"American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks belts out the show's opening number.
Midway through the evening, former heavy metal band Korn's lead guitarist, Brian"Head" Welch, brings down the house with his instrumental technique and athleticism.
Toward the end of the night, bluegrass icon Ricky Skaggs sings his new single.
The lineup suggests the Grammys. But the music signals a more heavenly intent.
This is the 41st Annual Dove Awards, which air Sunday night on the Gospel Music Channel. It is Christian music's big-night equivalent to the Grammy Awards.
According to Ed Leonard, president of the Gospel Music Association, there were nine Christian singles on Billboard's top 200 that debuted in the top 25 in 2008. Last year that number increased to 13.
Generating about a half a billion dollars, Christian music sales as a percentage of all music receipts rose to 7.2 percent last year from 6.8 percent in 2008. At the same time sales of other music saw losses.
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