Singer/songwriter and Male Vocalist of the Year Brandon Heath added another highlight to a breakout year with his first American Music Awards nomination, announced yesterday in Los Angeles. Heath will vie for the title of Favorite Artist in the Contemporary Inspirational category at the 37th AMA Awards, set for live broadcast Sunday, November 22 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC.

For the third year, winners will be determined by online voting at www.amavote.com.

“I’ve been watching the AMA’s for years -- never thought I’d have the honor of being a nominee. I consider myself very blessed to do music for a living,” Heath said upon learning of the recognition.
After kicking off 2009 with three GRAMMY nominations, Heath was a five-time nominee at this year’s Dove Awards, winning three trophies: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song for “Give Me Your Eyes,” from his GRAMMY-nominated sophomore album What If We. To date, the album has delivered back-to-back No. 1 singles with “Give Me Your Eyes,” which captured 14 weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian AC radio chart plus 27 weeks at No. 1 on iTunes Christian Song Chart, followed by “Wait And See” topping Billboard’s Christian AC Indicator chart in July.

Heath is currently co-headlining the 40-city “Follow You” tour with Leeland and special guest Francesca Battistelli. For tour dates, and more information, please visit www.brandonheath.net, www.providentpress.com, and follow Brandon on Twitter at twitter.com/brandonheath.

About Brandon Heath:
Nashville native Brandon Heath was featured on the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” while also spotlighted in the Sunday edition (2/8) of The New York Times as a GRAMMY-nominated newcomer “that shouldn't be allowed to slip through the cracks.” Heath released his breakthrough sophomore album, What If We, in Aug. 2008, featuring back-to-back No.1 singles “Give Me Your Eyes” and “Wait and See.” Heath’s five total nominations for the Gospel Music Association’s 40th Annual Dove Awards included Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song, and Special Event Album for his recording of Patty Griffin’s “Heavenly Day” on Billy: The Early Years Official Motion Picture Soundtrack.

What If We follows Brandon’s debut album, Don’t Get Comfortable (2006), and first chart-topping radio song, “I’m Not Who I Was,” nominated for Song of the Year at 2008 GMA Dove Awards and contributing to his win in the New Artist of the Year category. Off stage, Heath seeks opportunities to merge his public platform with his heart for community, regularly working with Young Life, Blood:Water Mission, Restore International and unofficially volunteering for many other human rights agencies on a global scale. Heath is a respected songwriter in the Nashville music community and first began writing at age 13.