In a show that looked more professional and featured with more diverse performances and presenters than ever before, the 35th annual GMA Music Awards honored a new generation of artists during the ceremonies held last night in Nashville.

Switchfoot and Mercy Me went home the big winners, with Mercy Me landing the coveted Group of the Year and Artist of the Year Doves, plus the hit song "Word of God Speak" giving frontman Bart Millard and co-writer Pete Kipley another pair of Doves each in the Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year categories.

Millard hugged fellow contender and lead singer for Third Day Mac Powell on the way up to make his acceptance speech for Group of the Year. "The good news is that none of this overshadows what Christ has done for us, amen?" Millard asked the audience, before thanking the band's wives and kids.

Brothers Jon and Tim Foreman of Switchfoot won Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "Ammunition," Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song for "Meant to Live," and album Beautiful Letdown was dubbed Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year.

Other new Dove winners included Mark Hall of Casting Crowns as Songwriter of the Year, Jeremy Camp with two Doves for Male Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year.

Stacie Orrico nabbed the Female Vocalist honors and Short Form Video of the Year award for "(There's Gotta Be) More to Life," and was conspicuously absent from the ceremonies. Orrico is currently taking time off after spending the bulk of last year continuously on the road.

Industry favorites Third Day picked up two awards. The group won in the Praise & Worship category for Offerings II:- All I Have to Give and picked up a Dove for Long Form Music Video.

Powell said he spent the evening constantly tearing up, sensing a unity among the artists and a spirit of community he had never felt before. "There is such a unity in this place with people who love the Lord and simply want to make music to glorify the Lord," Powell said. "We are honored to simply be in the room with you guys."

Repeat winners Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman went home empty-handed this year, although both presented during the evening, while NFL player Deion Sanders and singer Yolanda Adams co-hosted the awards show.

For a complete list of winners, visit www.GMAMusicAwards.com. The show will air at 8 p.m. EDT on May 28 on cable network UPN.

Look for full coverage of GMA week and the GMA Music Awards in the June 1 edition of Christian Retailing.