, while The Whisnants, Kingdom Heirs, and Melissa Brady (as a solo artist) each scored four mentions.
The Bowling Family, Gaither Vocal Band, Sisters, The Sound, Michael Booth, The Kingsmen, Zane & Donna King, and Michael Combs all landed three nods. Several artists earned double nominations, including the Gold City, The Talleys, Gordon Mote, Carolina Quartet, Booth Brothers, The Freemans, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and Johnny Minick.
Another perennial favorite, producer/songwriter Wayne Haun was the most nominated individual this year, taking a strong 14 nominations for his work this past year, including five separate Album of the Year mentions for his production work this year (for Habedank’s Deeper Oceans, The Perrys’ Keep Movin' On, Tribute Quartet's Living the Stories, Legacy Five's Pure Love, and Triumphant Quartet’s Yes).
Songwriter Jason Cox followed behind with 10 mentions for his songwriting work in 2019, including two Song of the Year mentions.
Kenna West and Lee Black both earned an impressive seven nods as well. Sheri Easter and Jeff Collins received six nominations, while Trey Ivey and Ben Isaacs both landed five nominations. Sue C. Smith, Marcia Henry, Scott Godsey, Donna King, and Tony Wood all landed four individual nominations. Two people earned three nominations which were Michael Farren and Amber Eppinette Saunders.
More information on the 2020 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration will be forthcoming, including performers, sponsors, and ticket information. The date for this year’s Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration is Tuesday, April 28, 2020 and will be held in a new location - Family Worship Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The nominees for the 2020 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards are listed below:
SONG OF THE YEAR
"All My Hope" - Gold City (E.Cash, D.Crowder)
"Death Was Arrested" - The Talleys (R.H.Baltzglier, A.Kersh, B.Koker, P.T.Smith)
"Even Me" - Triumphant Quartet (J.Bumgardner, J.Cox, K.West)
"It Carried Him" - The Perrys (W.Haun, K.Talley)
"Shame On Me" - Joseph Habedank (M.Boggs, J.Cox, J.Habedank)
"The Ground Is Level" - The Whisnants (M.Lanier)
"The People That God Gives You" - Bowling Family (L.Black, A.Wilburn)
"The River" - Karen Peck & New River (D.Clark, M.Farren, K.P.Gooch)
"This Is the Place" - Gaither Vocal Band (G.Gaither, W.J.Gaither, G.Mote)
"What Kind of Man" - Legacy Five (J.Cox. S.C.Smith, K.West)
"You Are Loved" - Jeff & Sheri Easter (S.Easter, M.Henry)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A Lot With a Little - 11th Hour (J.Collins)
Deeper Oceans - Joseph Habedank (W.Haun)
Everything In Between - Kingdom Heirs (J.Collins, A.Rice)
Here's a Reminder - Sisters (J.Medkiff, Sisters)
Keep Movin' Along - The Perrys (W.Haun)
Living the Stories - Tribute (W.Haun)
Pure Love - Legacy Five (W.Haun, T.Ivey)
Raised On Red - Wilburn & Wilburn (S.Godsey, B.Isaacs)
Yes - Triumphant Quartet (W.Haun)
You Are Loved - Jeff & Sheri Easter (G.Cole, S.Easter)
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
3 Heath Brothers
Carolina Quartet
Ferguson Family
PromisedLand Quartet
Singing Contractors
The Sound
MALE VOCALIST
Lee Black (Legacy Five)
Michael Booth (Booth Brothers)
Adam Crabb (Gaither Vocal Band)
Joseph Habedank
Scott Inman (Triumphant Quartet)
Jonathan Wilburn (Wilburn & Wilburn)
FEMALE VOCALIST
Melissa Brady (Jim & Melissa Brady)
Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Amber Eppinette Saunders (11th Hour)
Libbi Stuffle (The Perrys)
Lauren Talley (The Talleys)
MALE GROUP
Gaither Vocal Band
Kingdom Heirs
Kingsmen
Legacy Five
Tribute
Triumphant Quartet
Wilburn & Wilburn
FEMALE GROUP
Bowling Sisters
HighRoad
Lori Jonathan Trio
Perry Sisters
Sisters
Sweetwater Revival
MIXED GROUP
11th Hour
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Karen Peck & New River
The McKameys
The Nelons
The Perrys
The Whisnants
SONGWRITER (ARTIST)
Lee Black (Legacy Five)
Melissa Brady (Jim & Melissa Brady)
Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Joseph Habedank
Donna King (Zane & Donna King)
Amber Eppinette Saunders (11th Hour)
SONGWRITER (PROFESSIONAL)
Jeff Bumgardner
Jason Cox
Joel Lindsey
Rebecca J. Peck
Sue C. Smith
Kenna West
Dianne Wilkinson
Tony Wood
PRODUCER
Jim Brady (Jim & Melissa Brady)
Jason Clark (The Nelons)
Jeff Collins
Scott Godsey
Wayne Haun
Ben Isaacs (The Isaacs)
Trey Ivey
Donna King (Zane & Donna King)
MUSICIAN
Autumn Nelon Clark (The Nelons)
Caylon Freeman (The Freemans)
Matthew Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Trey Ivey
Gordon Mote
Josh Singletary (Tribute Quartet)
Jeff Stice
TRADITIONAL SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"Come to the Well" - Kingdom Heirs (J.Cox, D.McGlamery, K.West)
"Everybody Come See Jesus" - Tribute Quartet (G.Boe, M.Henry, D.King, S.C.Smith, D.Wilkinson)
"Going There" - Triumphant Quartet (L.Black, S.Inman)
"Keep Me Close" - The Whisnants (M.L.Allen, R.Rambo-McGuire, T.Wilkin)
"Sing In the Valley" - The Perrys (K.Fitzwater, M.Henry, M.Mathis)
"Victory Shout" - Kingsmen (J.Cox, K.West)
"What Kind of Man" - Legacy Five (J.Cox. S.C.Smith, K.West)
TRADITIONAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Everything In Between - Kingdom Heirs (J.Collins, A.Rice)
He Will Be God - The Whisnants (T.Ivey, The Whisnants)
Keep Movin' Along - The Perrys (W.Haun)
Living the Stories - Tribute Quartet (W.Haun)
Pure Love - Legacy Five (W.Haun, T.Ivey)
Victory Shout - Kingsmen (J.Collins)
Yes - Triumphant Quartet (W.Haun)
PROGRESSIVE SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"A Lot With a Little" - 11th Hour (J.Lindsey, A.E.Saunders, N.Woodard)
"All My Hope" - Gold City (E.Cash, D.Crowder)
"Can I Get a Witness" - The Sound (B.Baxter, J.Cox, K.West)
"Love All Day Long" - The Nelons (A.Bowman, D.McGuire, R.Rambo-McGuire)
"Sometimes It's the Radio" - Joseph Habedank (J.Habedank, T.Wood, J.Yeary)
"What Only God Can Do" - Michael Booth (B.Davis, C.Davis, K.Williams)
PROGRESSIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A Lot With a Little - 11th Hour (J.Collins)
Dear Yesterday - Michael Booth (J.Webb)
Deeper Oceans - Joseph Habedank (W.Haun)
Here's a Reminder - Sisters (J.Medkiff, Sisters)
Make It Count - The Sound (S.Godsey)
Shine - Melissa Brady (J.Brady, M.Brady)
COUNTRY/ROOTS SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"33" - Wilburn & Wilburn (L.Black, J.Cox, D.James)
"Nothing At All" - HighRoad (S.Davison, M.Farren, T.Wood)
"Shame On Me" - Joseph Habedank (M.Boggs, J.Cox, J.Habedank)
"The People That God Gives You" - Bowling Family (L.Black, A.Wilburn)
"The River" - Karen Peck & New River (D.Clark, M.Farren, K.P.Gooch)
"There Is a Healer" - Adam Crabb (L.Black, A.Crabb, T.Wood)
"You Are Loved" - Jeff & Sheri Easter (S.Easter, M.Henry)
COUNTRY/ROOTS RECORDING OF THE YEAR
American Morning - Carolina Quartet (M.Sykes)
Beautiful Ever After - Zane & Donna King (D.King, Z.King)
Clean - Adam Crabb (B.Isaacs)
HighRoad - HighRoad (B.Isaacs)
Raised On Red - Wilburn & Wilburn (S.Godsey. B.Isaacs)
You Are Loved - Jeff & Sheri Easter (G.Cole, S.Easter)
SPECIAL EVENT PROJECT
A Jazzy Little Christmas - Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (W.Haun)
Country Roads - Booth Brothers (K.Williams)
Live In Prague, Czech Republic - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Pure Love (Lyric Videos) - Legacy Five
The Joy of Christmas - Johnny Minick (J.Minick)
What Christmas Really Means - The Erwins (W.Haun)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
"Clean" - Adam Crabb
"Heaven's Back Yard" - HighRoad
"Send An Angel By My Way (King Jesus)" - The Freemans
"The Little Things" - Jim & Melissa Brady
"Too Fast" - Misty Freeman
"Wings of Prayer" - Michael Combs
COUNTRY GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Michael Combs
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Chris Golden
HighRoad
Johnny Minick & the Stewart Brothers
Jim Sheldon - The Country Cowboy
FAN FAVORITE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bowling Family
Michael Combs
Joseph Habedank
HighRoad
Jim & Melissa Brady
Karen Peck & New River
The Nelons
The Perrys
Tribute Quartet
Triumphant Quartet