Airing on Sunday, May 19 on ABC (8/7 p.m. CT), the Billboard Music Awards will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where MercyMe has been nominated in the Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album (The Hurt & The Healer) categories.

Subsequently, MercyMe received nominations for Group of the Year and Artist of the Year for the first annual K-LOVE Fan Awards. K-LOVE, the leading Christian radio network with a weekly listenership of over 13 million people, is bringing the first ever fan-voted award show in Christian music history to Nashville. The K-LOVE Fan Awards will be held on Saturday, June 1st at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Starting today through May 31 fans can vote for their favorite nominees at www.klovefanawards.com or on

www.facebook.com/KLoveFanAwards in categories celebrating artists, athletes, authors and entertainers who, with excellence engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ.

“We are so honored to be recognized for the work we put into this last project, however it cannot go without saying we don’t do this alone,” remarked MercyMe’s Mike Scheuchzer.  “If we did anything worthy of praise it was due to an incredible team of humble & extremely talented people who surround, encourage & push us to be better. We and those who helped create this record hope it draws the listener further from their hurt & closer to the healer.”

The project spawning these nominations is the band’s 2012 release, The Hurt & The Healer, which has garnered them two #1 singles so far with its title track spending multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Christian AC chart, and “You Are I Am” also hitting #1 at Christian radio,  currently holding a Top 5 position.

(via media collective)

Performers already slated are fan favorites TobyMac, MercyMe, Amy Grant, Third Day, Newsboys, Casting Crowns, NEEDTOBREATHE, Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West and many more. In addition to the unprecedented list of performers, sport figures set to attend the special evening include Mike Fisher (Nashville Predators), Barrett Jones (Two-time National Champion from Alabama), Jason Hanson (21-year Detroit Lions kicker), Alfred Morris (Washington Redskins) and Hugh Freeze (Head football coach from the University of Mississippi). Representing the movie impact category will be Kirk Cameron (Monumental, Fireproof), Alex Kendrick (Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Couragous) and David Evans (The Grace Card).

The K-LOVE Fan Awards are proud to announce presenting sponsor Pepsi MidAmerica. In honor of the awards, Pepsi will be launching their Christian Artist Can Panel series at the weekend’s events. The four artists that will be featured include Matt Maher (Dr. Pepper), Francesca Battistelli (Diet Pepsi), Matthew West (Pepsi), and TobyMac (Mountain Dew). Each artist will be featured on three million cans for a total of 12 million cans – 12 million new ways to change lives. On each can a link will be featured to receive a free download from each artist.
“Pepsi MidAmerica is honored to be the presenting sponsor of the inaugural K-LOVE Fan Awards,” states Lee Crisp, President and COO of Pepsi MidAmerica. “We are proud to sponsor such an amazing event with such a positive meaning.”

In addition to the presenting sponsor, the official charity sponsor has been revealed as World Vision ( www.worldvision.org)
“We are honored to be the official charity sponsor for this amazing first-ever event,” shares Steve Quant, Director of Media acquisition for World Vision. “As a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide, we proudly partner with many of these artists who serve as the ‘voice for the voiceless’. This will be a great evening celebrating these talented individuals who walk alongside World Vision to forever change the lives of children and families around the globe.”
The K-LOVE Fan Awards is a John Sanders LLC/World Hope Event. Positive Encouraging K-LOVE with a weekly audience of over 13 million listeners is heard in great cities including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver and Nashville.
www.KLOVEFanAwards.com

2013 K-LOVE FAN AWARDS’ NOMINEES

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Redeemed” Big Daddy Weave
“Where I Belong” Building 429
“10,000 Reasons” Matt Redman
“God’s Not Dead (Like a Lion)” Newsboys
“Whom Shall I Fear” Chris Tomlin
“Me Without You” TobyMac

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brandon Heath
Chris Tomlin
Jeremy Camp
Matthew West
TobyMac

