*NOTE - Song of the Year goes to the SONGWRITER, not the ARTIST. Artists are listed for easier recognition of songs.

Most Likely to be Nominated:
"Born Again" - Third Day
"City On Our Knees" - tobyMac
"Finally Home" - MercyMe
"Free To Be Me" - Francesca Battistelli
"God of This City" - Chris Tomlin
"Hero" - Skillet
"Heaven Is the Face" - Steven Curtis Chapman
"Revelation Song" - Phillips, Craig & Dean
"The Motions" - Matthew West
"Until the Whole World Hears" - Casting Crowns

Other Possibilities: "Speaking Louder Than Before" (Jeremy Camp), "King of the World" (Point of Grace), "More Beautiful You" (Jonny Diaz), "Lay 'Em Down" (Needtobreathe), "How He Loves" (David Crowder Band), "Follow You" (Leeland & Brandon Heath), "Wait & See" (Brandon Heath), "Hold My Heart" (Tenth Avenue North), "What Salvation's Done For Me" (Booth Brothers), "I Want to Thank You" (Karen Peck & New River), "Mess of Me" (Switchfoot), "Safe" (Phil Wickham), "Closer to Love" (Mat Kearney), "Our Hope Endures" (Natalie Grant), "The Lost Get Found" (Britt Nicole)
Who Should Be Nominated? "Joy Is In Our Hearts" (Sara Groves), "Unredeemed" (Selah), "The Meaning of Life" (Hawk Nelson), "Lonely Wheel" (The Almost), "If You Knew Him" (The Perrys), "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" (Seabird)
Commentary - This category is getting harder and harder to predict - just because there's always three or four left field choices. I'm staying pretty safe with my nominees here - but you never know when some semi-hit will emerge as a nominee. The best bets in the category are easily "Revelation Song," "The Motions," "Until the Whole World Hears," and "Heaven Is the Face."

Most Likely to be Nominated:
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Casting Crowns
Chris Tomlin
Gaither Vocal Band
Michael W. Smith
Skillet
Steven Curtis Chapman

Other Possibilities: Brandon Heath, Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp, MercyMe, tobyMac, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Selah, Mat Kearney
Who Should Be Nominated? Matthew West, Sara Groves, Hawk Nelson, Needtobreathe, Red, Phil Wickham
Commentary - The problem here is that their are now 7 nominees in these categories - and because of that - the nominee base becomes broader and there are always a couple of nominees from other genres other than the core base here. Because of that, Gaither and Winans' show up - but it could really go to anyone in their respective genres. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound could easily replace Gaither - and someone like Karen Clark Sheard, Marvin Sapp, or Mary Mary could take the Winans' spot.

Most Likely to be Nominated:
Brandon Heath
Chris Tomlin
Jason Crabb
Jeremy Camp
Mark Schultz
Marvin Sapp
Steven Curtis Chapman

Other Possibilities: Matthew West, Bart Millard (MercyMe), David Crowder, Michael W. Smith, Jon Foreman, Ronnie Booth (Booth Brothers), Michael English, Phil Wickham, Jonny Diaz, Fred Hammond, Mark Hall (Casting Crowns), Mat Kearney, David Phelps
Who Should Be Nominated? Phil Wickham, Matthew West, David Crowder, Michael English, Josh Wilson
Commentary - Again - instead of making it easier - it's just plain harder to pick 7 nominees when two or three usually end up out of left field. Crabb will get the Southern Gospel vote - at least I think. English has seen a lot of support this year - but I'm not sure the CCM community is so quick to welcome him back. Sapp makes another appearance - but he could easily be ousted by Fred Hammond. Chapman has this award in the bag - but I'd love to see Mark Schultz finally win this.

Most Likely to be Nominated:
Amy Grant
Britt Nicole
CeCe Winans
Francesca Battistelli
Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Mandisa
Natalie Grant

Other Possibilities: Meredith Andrews, Sara Groves, Sandi Patty, Kierra Sheard, Libbi Perry Stuffle (The Perrys), Plumb, Laura Story
Who Should Be Nominated? Sara Groves
Commentary - Another weak year for the ladies unless your name is Francesca Battistelli or Britt Nicole - but even that doesn't guarantee a nomination for Nicole. Gooch and Winans get the fringe nominations - and Amy Grant is there just because.

Most Likely to be Nominated:
Brian Courtney Wilson
Chris and Conrad
Danyew
Jonny Diaz
Mikeschair
Revive
Sidewalk Prophets

Other Possibilities: Chasen, B.Reith, Matt Papa, Paige Armstrong, Chynna & Vaughan
Who Should Be Nominated? B.Reith, Matt Papa
Commentary - It's been a pretty ho-hum year in regards to New Artists this year. Sidewalk Prophets and Jonny Diaz seem the most likely to show up here. Mikeschair is on Curb Records - and they have a pretty strong block of votes - so they seem very likely. Wilson seems to be the only noticeable breakthrough name in the Gospel community - and Southern Gospel hasn't had a notable new artist name since Austins Bridge - so don't expect anything out of that camp.