'K-LOVE Fan Awards': First-Ever Christian Award Show, Vote Throughout May, Awards: June 1, Nashville Tennessee, Hosted By Duck Dynasty Cast

K-Love, Christian radio network, is hosting the first ever fan-voted award show in Christian music history, the "K-Love Fan Awards," in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday,June 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

K-Love is the leading Christian radio network in the United States and it has a weekly listenership of over 13 million people, Jesusfreakhideout reports.  Listeners come from all over the country including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver and Nashville.  

Beginning yesterday, May 1, until the end of this month fans can vote for their favorite nominees at the K-LOVE Fan Awards website or on Facebook.  Nominees can be chosen within various categories including musical artists, athletes, authors and other entertainers who share the mission to communicate the Gospel, according to Jesusfreakhideout. 

"The Mission of The K-LOVE Fan Awards is to 'create a fan experience that celebrates and promotes artists, athlete's, authors and entertainers who, with excellence, engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ,'" according to the K-Love Fan Awards website.

The nominees have been chosen by K-Love based on airplay, spins, impact and overall performance Jesusfreakhideout reports.   The winners will be announced at the awards show, which will be hosted by the stars from A&E TV's popular show "Duck Dynasty," Phil and Kay Robertson and Jase and Missy Robertson.  There will also be a red carpet from 6:15- 7:15 p.m. before the awards at the Ryman. 

Performers will include big names like TobyMac, MercyMe, Amy Grant, Third Day, Newsboys, Casting Crowns, NEEDTOBREATHE, Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West and more, Jesusfreakhideout reports.  Attending athletes will include Mike Fisher (Nashville Predators), Barrett Jones (Two-time National Champion from Alabama), Jason Hanson (21-year Detroit Lions kicker), Alfred Morris (Washington Redskins) and Hugh Freeze (Head football coach from the University of Mississippi). Representing the movie impact category will be Kirk Cameron (Monumental, Fireproof), Alex Kendrick (Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Couragous) and David Evans (The Grace Card).

Nomination categories include best of the year song, male artist, female artist, group/duo, breakthrough artist, overall artist, movie impact, sports impact and book impact, Jesusfreakhideout reports.  So far, the confirmed performers include Amy Grant, Audio Adrenaline, Big Daddy Weave, Brandon Heath, Building 429, Casting Crowns, Francesca Battistelli, Kari Jobe, Kutless, Laura Story, Mandisa, Matt Maher, Matthew West, MercyMe, Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, NEEDTOBREATHE, Newsboys, Peter Furler, Phil Joel, Sidewalk Prophets, Steven Curtis Chapman, Tenth Avenue North, The Afters, Third Day, TobyMac and new artists such as Rhett Walker Band, Citizen Way, for King & Country and Colton Dixon.

"The K-Love Fan Awards," also offers a weekend long option called "The Ultimate Fan Experience," with activities running from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 31, until 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 2.  This package includes food performances and artist reception, and a Sunday morning worship service, in addition to the red carpet and fan award show, according to the K-Love Fan Awards website.

The fan awards will be sponsored by Pepsi MidAmerica, any they will feature artists,Matt Maher, Francesca Battistelli , Matthew West and TobyMac on their cans in light of the awards, Jesusfreakhideout reports.   "Pepsi MidAmerica is honored to be the presenting sponsor of the inaugural K-LOVE Fan Awards," states Lee Crisp, President and COO of Pepsi MidAmerica. "We are proud to sponsor such an amazing event with such a positive meaning." 

In addition, the official charity sponsor for the event is World Vision, according to Jesusfreakhideout.  "We are honored to be the official charity sponsor for this amazing first-ever event," shares Steve Quant, Director of Media acquisition for World Vision. "As a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide, we proudly partner with many of these artists who serve as the 'voice for the voiceless'. This will be a great evening celebrating these talented individuals who walk alongside World Vision to forever change the lives of children and families around the globe."