2016 Award Winners

Board Awards

Diamond Award

Don & Peggy Inks

The Diamond Award is the Pioneer Award. The diamond is a brilliant stone that is strong and takes years to form. It has facets that reflect the smallest amount of light, creating more brilliance than any other stone. Jesus said to be a light in the darkness to the world. The recipients of this award have been a true example of this stone. They have many facets in their ministry and their lifetime achievements that reflect the brilliance of the Son they serve.

Ruby Award

Dwayne Lewis

The Ruby Award is the Heart and Soul Award. It is given to the person who has shown dedication and effort to the promotion of USAGEM. They have promoted equality and consistency for all genres of gospel music. They have displayed great heart for both membership and participation.

Pearl Award

Margaret Anne Smith

As it takes years and years to form, the pearl is an organic gem that is formed from adversity. The natural pearl represents both inner and outer beauty. Just as God works in our lives through pain and problems, these are opportunities to grow and demonstrate our trust in the Lord. Bearing our circumstances bravely and even thanking God for them is one of the highest forms of praise. This honor is bestowed through dedication, loyalty, sacrifice, and love of Jesus Christ. From adversity and pain, the recipient of this award has emerged a beautiful pearl.

Sapphire Award

The Davis Family

The Sapphire Award is the Bartimaus Award. It is given to the person who has shown great participation without accolades. They have supported USAGEM in every way. They have been faithful in attendance, traveling a great distance to participate in all functions.

Emerald Award

Laura Lewis

The Emerald Award is a lifetime achievement award. The emerald is green in color, like the earth that God created and is continually growing. The winner of this award has endured hardships, battles and many trials that would have caused others to give up. This individual is an inspiration, a true disciple for the Kingdom of God and USAGEM. The emerald cut is square to represent four sides. This recipient has proven to go beyond the call of duty to cover all corners of the earth and USAGEM.

Member Voted Awards

Female Vocalist Of The Year

Melanie Walker

This award is presented to a female artist known for her delivery, songs, and performing excellence. She may be a part of a duo, group, or perform as a solo artist.

Male Vocalist of the Year

Frank Pizarro

This award is presented to a male artist known for his delivery, songs, and excellent performance. He may be a part of a duo, group, or perform as a solo artist.

Duo Of The Year

The Davis Family

A duo is comprised of two vocalists who consistently perform together as a unit. The recipients of this award have proven to have compatibility in their style, range, personality, and song selection. Successful duos are known for their unique blend and harmony.

Duo Of The Year

Randy & Wendi Pierce

A duo is comprised of two vocalists who consistently perform together as a unit. The recipients of this award have proven to have compatibility in their style, range, personality, and song selection. Successful duos are known for their unique blend and harmony.

Vocal Group Of The Year

Reed Brothers

A vocal group is comprised of three or more vocalists who consistently perform together as a unit. This award is presented to a group known for their compatible vocals, harmony, blend, range, personality, and song selection. Through their collective style, successful vocal groups have the unique ability to enhance their songs on recordings, videos, and live performances with their impeccable harmony, sound, and blend.

Vocal Group Of The Year

Mending Fences

A vocal group is comprised of three or more vocalists who consistently perform together as a unit. This award is presented to a group known for their compatible vocals, harmony, blend, range, personality, and song selection. Through their collective style, successful vocal groups have the unique ability to enhance their songs on recordings, videos, and live performances with their impeccable harmony, sound, and blend.

Southern Gospel Crown Jewel

Rick Alan King

This award is presented to an artist, duo, or group for excellence in performance, songs, and recording in the field of Southern Gospel Music. This award is genre specific.

Bluegrass Crown Jewel

Leipers Fork Bluegrass

This award is presented to an artist, duo, or group for excellence in performance, songs, and recording in the field of Bluegrass Music. This award is genre specific.

Black Gospel Crown Jewel

The Fairfield Four

This award is presented to an artist, duo, or group for excellence in performance, songs, and recording in the field of Black Gospel Music. This award is genre specific.

Contemporary Christian Crown Jewel

Cassidy Huckabay

This award is presented to an artist, duo, or group for excellence in performance, songs, and recording in the field of Contemporary Christian Music. This award is genre specific.

Christian Country Crown Jewel

Jimmy Jack Whitaker

This award is presented to an artist, duo, or group for excellence in performance, songs, and recording in the field of Christian Country Music. This award is genre specific.

Song Of The Year and Performing Artist

“Thank You” Sandi Kay Shupe

This award is presented to an artist, duo, or group for a particular song recording and single release. Nominated songs have been released nationally and have appeared on a recognized music chart.

Singer/Songwriter Of The Year

Jimmy Jack Whitaker

This award is presented to an artist who has placed much emphasis on their ability to write and perform their own compositions. These artists are also known to pitch their songs to other artists for recording consideration. Successful singer/songwriters have a large repertoire of chart songs they have personally recorded, as well as many compositions recorded by other successful artists.

Musician Of The Year

Jimmy Jack Whitaker

This award is presented to an instrumentalist who is known precisely for musicianship excellence. Nominees in this category are considered to have mastered their primary instrument. Nominated musicians also place much emphasis on the art of working together as a team, in both personality and musicality.

New Artist Of The Year

Bob Etzel

This award is presented to a new artist, duo, or group who stands out as a promising new talent. Eligible artists in this category must have been a member of USAGEM for three years or less. Selected nominees are participants in the New Artist Spotlight featured during the USAGEM Convention. The recipient of this award is selected entirely by attendees of the convention and presented during the USAGEM Awards Show.

Comedian Of The Year

Peggy Inks

This award is presented to a music artist, stand-up comedian, speaker, actor, or storyteller whose humor is an integral part of their personality and/or performance. This talent has proven to enhance their live performance, recordings, videos, or film.

Gospel Entertainer Of The Year

Jimmy Jack Whitaker

This prestigious award is presented to an artist, duo, or group that has shown excellence in all aspects of their career – Including the quality of their performance in music, songs, recordings, videos, stage presence, and entertainment.

Video Of The Year and Performing Artist

“You Will Fly” Daniele Carson

The criteria for this award is primarily a short film of a song performance by an artist, duo, or group. Nominated music videos can be a live concert performance, or may be a concept video featuring actors and multiple scenes. The process for selecting the winner in this category is tabulated in two parts – Fifty percent by USAGEM voting members and fifty percent by a special online voting process at www.USAGEM.org. The recipient of this award is selected by combining the online results with the member-voted ballot tallies.

Banquet Awards

Media Award

Rob Patz, SGN Scoops Magazine

Radio Servant’s Award

Bruce & Connie Lea Cutler

USAGEM President’s Award

Ann Hartmann

Film & TV Award

The Music City Show

Servant’s Heart Award

Chuck & Candace Kuykendall

Excellence In Outreach Award

Rockin’ Reggie & Kat Vinson

Helping Hand Award

Don McCloud