If you’ve paid attention to announcements about the 42nd Annual Dove Awards this year, you’ve probably noticed a trend.  Here’s what I’m seeing…

I see that the Dove Awards changed its home– for the first time ever– from country Nashville, TN to urban Atlanta, GA.

I see that the show’s only host is Sherri Shepherd, a gifted African-American actress/comedian with a wide Caucasian demographic of followers from her co-hosting duties on The View.

I see an influx of gospel artists on this year’s Dove Awards program– Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Marvin Sapp, Smokie Norful, Deitrick Haddon, Lecrae… they’re all performing in addition to those that we might consider the “typical” CCM artists.

I see an organization, often labeled “exclusive” or “segregated,” seemingly making strides to be inclusive and integrated.  Perfectly executed?  Maybe not. With purest of intentions across the board?  I dunno… but I’d rather the organization start here than not at all.

So, with that– I am of the belief that if there is EVER going to be a year for the African-American gospel community to support the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and the Dove Awards, this is the year to do it.  This is the year to say to the GMA “we see your effort, and we’ll meet you.”

Be clear– to do so will not be a slight to our home-grown Stellar Awards.  That program will still be “ours” (to the extent that we covet ownership of it) and will still feature awards that more thoroughly celebrate the gospel genre that “we” know and love.

But it would be a travesty if, after years of having a HUGE racial elephant in the room, an industry of Christians (who make music to win souls to Christ), can’t lay aside our differences, frustrations and hurts for the sake of some form of reconciliation.

It would be unfortunate, at least, if all “sides” look foreignly at one another, neither trusting the other, waiting for some sort of apology or acknowledgement.  And that’s not to say that there are not  volumes that need to be spoken or shared– it is to say that our Christian duties remain the same… they are not circumstantial or hinged on what others do to/for us.

Next Wednesday, when the GMA Dove Awards tape in Atlanta, GA at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, we will either see the markings of a new era in Christian music, or a more firmly drawn line in the sand.

The picture that is painted, and displayed for the world to see, will depend on each of us– the Body of Christ.

Be there.

Ok, this is getting unreal.

Kirk Franklin, Smokie Norful, Deitrick Haddon, have been added to the roster of performers on the 42nd Annual Dove Awards, which will be taped in Atlanta, GA on April 20th.

These additions come after last week’s announcement that we’d see Lecrae and Committed hitting the stage.

And THAT announcement followed the initial announcement that the show would feature performances from artists like Mary Mary and Marvin Sapp.  And Sherri Shepherd is hosting the thing!

We’ve not seen this many… *ahem*… “familiar”-looking folks on the Dove Awards in quite some time.  I’m loving the diversity. I feel embraced.

Now, you’d BETTER be watchin’, fam– it airs Easter Sunday, April 24th, at 8pm/7pm, exclusively on gmc.

A preliminary list of participants has been released by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) in connection with this year’s 42nd GMA Dove Awards, to be held in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday, April 20th at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

Among the list are Mary Mary and Marvin Sapp, as well as powerhouse vocalist Natalie Grant and singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin.  Other appearances are expected from Francesca Battistelli, Jason Crabb and Chonda Pierce.

The awards show will be hosted by actress/comedian Sherri Shepherd, and will air exclusively on gmc on Easter Sunday, April 24th, at 8pm ET/7pm CST.

Sherri Shepherd– comedian, actress and co-host of the wildly popular talk show The View– has been announced as the host of the 42nd Annual Dove Awards, to be held on Wednesday, April 20th in Atlanta, GA at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

The announcement of Shepherd as host is the most recent in what seems to be several cross-cultural initiatives of the Gospel Music Association.  The organization’s awards ceremony was moved from its Nashville home to Atlanta last year, and it has announced the upcoming involvement of several gospel artists– including Bishop Paul Morton and Lecrae– in the upcoming Dove Awards press conference, to be held on February 16, 2011.

The awards program will air on gmc on Sunday, April 24th.

I like this news…

Make sure you tune in to ABC tomorrow morning to catch Marvin Sapp perform his hit single, “The Best In Me,” on Good Morning America in the 8:30am-9:00am ET segment.

Then, catch Fred Hammond on The View at 11am ET, where he’ll be performing his single “They That Wait.”

Shout-out, also, to Sherri Shepherd (co-host of The View)… Fred’s coming to perform as part of her birthday celebration (last year, she brought The Clark Sisters)… that’s cool!

*clappin’*  Yay!  I love broadened horizons and mainstream access.  Congrats, guys!

Who’s tuning in???

Word has it that a couple of changes have been made to the initial artist line-up for BET’s Celebration Of Gospel, which will be taped this Saturday in Los Angeles.  Torrence Glenn, of BET.com, announced the changes on his blog yesterday.

It appears that Deborah Cox and Tamia are no longer appearing with Kelly Price, as originally stated (the three of them have an upcoming joint R&B album, The Queen Project)… Kelly will be going it alone.  I’m rather thrilled about that.

Sherri Shepherd, Robin Givens and Ernie Hudson are doing spoken word pieces, hopefully in one segment… no offense to them, but I’m just not big on spoken word.  Is that wrong?

Ledisi has been added to the roster of performing artists, and so has Yolanda Adams– both are absolutely spectacular to watch live, so I’m pretty impressed with BET!

Word has it that The Clark Sisters will be appearing on The View this Wednesday, April 22nd, as part of a birthday celebration for Sherri Shepherd.  That’s HOT.

Check your local listings for airtimes: http://abc.go.com/.