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Francesca Battistelli
Kari Jobe
Laura Story
Mandisa
Natalie Grant

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Newsboys
Casting Crowns
MercyMe

Tenth Avenue North
Third Day

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Building 429
Laura Story
For King & Country
Sidewalk Prophets
Plumb

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Casting Crowns
Newsboys
MercyMe

Third Day
TobyMac

MOVIE IMPACT
Courageous (Alex Kendrick)
The Grace Card (David Evans)
October Baby (Jon Erwin)
Monumental (Kirk Cameron)

SPORTS IMPACT
Hugh Freeze (Head football coach University of Mississippi)
Mike Fisher (Nashville Predators)
Barrett Jones (Two-time NCAA National Football Championships from University of Alabama)
Jason Hanson (21 years Detroit Lions kicker who retired April 4, has the third most points in NFL)
Alfred Morris (Washington Redskins; second in the league for total rushing yards and rushing touchdowns)

BOOK IMPACT will be announced at a later date

CONFIRMED PERFORMERS
Amy Grant
Audio Adrenaline
Big Daddy Weave
Brandon Heath
Building 429
Casting Crowns
Francesca Battistelli
Kari Jobe
Kutless
Laura Story
Mandisa
Matt Maher
Matthew West
MercyMe
Michael W. Smith
Natalie Grant
NEEDTOBREATHE
Newsboys
Peter Furler
Phil Joel
Sidewalk Prophets
Steven Curtis Chapman
Tenth Avenue North
The Afters
Third Day
TobyMac
Rising Stars- Rhett Walker Band, Citizen Way, for King & Country and Colton Dixon

The Roadshow + Fresno, CA = Cover Tune Grab Bag. This has been an amazing tour and nothing finishes such a great tour like this better than a little Michael Jackson.

So here’s the deal Seattle. Guess what we did today. Yep, when you’re in Seattle, what else makes sense except Seattle By Segway. I mean, who wouldn’t do that right?

Seriously though. What an amazing town, an amazing day and an amazing crowd. This is hands down one of our favorite places to come and tonight was no exception. Thanks for making tonight so cool. You guys always deliver.

Spokane, here we come.

Boise. We love coming here. You guys are always so great. We’re hitting our stride on this tour and it’s almost over. This thing has gone by way too fast.

Tonight we did have a very special guest. Naghmeh Abedini, who’s husband Saeed is imprisoned in Iran for sharing the Gospel, came and shared a bit of her story. Unbelievably moving and humbling. You guys can find out more abou Saeed HERE.

We’re currently on the bus headed for Portland, OR. One of our favorite cities. We’ll see you in a few hours Portland.

World Arena, Colorado Springs we love visiting you people. We know school was closed today, but you guys blew us away and made tonight a special night.

Today Bart and I had a chance to go up in a helicopter tour and take a look at your amazing city so if you saw a blue helicopter flying over you, that was us. What a beautiful area. Colorado, you are one of our favorites.

We’ll see you again soon.

Another great night in Louisiana. You guys know how to worship. Thanks for letting us be a part of that. Thanks for keeping things civil with the protestors outside and showing them that we serve a God that loves people regardless of themselves.

We’ve had some of our boys out for the past few days so our bus smells a bit like a 7 year old boy, but it’s been some amazing father-son time for us all.

We’re headed home for a few days, then on to Colorado Springs. If we remember anything about Colorado Springs, it’s the insane line that shows up right before the show. Make sure to get there early on Thursday to get inside. It’s going to be awesome.

We’ll see you again Baton Rouge.

Dallas Texas. Well one thing is for sure. Everything is bigger in Texas, and you guys are no exception. We had a SOLD OUT crowd and you people were as loud as we’ve ever heard. What an amazing night to capture on video.

We had all kinds of family at the show last night and you guys made us proud to call Texas home. We’ll be back again next year for sure. Thanks for making it such a memorable night.