|PIC1|The president of the GMA and executive producer of the 37th annual GMA Music Awards, John W. Styll, announced the performers for the 37th GMA Music Awards yesterday.

Confirmed performers for the GMA Music Awards include leading Dove Award nominees Chris Tomlin, Israel & New Breed, Kutless and Third Day. Joining them in performances will be BarlowGirl, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Mark Schultz, Martha Munizzi, Natalie Grant, Sawyer Brown and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Jeremy Camp, David Crowder of David Crowder Band, Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall and Third Day’s Mac Powell will join together for a special acoustic performance. Additionally, Kirk Franklin and Rebecca St. James, who were previously announced as hosts for the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards, will perform during the show.

According to Styll, the performances will range stylistically from rousing soulful gospel to infectious guitar-driven pop to powerful quartet harmonizing to rootsy rock n’ roll to inspiring modern worship.

“The heart of gospel music may be in the lyrics, but the soul is in the passion with which these artists perform, and I’m excited for another diverse and entertaining awards show,” said Styll. “No matter what artist or style of music that a person buys their ticket to come see, it is certain that the rock music fanatics will respond to the Southern gospel performance and the urban gospel fans will be moved by the convicting vocals of the singer-songwriter. For me, that’s what makes the Dove Awards a must-see event.”

The gospel music industry’s premier event will be held Wednesday, April 5 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and will be broadcast in national syndication later in the month.

Walgreen’s has signed on as a lead sponsor for the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards television broadcast. The awards will be televised in national syndication starting on Easter weekend April 15 through May 21. Central City Productions of Chicago, Ill., is handling first run syndication through network affiliates and independent stations nationwide, with an expected audience reach of at least 75 percent of U.S. television households. Among the major markets already cleared for broadcast are New York (WABC/ABC), Chicago (WLS/ABC), Atlanta (WATL/WB), Washington DC (WBCD/WB), Philadelphia (WPHL/WB), Detroit (WWJ/CBS) and Nashville (WTVF/CBS).

Founded in 1964, the 4,000-member Gospel Music Association (http://www.gospelmusic.org) is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The GMA represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children’s gospel music. The GMA produces the GMA Music Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.