K-LOVE Fan Awards Honors Casting Crowns As Artist of the Year with Evening of Unforgettable Performances at Grand Ole Opry House

Nashville, Tenn. (June 1, 2014) - Winners were announced at Sunday evening’s 2^nd Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards at The Grand Ole Opry, hosted by Dancing With the Stars® finalist Candace Cameron Bure and Award winning artist Matthew West. Broadcast live on the K-LOVE radio network, the fan-voted show “celebrated and promoted artists, athletes, authors and entertainers who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ.”

With Casting Crowns receiving the evening’s biggest honor of Artist of the Year, other winners were announced in the following categories:

Male Artist of the Year: Chris Tomlin

Female Artist of the Year: Mandisa

Group/Duo of the Year: Newsboys

Song of the Year: Mandisa, “Overcomer” 

Worship Song of the Year: Hillsong United, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”

Best Live Show: TobyMac

First Christian Artist to Appear on 7UP Can: Jamie Grace

Sports Impact:  Carolina Panthers Linebacker Thomas Davis
Movie Impact:  God’s Not Dead
Book Impact:  Max Lucado, You’ll Get Through This

This year’s K-LOVE Fan Awards partnered with World Hope to aid in the revival of the people of Detroit, MI. With every half a million votes cast, World Hope committed to unlock a newly remodeled home for a family in need in Detroit. With over 2 million votes tallied, four homes will be provided to Detroit area families.

Additionally, last week World Hope released the new single, “Hope Can Change Everything” feat. Jeremy Camp, Bart Millard of MercyMe, Matt Maher, Francesca Battistelli, Jamie Grace and Dave Frey of Sidewalk Prophets on iTunes. The song, which also created an unforgettable performance during the show, shot up the iTunes Christian and Gospel Songs Chart, peaking at No. 2. Proceeds of the single will go toward the Revival of Detroit efforts. To find out more, visit revivalofdetroit.com, and to download “Hope Can Change Everything,” click here: http://smarturl.it/worldhope

“Partnering with World Hope this year gave our nominees and the fans who voted an incredible opportunity to help the body of Christ,” remarked David Pierce, K-LOVE Chief Creative Officer. “Seeing the music, media and sports communities join together in this way was moving and celebrates exactly what we desire to do, and that is to impact our culture for Christ.”

With an eclectic group of talent, the evening showcased numerous performances and appearances from the worlds of music, sports, film and books. Highlights included performances by MercyMe, Switchfoot, Chris Tomlin, Tenth Avenue North with Matt Maher, Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, For King & Country, Mandisa, Building 429 with Jamie Grace, Crowder, Francesca Battestelli, Jeremy Camp, Kutless, Matthew West, Colton Dixon, Rend Collective, Plumb, Big Daddy Weave with Phil Wickham, Newsboys and Hillsong.  Special appearances were made by Britt Nicole, Sidewalk Prophets, Louie Giglio, Auburn University Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn, Kari Jobe, New York Times Bestselling author Ann Voskamp, K-LOVE NASCAR driver Michael McDowell, Carolina Panthers linebaker Thomas Davis, Charlotte Bobcats Center Cody Zeller, Southeast Christian Church Pastor and author Kyle Idleman, Max Lucado, Casting Crowns, Newsong, Anthem Lights, actor Shane Harper, The Afters, CBS College Basketball Analyst Clark Kellogg, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Scott Stapp.

This year, fans had more chances than ever to see and interact with their favorite Christian music artists at the K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend. Starting Friday night, May 30, the weekend began with a bang at the official Weekend Kickoff Concert, featuring performances by Tenth Avenue North, Switchfoot, NEEDTOBREATHE, for KING & COUNTRY and Rend Collective.

All weekend, fans participated in the first ever K-LOVE Fan Zone, which featured a variety of fan-focused events including tours of Jeremy Camp’s tour bus, celebrity basketball games, autograph sessions and more. Saturday night welcomed the new Songwriters Spotlight, hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman and Matthew West. On Sunday, Michael W. Smith started the day off with a special Worship Service at the Opryland Resort.

“Once again, the K-LOVE Fan Awards turned out to be far more than ‘awards,’ ” commented Mike Novak, K-LOVE President and CEO.  “We heard stories of God using music, movies, the printed word and the world of sports to touch His people and change lives forever.  Its an honor and very humbling to be one of the ways He reaches His people.”

The 3^rd Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards is slated for June 1, 2015. For more information, please visit KLOVEFanAwards.com.

2nd Annual KLOVE Fan Awards At The Grand Ole Opry House – Arrivals

(Getty Images/Rick Diamond and Terry Wyatt)

2nd Annual KLOVE Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House – Show

(Getty Images/Rick Diamond)

K-LOVE FAN AWARDS:
The K-LOVE Fan Awards mission is to create a fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athletes, authors and entertainers who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ. Last year’s inaugural event included hosts from the A&E TV’s popular show “Duck Dynasty,” Phil & Kay Robertson and Jase & Missy Robertson. For more information on this year’s exciting lineup and award show hosts, visit www.KLOVEFanAwards.com.

The K-LOVE Fan Awards is a John Sanders LLC/World Hope Event.

ABOUT K-LOVE:
K-LOVE plays positive, encouraging contemporary Christian music with a message designed to draw people toward an authentic relationship with God while living out real life in the real world. The radio network has 446 signals in 47 states with an estimated weekly audience of over 13 million. Now with their first-ever Fan Awards, their mission is to create a unique and fun fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athletes, authors and entertainers, who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ.