I picked up my cell phone, I called information, and asked for the telephone number for the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, they gave it to me. I called and got a sweet young woman named Missy Zahn on the phone. Missy has since become a great friend, but at the time, we had never met. I asked her if she knew who the producer was of the Dove Awards. She told me it was a guy named Steve Gilreath. I asked if she had his phone number, and for some crazy reason...she gave it to me! (we would laugh about that years later).
I said thanks, and I dialed Steve's number. I didn't know Steve. Steve didn't know me. But I figured, hey...why not?
I got his voicemail, left him a message telling him a little bit about myself. That I was a TV producer for NBC in Chicago. That I had had many Christian music artists on a morning newscast I was producing. I knew many of the artists and the publicists and I hoped that combined with my years of production experience...would make him want to hire me. To do....something?
And that was it.
To my surprise, he called back. He was very nice. He said most of the staff had already been hired, but that he could always use more production assistants. That if I paid my own way down there, he could use me for 3 days during show week, pay me about $100 or so a day, and I could have a fun experience and he could see what kind of a worker I was...and who knew, in the future maybe we could do more work together.
I was very happy with that, I said 'thank you'. And so I had an invitation to be a part of my first Doves.
The next day, I woke up and saw there was a voicemail on my phone. I listened to the message and it was Steve Gilreath. He had sort of a panic in his voice. He said something to the effect of:
"...we don't really know each other, but I'm a bit desperate, and this just might be your big break. The Regal Cinema movie theatre chain, has just decided they want to show the Doves live in their theatres around the USA. But while the TV audience is watching commercials, in the threatres they want us to have a live backstage, behind-the-scenes show. The show will be hosted by Rebecca St. James, and it should include live interviews with the winners and presenters and show people what's going on backstage. So, that's what they want...but I have no one to produce it. If you think you can do it, call me and the job is yours."
Wow...I was floored! I think there was some sort of happy dance that followed in my bedroom. How did this happen? One minute I'm listening to an ad for this show on the radio, and the next thing I know, I'm going to Nashville to produce a live show at the Doves hosted by Rebecca St. James.
And so...we were off and running.
It's hard to believe that was 7 years ago. It's hard to believe I've now been a part of 6 Dove Awards. And it's even harder to believe, my Dove Awards career is now over.
I won't be going to Nashville this year. The GMA was nice enough to invite me back to produce the 'Pre-Telecast' or "Pre Show" as we call it (that's where 95% of the awards are handed out, but it's just not shown on TV, it's a show only for the audience in the theatre). But, due to GMA budget constraints this year, and due to the fact that I live in Tel Aviv, it's pretty expensive to bring me across the world to produce the show...and it just wasn't a financial reality for the GMA or for me this year.
But I 'retire' from the Doves with so many fantastic memories. I am so grateful to Steve Gilreath and to Lisa Kent and all the wonderful people that have worked at the GMA over the years, especially John Styll. What a great ride I was priveleged to have.
Below are some of my favorite memories of the past 6 years. But before I do that...let me first give shout-outs to some of the wonderful people I've worked with over the years, who I love dearly and will miss seeing this year
-All the publicists. You are some of the coolest women (and Brian Smith) that I've ever met in my life! I love you all so much and hope we'll always stay in touch. Jackie, Velvet, Mandy, Stacie, Lori, Courtney, Christina, Jackie, Jordan...you guys are the best! And to all the mangers and handlers...thanks for being so great to work with!
-To the Doves Family that assembles together each year, from the four corners of the globe. John Calton, Anne and Joey Ciccoline, Jayme Butler, Zana, Misty, Denny Keitzman, Cornelius, Emanuel, Lindsay, Spence and on and on...I already miss seeing your faces. (The Doves also gave me great friendships with people who worked on the show in years past...especially the great Rebekah Hubbell and Allison Abbott.)
-To 'my boys'. Elch and 'the other' Darin. I love you guys dearly. You are my brothers and you made this show so much fun to work on each year. You are brilliant and talented and we're just gonna have to find some other project to work on together.
-And finally to Steve Gilreath. Thanks for a great ride. One of the highlights of my life, for sure. You sure did make me feel loved and appreciated and for that I am grateful.
