On November 30, 2011, the nominees for the 2012 GRAMMY Awards (54th annual) were announced during the CBS' The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music's Biggest Night. As usual, the nominations left me scratching my head. The Grammy nominating committee picked some great music, but they left out some real winners in my personal opinion. The eligibility period for the 2012 Grammy Awards was September 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011. Switchfoot's Vice Verses came out on September 27, 2011 - yet it wasn't nominated. Same story with Icon For Hire's Scripted. Christian rock nominations were nowhere to be found. For that matter, Shawn McDonald's Closer didn't make the cut either and while it wasn't rock, it was an excellent project. Speaking of excellent Christian pop music, did the committee not hear Francesca Battistelli's Hundred More Years? Did no one share Third Day's totally rockin' Move?
I understand that they only have so many nomination slots. I realize that it must be hard to be so limited, but come on! They had to know when they restructured the awards that they would cut out a lot of really outstanding music.
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
Music World Gospel
- WINNER - "Jesus" - Le'Andria Johnson - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: The Awakening Of Le'Andria Johnson - "Do Everything" - Steven Curtis Chapman - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: re:Creation - "Alive (Mary Magdalene)" - Natalie Grant - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Music Inspired By The Story - "Your Love" - Brandon Heath - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Leaving Eden - "I Lift My Hands" - Chris Tomlin - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us...
Best Gospel Song
Fo Yo Soul/Gospo Centric
- WINNER - "Hello Fear" - Kirk Franklin, songwriter
Performed by Kirk Franklin - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Hello Fear - "Sitting With Me" - Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Gerald Haddon & Tammi Haddon, songwriters
Performed by Mary Mary - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Something Big - "Spiritual" - Donald Lawrence, songwriter
Performed by Donald Lawrence & Co. Featuring Blanche McAllister-Dykes - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: YRM (Your Righteous Mind) - "Trust Me" - Richard Smallwood, songwriter
Performed by Richard Smallwood & Vision - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Promises - "Window" - Canton Jones, songwriter
Performed by Canton Jones - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Dominionaire
Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
Provident
- WINNER - "Blessings" - Laura Story, songwriter
Performed by Laura Story - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Blessings - "Hold Me" - Jamie Grace Harper, Toby McKeehan & Christopher Stevens, songwriters
Performed by Jamie Grace f/ tobyMac - (Purchase/Download) - "I Lift My Hands" - Louie Giglio, Matt Maher & Chris Tomlin, songwriters
Performed by Chris Tomlin - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us... - "Strong Enough" - Matthew West, songwriter
Performed by Matthew West - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: The Story Of Your Life - "Your Love" - Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, songwriters
Performed by Brandon Heath - (Purchase/Download)
Track from: Leaving Eden
Best Gospel Album
Fo Yo Soul/Gospo Centric
- WINNER - Hello Fear - Kirk Franklin (Compare Prices)
- The Love Album - Kim Burrell (Compare Prices)
- The Journey - Andraé Crouch (Purchase/Download)
- Something Big - Mary Mary (Purchase/Download)
- Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition - Trin-I-Tee 5:7
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
EMI
- WINNER - And If Our God Is For Us... - Chris Tomlin (Compare Prices)
- Ghosts Upon The Earth - Gungor (Compare Prices)
- Leaving Eden - Brandon Heath (Compare Prices)
- The Great Awakening - Leeland (Compare Prices)
- What If We Were Real - Mandisa
- Black & White - Royal Tailor (Compare Prices)
