TobyMac, Matt Redman among winners at Christian music’s Dove Awards

Matt Redman, an English singer-songwriter, and the veteran rapper TobyMac took home multiple trophies Tuesday night at the 44th annual Dove Awards, one of Christian music’s highest accolades.

Redman’s “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)� was named song of the year and Redman was named songwriter of the year, while TobyMac won the prestigious artist of the year prize in a ceremony presented by the Gospel Music Assn. at Nashville’s Allen Arena.

TobyMac, a former member of the Christian hip-hop act DC Talk, also ruled the pop/contemporary album category with his expansive 2012 release “Eye on It,� which won a Grammy Award in February and debuted at No. 1 last year on the Billboard 200.

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“I’ve always come from hip-hop roots albeit I’m a pop artist,� he told Associated Press after the show. “I’ve always thought, man, if you’re talking about hope, if you’re talking about faith, you can’t limit it to one style of music. If you’re talking about God, it’s got to be in all styles of music.�

Other winners at the ceremony, hosted by Kirk Franklin and Amy Grant, included Lecrae, whose “Gravity� was named rap/hip-hop album of the year, and “American Idol� alum Colton Dixon, who took rock/contemporary album honors with “A Messenger.�

Tasha Cobbs won contemporary gospel/urban album of the year for “Grace,� while Tamela Mann won traditional gospel album for “Best Days.� For King & Country, a pair of brothers from Australia, was named best new artist.

The Dove Awards -- which featured performances by Grant, Mann, Lecrae and Needtobreathe, among others -- are to be televised Monday night on the Up television network.

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Twitter: @mikaelwood