Brian Free & Assurance and the Booth Brothers were named the big winners at this year’s SGN Scoops Diamond Awards.

Eighteen awards were handed out at the 2009 Diamond Awards which were moved this year to the Inaugural Branson Gospel Music Convention in Branson, Missouri.

The award winners were announced at a special awards presentation last week, on Thursday, July 16, 2009. Brian Free & Assurance and the Booth Brothers were each awarded three Diamond Awards throughout the program. Karen Peck & New River won two awards.

The evening included performances from some of Southern Gospel’s most popular artists like the Blackwood Quartet, Florida Boys, Stamps Quartet, 2nd Generation, Kirk Talley, Kenny Bishop, and Chris Hester, as well as many up and coming artists like Dale & Cheryl Golden, Kathy Atkins, Jericho, and others.

Many notable Southern Gospel personalities were on hand to present and accept awards, including Lou Hildreth, SGMRadio.com’s Rob Patz, Branson GMC’s Rod & Kelly Burton, SSE Group, Inc.’s Chris Unthank, KWFC’s Jonathan Edwards, Ron Blackwood, Josh Garner, and many more.

The event was hosted by Young Harmony’s Johnathan Bond.

The 2009 Diamond Awards were sponsored by Peal Communications. Additional sponsors for the event included Coastal Media Group (SGMRadio.com and “The Southern Styles Show”) and SSE Group, Inc. (Southern Spin Entertainment, SouthernSpinRadio.com, and SSE Design Group).

For more information on The SGN Scoops Diamond Awards – visit http://www.diamondawardsonline.com .

2009 SGN SCOOPS DIAMOND AWARD WINNERS:

J.D. SUMNER LIVING LEGEND AWARD: Eva Mae LeFevre

GROUP OF THE YEAR: Brian Free & Assurance

TRIO OF THE YEAR: Booth Brothers

DUET OF THE YEAR: Amazed

SOLOIST OF THE YEAR: Janet Paschal

SUNRISE AWARD: Faithful Touch

SONG OF THE YEAR: “Whispered Prayers” – Karen Peck & New River

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Ephesians One – Karen Peck & New River

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Michael Booth (Booth Brothers)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)

ANTHONY BURGER INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: Ricky Free (Brian Free & Assurance)

DOTTIE RAMBO SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Jim Brady (Booth Brothers)

CHRISTIAN COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR: Mark Bishop

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Primitive Quartet

VIDEO/DVD OF THE YEAR: Susie’s Eyes – Hearts of Faith

FAVORITE ARTIST WEBSITE: BrianFreeandAssurance.com (Brian Free & Assurance)

FAVORITE INDUSTRY WEBSITE: SoGospelNews.com

LOU HILDRETH AWARD: Gospel Music Television

PAUL HEIL AWARD: Tom Ennis

About the Diamond Awards
The Diamond Awards were transferred over to the SGN Scoops Digital several years ago after the original home for the awards, the Gospel Voice Magazine, folded. The Diamond Awards are a fan-based award that allows the fans to choose the nominees as well as the winners each year. The awards show is held during the Branson Gospel Music Convention every summer.