Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

One Day Closer to the 2020 Diamond Award Nominations

The 2020 Diamond Award Nominations open tomorrow, Monday, February 3, on SGNScoops.com. So come join us as we continue to travel down the Road to the Diamond Awards.

Jessica Horton at 2019 Diamond Awards

Today we look at several more categories, all under the heading of “Sunrise,” which can be awarded to any new or developing full-time artist who has seen major growth in their career, as evidenced in airplay or personal appearances during the past year. Nominees in this category must have released their debut single only two years prior to the eligibility date of January 1, 2020. This award is also a once-in-a-lifetime honor and can be given to any artist in the Southern,

Jordan Family Band at Diamond Awards 2018

Country or Bluegrass Christian music genres. These categories include the Sunrise Award (any artists), Sunrise Duet of the Year, Trio of the Year, and Quartet of the Year. Some past winners have included: Jessica Horton, Chronicle, Day 3, Justified Quartet, Jordan Family Band, Old Time Preachers Quartet, the Chandlers, Morgan Easter, 11th Hour, and others.

The Diamond Awards also celebrate Christian Country artists with Christian Country Group of the Year and Song of the Year. The nominees must be full-time Christian Country artists. Some past winners have included:

Sarah Davison of HighRoad at 2016 Diamond Awards

CHRISTIAN COUNTRY GROUP OF THE YEAR: Some winners have been HighRoad, the Freemans, The Isaacs, Jeff and Sheri Easter, the Drummond Family, and Crossfire Gospel Band. And the 2019 winners were Mark209.

CHRISTIAN COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR : The 2016 winner was “One Step Closer”- Arkin Terrell; and the 2019 winner was: “Hide Me Behind The Cross” by Tonja Rose.

Who will you nominate? Stay tuned to this site as we continue the countdown to the 2020 Diamond Award Nominations!

More about Creekside Gospel Music Convention:

Diamond Awards 2019 celebrate Williamsons, Triumphant, Jan Goff, more

The Williamsons at the 2019 Diamond Awards

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. (October 30, 2019) — The 2019 Diamond Awards presentation was held last night, Tues. Oct. 29, 2019, at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Held as part of the Creekside Gospel Music Convention, the awards ceremony honored industry veterans Eddie Crook, Jan Goff, Kenna Turner West, and Gerald Crabb, as well as newcomers Jessica Horton, Chronicle, Day 3, and Justified. “King Jesus” singers, Eagle’s Wings, swept the Bluegrass awards, winning all four categories.

The evening began with Justified singing outdoors at the Creekside Singing on the Square. From there, the festivities moved indoors to the Creekside mainstage. The Williamsons, The Dodrill Family, Mark209, Cami Shrock, The Pine Ridge Boys, and Josh and Ashley Franks, were a few of the artists on the evening schedule. Pastor Josh Franks gave an encouraging and inspiring message.

The 2019 Diamond Awards were produced and directed by Jean Grady of Gospel Music Today and Rob Patz of SGNScoops Magazine and Coastal Media.

Robert York with Jan Buckner Goff 

Here are the winners of the 2019 Diamond Awards:

J.D. SUMNER LIVING LEGEND AWARD – Eddie Crook

MIXED GROUP OF THE YEAR – The Williamsons

QUARTET OF THE YEAR – Triumphant Quartet

TRIO OF THE YEAR – The Hyssongs

DUET OF THE YEAR – Josh and Ashley Franks

FEMALE VOCALIST Of THE YEAR – Sheri Easter

MALE VOCALIST Of THE YEAR – Jason Crabb

SUNRISE AWARD – Jessica Horton

Vonda Armstrong, Ashley and Josh Franks 

SUNRISE DUET OF THE YEAR – Chronicle

SUNRISE TRIO OF THE YEAR – Day 3

SUNRISE QUARTET OF THE YEAR – Justified Qt

SONG OF THE YEAR – “Sun’s Gonna Come Up” – The LeFevre Quartet

SUNRISE SONG OF THE YEAR – “Living For The Call” – The Ferguson Family

CHRISTIAN COUNTRY GROUP OF THE YEAR – Mark209

CHRISTIAN COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR – “Hide Me Behind The Cross” – Tonja Rose

Ken and Jean Grady of Gospel Music Today 

ANTHONY BURGER INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR – Jeff Stice

DOTTIE RAMBO SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Gerald Crabb

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR – “King Jesus” – Eagle’s Wings

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Matthew Wilson

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Debra Wilson

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL GROUP OF THE YEAR – Eagle’s Wings

Gospel Music Today VIDEO/DVD OF THE YEAR – “When The Mountain Can’t Be Moved” – Tonja Rose

PAUL HEIL AWARD (Broadcasting) – Dave Taylor – KWFC

Kenna West and Cami Shrock 

PUBLISHER’S AWARD – Kenna West

MOUNTAINTOP INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL AWARD – Sheila Blackwell

JERRY GOFF AWARD – Jan Goff

For more information on Creekside Gospel Music Convention please click HERE.

Mark209

Eagle’s Wings

Mike Stankovic with Tim and Missy Kinchen of Chronicle at 2019 Diamond Awards

Hope’s Journey at the 2019 Diamond Awards

Rob Patz with Debi Crabb and Gerald Crabb at Diamond Awards 2019

Dennis and Leslie McKay with Jessica Horton at Diamond Awards 2019

Justified at the Singing On The Square at Creekside 2019

For live video presentations of the Diamond Awards 2019 and more from Creekside, visit the SGNScoops Facebook page HERE.

