{EHA-Nashville, TN} The 8th Annual USAGEM Awards Nominees were announced August 15,
2011 at the association’s “Birthday Bash” Celebration at the Musicians Union on Music Row, Nashville. During the event, President, Mike Gardner, welcomed new members with fellowship and food. Lynn Fox of the Fox Brothers, and Sandi Shupe of Sandi Kay & New Hickory assisted in co-hosting the event with artists performing to a packed crowd. Winners will be announced at the USAGEM Awards Show & Convention to take place at the Texas Troubadour Theater in Nashville, TN, November 18 & 19.
Top nominees are as follows:
Vocal Group of the Year: For Heaven’s Sake, Fox Brothers, Gardners, Joe Arview & Thunder, Leipers Fork Bluegrass, Sonshiners Quartet
Female Vocalist of the Year: Regina Gardner, Charlene Harrison, Ann Hartmann, Bev McCann, Sandi Kay Shupe
Male Vocalist of the Year: Larrice Byrd, T. Jae Christian, Dewitt Johnson, Rene Jones, Tank Tackett, Chris Unthank
Duo of the Year: Hemphills, Lewis & Lewis, Pearly Gates, David & Carrie Smith, Southern Faith, Glenn & Dottie Tubb
Musician of the Year: Shelton Bissell, Jim Frable, Dewitt Johnson, John Reese, Jay Shupe
Song of the Year: “Heartbroken, Forsaken, and Alone”-Glen Tubb
“Heaven’s Streets of Gold”-Pearly Gates
“Sign Me Up”-Gardners
“Wayfaring Stranger” Joe Arview & Thunder
“When God Dips His Pen”-Tank Tackett
Acoustic Singer/Songwriter Award: Ann Hartmann, Daniel Johnson, Glenn Tubb, Tammy Vice, Jimmy Jack Whitaker
Southern Gospel Crown Jewel Award: For Heaven’s Sake, Gardners, Hemphills, Kent Smith Family, Sonshiners Quartet
Black Gospel Crown Jewel Award: Larrice Byrd, Clarksville Soul Stirrers, Dynamic Dixie Travelers, Charlene Harrison, Dewitt Johnson
Christian Country Crown Jewel Award: Tommy Brandt, Fox Brothers, Joe Arview & Thunder, Southern Faith, Glenn Tubb, Jimmy Jack Whitaker, Joanne Cash-Yates
Contemporary Christian Crown Jewel Award: Danny Jones, Ransom Heart, Roger Revette & UR1, Chele Sterban, Lynn Royce Taylor
Bluegrass Gospel Crown Jewel Award: Leipers Fork Bluegrass, New Jerusalem, Sandi Kay & New Hickory, Toneys, Waymasters
New Artist of the Year: Mark Brown, Emily Carey, Davis Family, David Smith, Paul Sparks, Allison Speer, Sunday Edition
Gospel Entertainer of the Year: Tommy Brandt, Fox Brothers, Mystery Men, Sandi Kay & New Hickory, Sonshiners Quartet, Sunday Edition, Jimmy Jack Whitaker
Comedian of the Year: David L. Cook, Roy Fox, Peggy Inks, Cheryl Jackson
For more info on USAGEM:
www.usagem.org