Gospel Music Association Honors celebrates music and ministry
The Gospel Music Association recognized influential music figures and outreach efforts at its annual GMA Honors celebration in Nashville.
The Nashville event — held at Lipscomb University — included the induction of five new members to the association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame: Steven Adams, Yolanda Adams, Gold City Quartet, Michael Blanton, and Dan Harrell.
Other gospel stars also were recognized for their outreach and charitable efforts. This year’s honorees were Amy Grant (Helping Hands), Dr. Shirley Caesar (Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries), Natalie Grant (Hope for Justice) and Compassion International.
Grant and Michael W. Smith performed in honor of managers Blanton and Harrell, while Cece Winans, Donnie McClurkin and Jekalyn Carr sang a medley of Yolanda Adams’ favorites. Other performers and presenters included Danny Gokey, Kierra Sheard, Bart Millard, Dr. Bobby Jones, Clarke Beasley, Dick Tunney, Fred Hammond, Jaci Velasquez, Larnelle Harris, Percy Bady, Travis Cottrell and Tye Tribbett.
This year’s “Honors” program had a first: the association inducted “legacy artists” from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s into the hall of fame. Those artists included Dorothy Love Coates & The Gospel Harmonettes, The Roberta Martin Singers and The Harmonizing Four.
The Gospel Music Association has already set a date for next year: “GMA Honors” will return on May 8, 2018.
