American Music Award Nods for Casting Crowns, Third Day, TobyMac

By Justin Sarachik, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, October 13, 2011

Christian artists Casting Crowns, the band Third Day and rapper TobyMac have each been nominated for a 2011 American Music Award, with confirmation coming from the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live.

This is Casting Crowns’ sixth nomination. The group won Favorite Artist in 2007. This is the third nomination for both TobyMac and Third Day.

Third Day has 27 No. 1 radio singles and has sold nearly 7 million albums. The band has also been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The group went platinum twice and gold eight times.

Casting Crowns will release their first new album in two years, Come to the Well, Oct. 18. The album is inspired by the band's church experiences.

The song "Courageous," featured in the Sherwood film of the same name, reached the No. 3 spot on the Billboard National Christian Audience Chart.

Casting Crowns has three platinum records and two platinum DVDs, as well as two gold records, two gold DVDs and two gold singles.

Third Day has received 42 Gospel Music Association nominations, winning 24 of them. Third Day has also garnered 11 Grammy nominations, four of which the band won, and the group has performed on many network television talk shows, including "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "60 Minutes" and "Nightline."

TobyMac is undoubtedly one of the most well-known Christian artists of all time. In 1987, when he formed dc Talk, Mac was the only Christian rapper on the scene. After huge crossover success in the 1990s, dc Talk disbanded and all the members went solo.

As a solo artist, TobyMac has 11 earned GMA Awards and has been nominated for seven Grammys, winning one. With dc Talk he won an additional 18 GMA awards and four Grammys.

Voters will have until Nov. 11 to cast a ballot for their favorite artist. Fans can vote at amavote.com. All genres of music will be presented, from country to Latin.

The 39th annual AMAs will broadcast live Nov. 20 from 8 to 11p.m. ET/PT at the NOKIA Theater in Los Angeles.