On Sunday night, November 20, Platinum-selling, five-time Gospel Music Association Group of the Year, Casting Crowns added another honor to its list of accolades with a 2011 American Music Award. The band won for “Favorite Artist” in the Contemporary Inspirational category and it was announced during a live broadcast of the 39th annual AMAs on ABC.
This is Casting Crowns’ second win, from six career AMA nominations. The group shared the category with other Christian artists tobyMac and Third Day. For the fifth year, winners were determined by online voting. Fans voted in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin, and Contemporary Inspirational. For a complete list of tonight’s winners, visit http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards.
The win comes on the heels of Casting Crowns’ first new studio album in two years. Come to the Well, which was released on October 18. The project was inspired by the band’s ministry efforts at its home church, Eagles Landing Baptist Church outside of Atlanta, where frontman Mark Hall serves as a youth pastor.
The week of its release, Come to the Well sold 99,138 copies, making it the highest debut on Billboard’s Top 200 at No. 2. The album additionally topped the Billboard Contemporary Christian Overall chart, while also claiming No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Albums chart and No. 3 on its Overall Albums chart. Lead radio single “Courageous” landed at No. 1 on the iTunes Christian Songs chart and peaked at a No. 1 on the Billboard National Christian Audience chart in 10 weeks.
The band is currently touring in support of Come to the Well on a fall tour visiting 40 cities through early December. For the latest news and tour dates, visit www.castingcrowns.com.