The 2008 SGN Music Awards were handed out last night at a special concert celebration in Smyrna, Tennessee to a standing room only crowd. The Isaacs were the big winners of the night - winning four awards. The group took home their first Mixed Group of the Year award as well as Album of the Year and Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year for the critically acclaimed release Big Sky. In addition, Sonya Isaacs was awarded Female Vocalist of the Year.

Tied as the most nominated artist of the night, the Dove Brothers Quartet won three awards. The group won the biggest award of the night, 2008 Pacesetter, as well as Song of the Year and Traditional Southern Song of the Year for the #1 single “I Can Pray.” Though not on hand to accept, the group recorded special video acceptance speeches that were presented during the evening.

“The Dove Brothers have always been committed to creating and releasing high quality music that this genre can be proud of,” mentioned McCray Dove of the Dove Brothers. “These awards a huge honors for us.”

Several artists and individuals were awarded two Ovations last night, including Gold City who won their second Male Group of the Year award (they previously won the award in 2005) and Best Live Performer. Karen Peck & New River took home Progressive Song of the Year (for “Last Night”) and Progressive Album of the Year (for Journey of Joy). Producer Mark Bright was awarded two awards for producing The Isaacs’ Big Sky, and Nathan Markee won two awards for writing the Dove Brothers Quartet’s “I Can Pray”.

The event was hosted by Sondra Burnett, Ian Owens (of The Imperials), and Jeff Pearles (of the King’s Heralds) The evening featured resounding performances from Gold City, The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, HisSong, Gordon Mote, The Freemans, Mike & Kelly Bowling, Three Bridges, The Imperials, Tribute Quartet, Amazed, King’s Heralds, and Sondra Burnett.

“God has absolutely blessed this event,” mentioned Deon Unthank, administrator of SoGospelNews.com. “To have a standing room only crowd for the third year in a row is such a blessing. We appreciate everyone who helped make this a memorable event!”

The SGN Music Awards are an annual award handed out each year by the staff at SoGospelNews.com. Each January, the staff decides upon the nominees in over twenty categories. In February of that year, the readers of the site are then allowed to vote for their favorites. This is the seventh year the awards have been in existence.

The official sponsors for the 2008 SGN Music Awards Celebration were Chase representative Bev McCann and Stones River Title Company, LLC.

2008 SGN Music Award Winners:

SONG OF THE YEAR:
“I Can Pray” - Dove Brothers Quartet (written by Nathan Markee)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: (a tie)
Back to the Roots - The Imperials (produced by Michael Sykes)
Big Sky - The Isaacs (produced by Mark Bright)

PACESETTER:
Dove Brothers Quartet

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Tribute Quartet

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:
Ronnie Booth (Booth Brothers)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:
Sonya Isaacs (The Isaacs)

MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Gold City

FEMALE GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Amazed

MIXED GROUP OF THE YEAR:
The Isaacs

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (Artist):
Gerald Crabb

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (Professional):
Dianne Wilkinson

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (Artist):
Ricky Free (Brian Free & Assurance)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (Professional):
Wayne Haun

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR:
Kevin Ward

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR:
Gordon Mote

BEST LIVE PERFORMER:
Gold City

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN SONG OF THE YEAR:
“I Can Pray” - Dove Brothers Quartet (written by Nathan Markee)

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Everyday People – Greater Vision (produced by Gerald Wolfe)

PROGRESSIVE SOUTHERN SONG OF THE YEAR:
“Last Night” - Karen Peck & New River (written by Marcia Henry)

PROGRESSIVE SOUTHERN ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Journey of Joy - Karen Peck & New River (produced by Bubba Smith)

COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS SONG OF THE YEAR:
“He Chose Me” - The Freemans (written by Rick Hendrix & Angie Hoskins Aldridge)

COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Big Sky - The Isaacs (produced by Mark Bright)

SPECIAL EVENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR:
A Little Christmas - Legacy Five (produced by Scott Fowler, Steve Mauldin, and Tim Parton)

FAN FAVORITE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
The Perrys

More information on the SGN Music Awards and past winners can be found at southerngospelnews.com.