News & Scoops

SGN Scoops Diamond Awards Announce Top 5 Nominees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Allen Smith of SGN Scoops Digital, home of the Diamond Awards, is proud to announce that the Top 5 Diamond Awards ballots are now available for the 2009 awards program through the Diamond Awards home on the web.

The online ballot is designed for fans to vote for their favorite artists and individuals for each award. Fans and industry supporters are encouraged to visit the Diamond Awards website to place their votes. The Diamond Awards home on the web is located at http://diamondawardsonline.com.

The Top 5 in each category were chosen by fans of Southern Gospel based on the first round, Top 10 ballot.

Allen Smith said, “Once again, the fans did their part and gave us an outstanding number of votes for the Top 10 ballots. We are looking forward to even more recording breaking numbers.”

The 2009 SGN Scoops’ Diamond Awards have moved to a new location and date for this year. The awards presentation will take place at the inaugural Branson Gospel Music Convention. The show will take place on Thursday, July 16, 2009 in Branson, Missouri at the Branson Convention Center. The awards program will precede the Thursday evening concerts and will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Additional information concerning the 2009 SGN Scoops Diamond Awards, including hosts, sponsors, and performers, will be available shortly.

For more information on The SGN Scoops Diamond Awards – visit http://www.diamondawardsonline.com .

The Top 5 nominees in each category are listed below:

J.D. SUMNER LIVING LEGEND AWARD: Chris Freeman, Ed O’Neal, Eva Mae LeFevre, Ronnie Hinson, Tim Riley

GROUP OF THE YEAR: Brian Free & Assurance, Gold City, The Hoppers, The Perrys, Triumphant Quartet

TRIO OF THE YEAR: Booth Brothers, Greater Vision, Karen Peck & New River, Mark Trammell Trio, Talley Trio

DUET OF THE YEAR: Aaron & Amanda Crabb, Amazed, Hearts of Faith, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Young Harmony

SOLOIST OF THE YEAR: Ivan Parker, Janet Paschal, Jason Crabb, Kirk Talley, Mark Bishop

SUNRISE AWARD: Faithful Touch, Paul’s Journey, The Ladd Family, The Peaceful Hearts, Wendy Word + forgiven

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Brian Free (Brian Free & Assurance), Dean Hopper (The Hoppers), Michael Booth (Booth Brothers), Mike Bowling (Mike & Kelly Bowling), Ricky Atkinson (Ricky Atkinson & Compassion)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River), Kim Hopper (The Hoppers), Lauren Talley (Talley Trio), Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter), Sonya Isaacs (The Isaacs)

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Gerald Crabb, Jim Brady, Kirk Talley, Ricky Atkinson, Rodney Griffin

ANTHONY BURGER INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: Gordon Mote, Jeff Stice, Kim Collingsworth, Ricky Free, Sonya Isaacs

CHRISTIAN COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR: Aaron Wilburn, Dennis Swanburg, Mark Bishop, Mark Lowry, Tony Greene

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Austins Bridge, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Isaacs, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Primitive Quartet

FAVORITE ARTIST WEBSITE: BrianFreeandAssurance.com, GoldCityqt.com, Kirk-Talley.com, MarkLowry.com, TheHoppers.com

FAVORITE INDUSTRY WEBSITE: Natqc.com, SGMRadio.com, SingingNews.com, SoGospelNews.com, SouthernGospelOutreach.com

VIDEO/DVD OF THE YEAR: Dream On (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound), Live At the White House (Legacy Five), Susie’s Eyes (Hearts of Faith), The Best of Gordon Mote (Gordon Mote), Live at Freedom Hall (The Perrys)

SONG OF THE YEAR: “God Will Pass By” (Greater Vision), “The Broken Ones” (Talley Trio), “The Potter Knows the Clay” (The Perrys), “When God Ran” (Kingsmen), “Whispered Prayers” (Karen Peck & New River)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Ephesians One (Karen Peck & New River), Not Alone (Greater Vision), Nothin’ But Good (Mike LeFevre Quartet), Room For More (Booth Brothers), When God Ran (Kingsmen)

About the Diamond Awards
The Diamond Awards were transferred over to the SGN Scoops Digital several years ago after the original home for the awards, the Gospel Voice Magazine, folded. The Diamond Awards are a fan-based award that allows the fans to choose the nominees as well as the winners in each year. The awards show is based during the Branson Gospel Music Convention every July.