It was announced last evening that Joel and Luke Smallbone of for KING & COUNTRY received their first Dove Award win for the coveted category of "New Artist of the Year" at the 44^th Annual GMA Dove Awards. In a celebration in Nashville, TN, the Australian brothers that make up duo for KING & COUNTRY were on hand to accept the award. They also performed their hit single "The Proof of Your Love" from their debut album and iTunes' 2012 "Breakthrough Christian & Gospel Album of the Year," Crave, and premiered new song "Fix My Eyes."

"Luke came off the road for about three months with a digestive disorder and got down to about 125 pounds. For a 6' 4" fellow that is pretty light," said Joel. "It's funny. I was so sick, in my bed thinking 'God, why am I in so much pain?'" continued Luke. "God has a unique way of taking those moments and spinning them into something quite miraculous. I felt God say to me 'Luke, no matter how dark things are or how difficult those trials you face might be, there is always hope in me. That is the reason why we do music. Thank you all so very much for this award. We are so blessed not only by God's love but by so much love from the fans and the industry."

Yesterday the duo also released their live album and concert film, Hope Is What We Crave ?Live, everywhere. The project features nine live performances from their critically-acclaimed debut album, Crave. Their new single "Hope Is What We Crave" just went for adds at radio and is already closing in on the Top 25. 

for KING & COUNTRY made their late night debut on January 10 when they performed "The Proof of Your Love" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." In 2012, the breakthrough duo was named as one of Billboard's 17 acts to watch and were CCM's best-selling new artist. ET's "The Insider" said the duo, "make music that speaks directly to your heart" and have been "gaining popularity in the alt-rock genre." American Songwriter commented that "for KING & COUNTRY may just be Australia's answer to Coldplay."