I'll never forget Steve coming backstage during that first show. He put his hands on my shoulders and looked me right in the eyes and said 'I don't know what you're doing, but you are creating such an amazing atmosphere in this place, you're doing great, keep it up'. Wow. I felt so in over my head at that moment, I had no idea what we were doing, so to hear him say that and to see the joyfully shocked expression on his face sure was fun. After that, I was just floating on air.
Steve, for all the opportunities, for all the great lunches and breakfasts and dinners and snacks in between, for the plane tickets, the free stay at the cabin, my first iPod(engraved no less) and the very computer I'm typing on as we speak...I say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I'll never forget the kind words you wrote about me in the Doves program 2 years ago. Or the countless letters of recommendation you've written for me. Your incredibly generous hospitality. You are one of the best, and it's been a blast.
Thank you, that at the end of every show, you'd come over, put your arm around me and say 'see you next year'. That was the best compliment you could ever give me. I love you, Chief.
Wow...I'd have killed any artist that gave a speech that long. But, hey, I was saving up for 6 years.
And now, some Dove highlights:
My first show will always be my favorite. Working at the Municipal Auditorium. The show was supposed to be on UPN (it never happened for some reason, but the Doves are still around and UPN isn't, so.....) so we had big stars that year.
I got to hang out with Smokey Robinson (a huge deal for a kid from Detroit). He and I teased Rebecca St. James for not knowing much about Motown.
Cornering CeCe Winans while she had her make-up done...to talk about Oprah's theology.
Watching as Stephen Baldwin asked Rebecca if she'd call his daughter to say hi, and seeing the joyful look on his face as he listened to the conversation.
Getting to arrange a partial dc Talk reunion between Toby Mac and Michael Tate. Hearing the fans scream when Toby walked in during Michael's interview. (even sweeter was Toby's reluctance to do it at first, since he didn't want to risk hurting his dear friend Kevin Maxx who wasn't at that years show).
Being out to dinner with Steve Gilreath and seeing Chris Rice at the restaurant we were at. Steve begging me not to go over to say hi to him, me not listening to Steve, and as I stood up, I banged my head on some low-hanging speaker. And feeling like a total idiot.
Working with Amy Grant and Vince Gill...and Bono (not really) Amy and Vince introduced a video Bono made for the Doves that year, where he thanked the Christian music community for helping in the fight against AIDS. We had Amy and Vince on the backstage show afterwards. Bono, however, was not in attendance.
My best friends Jason and Heidi Judy actually went to a Regal Movie theatre to watch the show. As a thank you, I arranged for two of Jason's favorite people to be on one segment. I got David Crowder and Louie Giglio to come backstage to do an interview. Just before, I called Jason on his cell phone and said 'this is because I love you'...and hung up. The next thing he saw on the screen in Chicago, were David and Louie. What a kick!
That year this young woman who won a singing contest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, was invited to be a presenter. She came all the way to Nashville, but then got hurt backstage and wasn't able to be on the show. During my research on all the presenters, I had read that she was a big fan of Yolanda Adams, who was that year's host (along with Deion Sanders). So, after the show, I went to Yolanda Adam's bus and asked if she'd come say hi to this woman, to cheer her up. I got to take the photos of the two of them together. So much fun!
I can't believe this was all just from the first year! And it's not even everything!
I'll never forget meeting legends like Joanne Cash (the sister of Johnny Cash) and Pele'...the soccer icon!
Pele' came on with his wife who was nominated in the Spanish Language Album category. The two were going to be presenters on the Pre Show. I don't know what was more fun, working with Pele' or watching all these big time singers backstage, freaking out that Pele' was there (and coming to me to get autographs from him, because they were too nervous to ask him themselves).
Pele' was nervous about mis-pronouncing the names of the nominees he was supposed to read. He kept asking me to go over pronounciations with him. After trying certain names a few times, he'd look at me and say 'do you mind if my wife reads that name'. 'Ofcourse not Pele'', I'd say. It was too cool.
When show time came, Pele' and I were backstage and he was listening to the presenters on before him. He heard one of them make some mistakes while trying to pronounce some names. He came up to me and said 'did you hear that?' I said 'yeah'. He said 'that guy made some mistakes'. I said 'yes he did, but I know you're gonna do great Pele''. How could this icon of sport be so nervous about reading names at an award show? It was too great!
