Mark Hall has 6 Dove nominations

By JOHN GEROME, AP Entertainment Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mark Hall, vocalist and songwriter for the Christian group Casting Crowns, has a leading six nominations for the 2008 Dove Awards.

Hall received nominations for male vocalist and song of the year for "East to West." His band has four nominations, including artist and group of the year.

"What makes the Doves special is the fact that it's your peers" who vote on them, Hall said. "You need people who do what you do to encourage you and tell you you're doing good. It's something we all can use."

Michael W. Smith and Gospel Music Channel host Elle Duncan announced the nominees Thursday morning in Nashville.

Chris Tomlin followed Hall with five nominations, including artist, male vocalist and song of the year for "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)."

The David Crowder Band and tobyMac also have five nominations.

Hall is especially proud of being nominated for "East to West," a tune he says has touched a lot of people.

"It deals with God's forgiveness," Hall said. "He's not keeping score. You're not at two strikes right now. He loves you even after what you've done or who you've become."

The Gospel Music Association's 39th annual Dove Awards will be broadcast live April 23 on the Gospel Music Channel. Previously, highlights from the show aired after the event.

Smith, a perennial Dove favorite since his first win in 1987, has three nominations including Christmas album of the year for "It's a Wonderful Christmas," a collection of mostly new holiday music he wrote or co-wrote.

"It still is one of my favorite things that I've ever done," Smith said of the album. "It's very seldom that you get to the end of a record and go, `You know, I'm not sure I would change much.' And I still feel that way about this record."

After 25 years in the industry, Smith said he still gets excited about being nominated and would like to win another Dove. But these days he's a little more philosophical about it and says if he doesn't win, he won't be disappointed.

"I think that's the biggest difference in my emotional state," said the 50-year-old singer. "As you get older you start to kind of find out what life is all about, and it's really not about getting awards. If you win, it's great. But it doesn't bother me."

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