Reba McEntire and MercyMe triumph at Dove Awards

Reba Mcentire and Mercyme were among the winners at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards on Tuesday (17Oct16).
Country music star Reba, 62, won her first-ever Dove Award, as her record Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope was named bluegrass/country/roots album of the year at the Nashville, Tennessee ceremony.
Christian band MercyMe took home three of the top prizes as the group were named artist of the year, while their record Lifer won them the pop/contemporary album of the year prize. The band’s frontman, Bart Millard, won an award for songwriting.
According to The Associated Press, when accepting the songwriting prize Bart said Christian music had “saved his life”.
Another big winner was CeCe Winans, who won gospel artist of the year and contemporary gospel/urban album of the year for her latest collection Let Them Fall in Love.
Bernie Herms, Gaither Vocal Band, NEEDTOBREATHE, and songwriters Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood also took home more than one award.
Reba, CeCe, singer Danny Gokey and Hillsong Worship, the group linked to the church Justin Bieber attends, all performed at the event.