Dove Awards to Feature Big Names, Fresh Faces

The 48th annual GMA Dove Awards are stacking up some big names with big talent. 

The 39 categories, ranging from Gospel, to R&B, and even film, feature some of the best work Christian artists have to offer.

Nominees were announced earlier this week.

Nominations include industry staples, like Casting Crowns for Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year, Christ Tomlin for Songrwiter of the Year, and Hillsong United for Artist of the Year. 

But among the giants in Christian entertainment, newer artists emerge in array of categories.

Rap Artist NF will get a shot at the Rap/Hip-hop Recorded Song of the Year, and the newest adaptation of "Ben-Hur" directed by Timur Bekmambetov will be given a chance to take Inspirational Film of the Year. 

Click here to view other all the categories and artists.

Singer/songwriter David Crowder alone has nominations in the Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, Recorded Music Packaging of the Year, Short Form Video of the Year, and Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year categories. 

"It's amazing to get to do what we do - write music about grace, love and freedom that has been lavished upon us, and then try and get that to places where it can connect with other folks' hearts," said Crowder in a statement. "The GMA community has that heartbeat and I'm humbled to be recognized with these nominations."

Two of the nominations are for his song, "Run Devil Run." 

This isn't the first time Crowder has gotten recognition for his work. He's been nominated three times for Grammy awards in the past. 

Crowder made an entry on the Billboard Top 10 in 2014 after the release of "Neon Steeple," his first solo album. 

Earlier this month, Billboard tweeted about Crowder's brilliant performance of his song "Back to the Garden." 

Crowder pins the perfect tone in "Back To The Garden" video (exclusive) https://t.co/9f11h2nN7d pic.twitter.com/OfjrxtVlpG

— billboard (@billboard) August 1, 2017

Crowder later tweeted, "to each one of you that has watched Back To the Garden music video...thank you and I appreciate you."

to each one of you that has watched Back To the Garden music video...thank you and I appreciate  you.

— David Crowder (@crowdermusic) August 11, 2017

Former Dove Award recipients include Michael W. Smith, who won 40 awards, and Toby Mac, who won 38 and Steven Curtis Chapman, who currently holds the record for most awards with a whopping 58. 

This year's awards are set to take place October 17 at Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.