Creekside Gospel Music Convention is an annual event held in Pigeon Forge, featuring over 50 artists, daytime showcases, evening concerts, the Dr. Jerry Goff Honors, Diamond Awards and Midnight Prayer.  For more information, call Rob Patz at 360 – 933 – 0741.

For more Gospel music features, read the latest SGNScoops Magazine HERE.

Listen To Todays Gospel Music Here

Scott Washam from Day 3 Trio reviews the Mississippi Quartet Convention aka the MSQC

Zion’s Way Quartet from Mississippi awarded MSQC 2018 Quartet of the Year

Mississippi Quartet Convention: The Hospitality Event

[Purvis, MS, June 7-9, 2018] –  Another year is in the history books for the annual Mississippi Quartet Convention, now in its 19th year.  The annual event is held at the Lamar County Shelter Building in Purvis, Miss. This year, the Mississippi Quartet Convention (MSQC), invited over 35 Southern and Bluegrass gospel artists from the southeast, who shared their music and testimonies.

Thursday night, MSQC brought in Gold City Quartet from Gadsden, Ala., and saw a record crowd, as there were barely any empty seats in the house.  Sound technician and advisory board member, Vance Green, who also owns Answered Prayer (a Southern Gospel group from Hattiesburg, Miss.) had this to say, “This year just seemed to be different. A real atmosphere of freedom.”I could not agree more.

“There was just something special about this year’s MSQC, ” said Alicia Estis of Rachael Gill and Redeemed. This was a feeling shared by everyone I talked to in attendance this year, especially the fans.

One of the new happenings this year was New Journey Radio broadcasting live from the event. I was involved in several group interviews. What a blessing it was to get to know the groups more on a personal level as they shared, from the interview

MSQC Bobby Richardson. New Journey Radio

room, their hearts and their true call. It was a blessing to me and to the listeners all over the world. New Journey Radio is owned by Bobby Richardson and can be found on Facebook at newjourneyradio or on the internet at www.newjourneyradio.com

The next highlight for every group was the MSQCA Fan Awards show, hosted by husband and wife, Jason and Amy Oxenrider. These awards are given out each year and voted on by our ministry peers with secret ballot voting.  It’s a ‘who’s who’ among MSQC artists. Awards are presented in almost every category imaginable. The most prestigious award of the evening is the “Award of Excellence”. This year, it was presented to our friend, Vance Green. There was not a dry eye in the house as the biography was read aloud portraying Vance’s life and ministry career. It was so special to all of the other ministries because Vance runs the sound at MSQC and his main goal is to make every group sound their best. He is a friend of all friends. He’s everyone’s favorite sound man.

As other awards were presented, acceptance speeches were given, one after another. A particular stand out was the acceptance speech from Mixed Group of the Year, Day Three. A simple plea for all ministries, volunteers and fans to not be distracted by the fame of awards and accolades given, but rather, keep your eyes on the main goal of ministry.  

“Work in your field, tend to your sheep, and don’t get side-tracked by what others are doing in their

MSQC – Scott Washam with Day Three wins the 19th Annual MSQC Pianist of the Year Award

field,” exclaimed one of the artists.

Another good quote was from Penny Walters, Soprano of the Year, “I share this award with all of you,  you all make me better.”

For a complete list of award winners, visit the MSQC facebook page.

Right after the award show,  MSQC directors, Jason and Pam Oxenrider passed the microphone over to their mother, everyone’s hero, Mrs. Beverly Oxenrider.  She brought many good points to life and challenged every group to leave renewed and on fire. But for me personally, she made a statement that really hit me where it hurt.  

“I know, because I’m a senior, what it’s like to sit in the audience and be ignored and looked over.”

When she said those words, I looked deep inside of me and saw a man who is always looking busy at concerts and ignoring the people that travel to support us.  I left there with a personal challenge to shake every hand and hug every neck. Thank you, Mrs. Bev, for ‘taking me out behind the woodshed,’ as the saying goes. After her few minutes of speaking, we were all wiping away tears. She is a treasure to us all.

The event ended with a homecoming type sing-a-long event featuring several of the artists

MSQC Singing Epps

individually and the remaining artists in an artist circle choir. What a great time we had. One of the highlights of this particular event was near the end when Jason Oxenrider, MSQCA President, stepped up to the microphone to sing a rendition of, “I Must Tell Jesus.” I can’t remember seeing anyone still sitting in their chair, not worshiping Jesus Christ. What a wonderful message and delivery. It’s so awesome to know that we can really tell Jesus all of our problems and not only does He listen, He cares!  

I remember as all of the groups were packing up product tables, the lights being torn down,  sound equipment being dismantled, crowds scurrying to leave, I just calmed walked up to Jason and asked him, “Did you ever think, nineteen years ago, that the MSQC would turn into the event it has become?” His response was a huge smile on his face and watering eyes. He knew!

If you’ve never been to the Mississippi Quartet Convention, I urge you to attend.  It’s the place to be in June. The MSQC is the hospitality event. For more information on the Mississippi Quartet Convention you can visit

MSQC – Wells Brothers and Barnes and Co.

www.msqca.com or look the event up on Facebook,  at mississippi-quartet-convention.  

Read the June 2018 SGNScoops Magazine HERE.

Find SGNScoops Magazine On Facebook HERE

Download The PDF Version Of SGNScoops June 2018 Magazine HERE

Listen To The Best In Todays Gospel Music Online HERE