Recent GRAMMY ® nominated female vocalist and dove award forerunner Natalie Grant was honored last night as she accepted her fifth Dove for “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards. The highly anticipated event was held at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA and will air on GMC TV on April 24 at 8PM and 10PM ET.

Grant also received a standing ovation when she gave a powerful performance of the Dove and GRAMMY® nominated song “Alive” featured on The Story, alongside her husband and award-winning producer Bernie Herms.

Hosted by comedian Chonda Pierce and actor David Mann from Tyler Perry’s sitcom Meet the Browns, music fans can tune into the nationally televised broadcast on GMC TV on April 24 from 8PM to 10PM ET.

 

This past weekend women in Oklahoma City and Lafayette gathered to celebrate the debut Dare To Be events. This revolutionary event features Nashville based four-time GMA Female Vocalist of the Year and 2012 GRAMMY Award® nominee Natalie Grant, alongside international speaker and author Charlotte Gambill.
 
Dare To Be, a brand new live women’s event birthed from a realization of a dream from two close friends, kicked off its 2012 spring tour on April 12. The tour continues through April and May (dates below). Both events this past week included a packed house of women from all walks of life aiming higher, stretching further – rediscovering their God- given dreams.
 
Presented by World Vision and sponsored by Regent University, the Dare To Be nationwide events highlight Grant and Gambill’s unique American, English combination. Each evening features Grant’s musical talent and Gambill’s powerful speaking, bringing to life a practical interpretation of God’s word that remains alive for our everyday challenges.
 
In addition to the evening programming, Grant and Gambill are honoring a local extraordinary woman in every market  – someone who is currently daring to be.  Anyone can be nominated by sending a nomination email to info@daretoberevolution.com and sharing why the nominee should be honored.
 
Last weekend, two women were honored at the Dare To Be events. After a life of hardships and loosing her son in a tragic accident, the Oklahoma City honoree Fay Glenn remains a pillar of strength for those around her.  In Lafayette, honoree Allison Prince is a wonderful example of a single mom working diligently to support her family while maintaining two jobs working 24-7 each week and still giving back to others in need. Crossroads Church partnered with Dare To Be and donated $1000 to Allison Prince in honor of her continuous dedication to her family and community.
 
What women are saying about Dare To Be:
 
“There really aren't words to express how amazing DareToBe was. If they're coming near you...GO!” ~ Tweet from @aguilbert
 
“Enjoyed "Dare to Be" in Lafayette, LA Had an AWESOME TIME!” ~ April, Facebook post
 
“Amazing weekend at Dare to Be in Lafayette, La. Thank you, the experience has forever changed me!!” ~ Jamie, Facebook post
 
“DareToBe rocked my world!!! I am forever changed...God encouraged me, challenged me & dared me to be” ~ Tweet from @karina268
 
“Such an inspiration!! Enjoyed tonight's Dare To Be.” ~ Verna, Facebook post
 
“Dare To Be was amazing!! Thank you for the great messages!! Can't wait until tomorrow!! I'm blessed to have had the chance to be a part of something so great!!” ~ Allison, Facebook post
 
“Thank you for a wonderful evening in OKC. You and Charlotte spoke deep, meaningful and powerful words.” ~ Roe, Facebook post
 
“Awesome tonight!!!! So inspiring and moving you guys rocked!!!! Thank you for an awesome show, your story was moving, and touching and so heartfelt. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! Best of luck with the rest of the tour.” ~ Christina, Facebook post
 
Grant and Gambill are also asking women from around the world to join this movement and share how they "Dare to Be" - living for the one thing God has called them to be. Women can participate by writing their "Dare to Be" message on a piece of paper and signing it with their name and location. They are encouraged to take a picture while holding the sign and Tweeting the picture with the hashtag #daretobe or email to team@daretoberevolution.com.
 

Last Sunday on February 26, recent Dove Female Vocalist nominee Natalie Grant and The JOY FM’s morning show host, heard in Tampa and Atlanta, Carmen Brown, along with 132 team members laced up their tennis shoes and ran 13.1 miles for freedom in the 2012 Disney ? Princess Marathon in Orlando, FL. Together, “Team Freedom” raised nearly $60,000 for Grant’s foundation, Abolition International, an organization that is combating domestic and international sex trafficking through accreditation, advocacy, education, and restoration.
 
“Not only does human trafficking happen halfway around the world, it happens in less mileage from my home than I signed up to run,” says The JOY FM’s Carmen Brown. “We mobilized our community to shine some light in this horrible darkness. They did.”
 
Over the past several months, The JOY FM listeners and fans of Grant were encouraged to join “Team Freedom” and support the cause by either participating in the marathon, through financial support, or through prayer.  A year later, all was reaped.  Through the race participants alone, $49,281 was raised, and a generous donor matched $719 which evened the total to $50,000 for the evening.  Furthermore, through online supporters, nearly $10,000 was given making the grand total almost $60,000.
 
“When I thought I couldn't make it to the finish line, I kept reminding myself that this was for a cause so much greater than myself,” says Grant as she reflects on the event. “I am free to run. And I will continue to fight until many others experience that same freedom.”
 
Earlier in the weekend, Grant gave a special intimate performance for her team as they enjoyed a carb-loading pasta dinner hosted by The Joy FM and Abolition International, where a check was presented to Grant and Abolition International for the funds raised prior to the online support.  The next morning the team headed out to Orlando to prepare for and run the half marathon.
 
To find out more information about Abolition International please visit http://abolitioninternational.org. To get connected with The JOY FM, please go to http://www.thejoyfm.com  and to keep up on the latest news about Natalie Grant please visit www.nataliegrant.com <http://www.nataliegrant.com> .
 

Recent GRAMMY ® nominated female vocalist and dove award forerunner Natalie Grant was honored with five nominations for this year’s 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards, including the prestigious “Female Vocalist of the Year,” a title Grant has been honored with four consecutive years in a row. Her husband, Bernie Herms, named “Producer of the Year” in 2009, garnered four nods and is again nominated for the same title.
 
Herms and Grant were also honored for their efforts on The Story, an album that Herms produced and co-wrote and was nominated “Special Event Album of the Year.” “Alive,” featured on the record and performed by Grant was also recognized for “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” and “Song of the Year.” Additionally, Grant was honored with two nods for her hit single “Your Great Name,” for “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” and “Worship Song of the Year.” “Your Great Name” can be heard on her latest chart-topping album, Love Revolution.
 
These honors were unveiled on Wednesday, Feb. 22nd at a press conference held at The Georgian Terrace Hotel in Atlanta, GA, which was streamed live at HearItFirst. Nominees were announced by GRAMMY nominated R&B artist Montell Jordan, known for his iconic hit “This is How We Do It,” BET “Lift Every Voice” host CoCo Brother, Daytime EMMY nominated comedian Chonda Pierce, and World Heavyweight Champion wrestler AJ Styles.
 
Dove Award winners will be revealed during the biggest night in Christian music on April 19, 2012 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA.
 
For more information on the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards and full list of nominees, please visit www.gospelmusic.org <http://www.gospelmusic.org/> .