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

The Nominees :
“Born To Climb”; (Jeff & Sheri Easter); Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey; Bridge Building Music, Psalm Singer Music, Hefton Hill Music (BMI)
“By Your Side”; (Tenth Avenue North); Tenth Avenue North; Essential Publishing
“Free To Be Me”; (Francesca Battistelli); Francesca Battistelli; Word
“God Is There”; (Diamond Rio); Marty Roe, Jimmy Olander, Bernie Herms; Ole, Warner Chappell, Word Music
“I Will Rise”; (Chris Tomlin); Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Jesse Reeves; worshiptogether.com Songs, sixsteps Music, Spirit and Song.com, Vamos Publishing, Thank You Music
“Let The Waters Rise”; (MIKESCHAIR); Sam Tinnesz, Mike Grayson, Ben Glover
“Revelation Song”; (Phillips, Craig & Dean); Jennie Lee Riddle; Jennie Lee Riddle, Gateway Create Publishing, Integrity's Praise Music
“Somebody Like Me”; (Jason Crabb); Neil Thrasher, Michael Boggs; 2009 Sweet Summer Music, Kobalt Songs, Crosstown Uptown Music, Major Bob Music, Upsurge Music (ASCAP)
“Two Hands”; (Jars of Clay); Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark, Jeremy Lutito, Gabe Rushchival; Dudie Music, Chigostick Music, Bridgebuilding, Pogostick Music
“Why Can't All God's Children Get Along”; (Karen Peck & New River); Stephen Hill; Christian Taylor Music (BMI), Dingo Bat Music (BMI)

Correct Predictions: 2/10. I correctly predicted "Free To Be Me" and "Revelation Song." I did correctly predict a Chris Tomlin song - though I named "God of This City" instead of "I Will Rise."
Who Will Win? "Revelation Song"
Who Should Win? "Revelation Song"
Who's Missing? Way too many to name - but off the top of my head "Born Again" (Third Day), "The Motions" (Matthew West), "Heaven Is the Face" (Steven Curtis Chapman), and "Finally Home" (MercyMe)
Commentary - This is by far the worst I've ever predicted this category - and the GMA is completely off their rocker on some of these choices. "Let the Waters Rise"? "God Is There"? As big of a fan of Southern Gospel as I am - even I am left scratching my head at the songs they chose to represent the genre. "Why Can't All God's Children Get Along" is a decent enough choice - but the Jeff & Sheri Easter and Jason Crabb choices seem very left-footed. This will be a battle between the Battistelli, Tomlin, and Phillips, Craig & Dean songs for the win, but ultimately - "Revelation Song" was just the biggest tune of the year. Period. I'll be very shocked if it doesn't win.

The Nominees:
Francesca Battistelli
Casting Crowns
Jason Crabb
Jars of Clay
Mary Mary
Skillet
tobyMac

Correct Predictions: 2/7. I correctly predicted Casting Crowns and Skillet.
Who Will Win? Casting Crowns
Who Should Win? Jars of Clay
Who's Missing? Gaither Vocal Band, David Crowder Band, Needtobreathe
Commentary - Well at least this year there aren't a couple that leave me as perplexed as in past years (hello Fireflight? Stellar Kart?) - but still a couple of these seem a little off - particularly tobyMac and Mary Mary on off years. Overall, it's not too bad, and it's nice to see Jars of Clay and Jason Crabb show up. Both had great years.

The Nominees :
Jeremy Camp
Jason Crabb
Michael English (Gaither Vocal Band)
Brandon Heath
Donnie McClurkin
Smokie Norful
Bebo Norman
Mark Schultz

Correct Predictions: 4/8. I predicted 7 - and there ended up being 8 nominees. I predicted Steven Curtis Chapman, Marvin Sapp, and Chris Tomlin over English, McClurkin, Norful, and Norman.
Who Will Win? Brandon Heath
Who Should Win? Mark Schultz
Who's Missing? Matthew West
Commentary - I mean - seriously - when is Matthew West going to get noticed in this category? The man has had how many #1 songs of the year - and he's STILL not recognized. Of all the nominees - Mark Schultz put out the best material - but I would imagine that the GMA will stick with Brandon Heath since he had a pretty great run this past year himself. I wouldn't be upset about that in the least bit. Kudos to the GMA for nominating Michael English again. I'm very happy about that. This is definitely the strongest batch of nominees in one single category this year.

The Nominees :
Francesca Battistelli
Karen Peck Gooch
Natalie Grant
Heather Headley
Mandisa
Dawn Michelle (Fireflight)
Laura Story

Correct Predictions: 4/7. Not bad. I missed Headley, Story, and Michelle in favor of CeCe Winans, Amy Grant, and Britt Nicole.
Who Will Win? Francesca Battistelli
Who Should Win? Francesca Battistelli
Who's Missing? Britt Nicole, Sara Groves
Commentary - This isn't a bad batch of nominees. Dawn Michelle is completely left field - and I was very close to puting Story in my final predictions. Headley is a star in the Gospel realm - but I put Winans in instead of her. I still don't know why Sara Groves continues to be left out despite being one of the most critically acclaimed artists in this industry. I thought this was about rewarding good music? I'm also shocked Britt Nicole failed to land a nod after her stellar year. Battistelli should have no problem taking this award from Grant after her 4 year reign as Female Vocalist of the Year.

The Nominees :
Casting Crowns
Gaither Vocal Band
Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir
Jars of Clay
Needtobreathe
Skillet
Tenth Avenue North

Correct Predictions: 3/7. Dang. I missed Needtobreathe, Walker, Tenth Avenue North, and GVB in favor of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Mary Mary, MercyMe, and David Crowder Band.
Who Will Win? Casting Crowns
Who Should Win? Needtobreathe, Jars of Clay
Who's Missing? David Crowder Band, Switchfoot, Relient K
Commentary - So the Gaither Vocal Band landed the Southern Gospel vote of EH&SS, and Walker nabbed the Black Gospel side of things over Mary Mary. Very shocked to see David Crowder absent this year after releasing what was probably the most talked about release of the year. Very cool to see Tenth Avenue North mentioned. They are still selling like crazy. They don't have a shot at winning - but it's cool to see the mention nonetheless. The Crowns have owned this category for the last five years. This year should be no different, thought I'd LOVE to see a new winner here.

The Nominees:
Crystal Aikin
Bluetree
Jonny Diaz
Kari Jobe
Revive
Sidewalk Prophets
Brian Courtney Wilson

Correct Predictions: 4/7. Not too bad. I predicted Chris + Conrad, Danyew, and Mikeschair over Aikin, Bluetree, and Jobe.
Who Will Win? Sidewalk Prophets
Who Should Win? Jonny Diaz or Kari Jobe
Who's Missing? Danyew
Commentary - This category isn't as bad as it could be. I don't know what I was thinking by not predicting Kari Jobe here. She had one of the best selling albums by a new artist this past year. Bluetree was always a possibility. So proud of myself for calling Wilson, but should have remember Aikin.

The Nominees:
Ed Cash
Ian Eskelin
Wayne Haun
Bernie Herms
Jason Ingram, Rusty Varencamp

Who Will Win? Bernie Herms
Who Should Win? Bernie Herms
Who's Missing? Christopher Stevens, Lari Goss
Commentary - Same list as last year minus Brown Bannister (there were 6 nominees last year). Going with Herms again, just because he's very popular right now.