Soon Pele' and his wife went out, presented the awards, did a great job...and when he came backstage he looked right at me and said 'did I do ok?' I said 'you did great!' And with that, he spread his arms and grabbed me in a bear hug! The hug was long enough that I had the thought in my mind...I'm being bear-hugged by Pele' right now. I love my life.
I remember begging Sara Groves ( my favorite singer in the world) to be on the show, and rejoicing when she said yes. I remember hanging out backstage with her and making an idiot of myself going on and on about how much her music means to me. I remember how cool she was, and at some point we did arm pit farts together. I don't remember why, but that really doesn't matter. I had a photo of us doing it, but it was on an old cell phone that is now in a landfill somewhere. Too bad.
I remember asking Stryper lead singer Michael Sweet if he'd speak to my friend Carl on the phone. Carl had come to faith in Christ, after being heavily influenced by Stryper's music. He said 'yes'...and I know that meant so much to Carl.
From flirting with the Barlow Girls to talking about spirituality with Wynonna Judd to being knocked out when Natalie Grant noticed I had lost weight, to the chaos of explaining to artists why after waiting around for hours there would be no dress rehearsal, to watching the shocked look on singer Ana Laura's face when she saw a George Bush impersonator and freaked out thinking the President was there but then seeing her even more freaked out when she saw Pele', chatting with Billy Baldwin, Carrie Prejan, Randy Travis, Michelle Williams (from Destiny's Child) the Blind Boys of Alabama, Dennis Jernigan, Don Chaffer, Matthew Ward, some guy pretending to be in the group Modest Mouse (he wasn't but I totally believed him), laughing my butt off with John Gray (and later walking in on him doing an interview where he was talking about me), almost walking in on Kirk Franklin changing clothes in the production trailer but hearing him say 'don't come back I'm naked'...begging Shelly Giglio to bring the Passion tour to Israel, telling Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys what a big fan I was, and on and on...
it's just been so much fun.
It's also a kick, when you get to play a small role in the encouragement of some young artists. I always smile whenever I hear 'Tenth Avenue North' on the radio. I remember their publicist Jackie calling me a couple years ago, telling me she had this great band. Their first album wasn't out yet, but she wanted them to perform on the Pre Show. I told her she was crazy, but she encouraged me to watch this video they had made on their website and she told me how uniquely special they were. I watched the video and she was right. I had them on the show...and one year later they were named Best New Artist! I love their music, it has so ministered to me over the last couple years. When they won the award last year, I rushed backstage to congratulate them. What an honor to see from the beginning,this journey God is taking them on.
I also got to work with the Jonas Brothers, before they were mega-stars. I remember their publicist calling me the night before the show asking if I'd have these 3 brothers on as presenters. I had no slots for them, it was the night before the show! I told Steve Gilreath about it and he said, I should try to help that publicist out and make some sort of spot for them. All I could think of, was to have them introduce our host at the top of the show. So, the next day, the Jonas' and their dad came backstage...and I told them my idea. I wanted them to sing the introduction. "And now here's Carrie...." They just looked at me with these dumbfounded stares. 'Um, yeah, they'd rather just say the words, not sing them'. Their dad told me. I was like...'oh come on, it'll be fun...just go with it'. 'No', they said. 'Whatever', I thought to myself. 'These kids are dorks and are going nowhere'. Boy was I wrong....
I especially remember my first time walking in to the Grand Ole Opry. I love country music and used to watch TNN all the time as a kid growing up. I remember driving to the Opry for the first time, driving up to the guard shack behind the threatre, him finding my name on the list, letting me drive in, walking in the artist entrance, going on stage and standing on 'the circle' (all you country music fans know 'the circle')....it was such a hoot! And for 5 years, everytime I drove to that backstage entrance at the Opry, I always felt like the coolest person in the world!
[The only thing I remember not liking about the Opry is that insanely large hotel that makes you pay for parking...one time it took me almost an hour to find my room....really does every hallway have to look exactly the same! But I digress...]
So, that's just a little of the blessing in my life that was the Dove Awards.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for indulging all my name-dropping.
Thanks most of all to the inspiration for the music and the show. Yeshua. He is the reason we sing...and the reason we celebrate. To God alone be the glory...
Chaim, thanks for the great read. You've had some awesome experiences and I know your memory bank feels full and running over!
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