Steven Curtis Chapman Wins 58th Dove Award for Christmas Album 'Joy'

By Justin Sarachik, Christian Post Reporter Friday, October 18, 2013

Steven Curtis Chapman won for "Christmas Album of the Year" at the GMA Dove Awards earlier this week for his album JOY, making it his 58th career Dove Award, more than any other artist to date.

Chapman just released his latest album, The Glorious Unfolding, which debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and received acclaim for being the album that brought Chapman's "joy" back after tragedy.

The album is "a mixture of everything that makes [Chapman] great. It's honest, raw, clever, powerful and even playful … it is uplifting in a way only someone who has dealt with tragedy and loss can truly express it in words," Beliefnet said.

The first single, "Love Take Me Over," gained 42 radio adds in its first week, one of Christian music's highest add dates of 2013.

The song has stayed on the no. 3 spot on the Christian AC Indicator chart, and recently broke into the Top 10 on Christian AC Monitored and peaked at no. 8 on the National Christian Audience chart.

Chapman is promoting the single by teaming up with KLOVE, JOY FM and WAYFM to give fans the chance to win a trip to his New York City Carnegie Hall show in February 2014.

"The theme for the new album was this idea that God will complete the story and in fact, He already has completed it and knows the ending. Yet a part of the mystery is that He is revealing it in our lives and it's this unfolding, incredible tale of His love for us. This album gave me a chance to tell that, to celebrate loss and hope and new life. For all of that, I'm really grateful," said Chapman in a press release.

"The Glorious Unfolding Tour" began earlier this month with three sold-out shows in Texas. His tour partners are Laura Story and Jason Gray, and it will run through Nov. 24. For current information on the tour, visit StevenCurtisChapman.com.

"I'm so excited and honored to have Laura Story and Jason Gray join me on the road," Chapman said in a release before the tour started. "I can't wait to share these songs live and we're already praying God will use each and every night powerfully. I hope all our friends can make it out."

The national tour run's title presenting partner is Show Hope, a nonprofit organization that restores the hope of families to orphans in distress around the world. Chapman and the tour are also partnering with America World Adoption.