Contemporary worship band at Elevation Church is in the running for top music awards

Elevation Worship, the contemporary Christian music band at Charlotte's Elevation Church, has been nominated for three top Billboard Music Awards.

The band is in the running for Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (for "There is a Cloud") and Top Christian Song (for "O Come to the Altar").

Elevation Pastor Steven Furtick is among the writers of the "O Come to the Altar."

The awards will be given out May 20 during a three-hour live telecast on NBC. Hosting from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas will be singer Kelly Clarkson, a current coach on TV's "The Voice."

Mixing with Furtick and other members of Elevation Worship will be a who's who in popular music, including Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar — all of them also nominees.

Competing with Elevation Worship for Top Christian Artist will be Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, MercyMe and Zach Williams.

Other Christian songs nominated this year: "What A Beautiful Name" (Hillsong Worship), "I'll Find You" (Lecrae featuring Tori Kelly), "Even If (MercyMe) and "Old Church Choir" (Zach Williams).

Last year, Elevation Worship was nominated for three top Dove Awards by the Gospel Music Association.

Before starting Charlotte’s Elevation Church in 2006, Furtick led a musical worship team at Christ Covenant, a Baptist church in Shelby. He and others started Elevation Worship, the Charlotte church’s worship band, in 2007. Since then, some of their albums and songs have climbed to high spots on Billboard’s Christian music charts.

This story was originally published April 19, 2018 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Contemporary worship band at Elevation Church is in the running for top music awards."