Sparrow Records artist Steven Curtis Chapman was awarded the American Music Award for Favorite Artist in Contemporary Inspirational Music at last night’s awards held live in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium. The American Music Awards were broadcast nationwide on ABC.

This is Chapman’s second time to be nominated and his first win in this category, a category that has only been recognized for the last three years in the 31 years of American Music Awards broadcast.

Thrilled by tonight’s win, Chapman comments, “It’s great to know we have a home at this awards show. Because of this genre still be new to the AMA’s, along with fellow nominees Third Day and MercyMe, I feel this is more of a group win than the winner and a wonderful way to represent Christian music.”

Chapman was also a presenter for the evening, co-presenting with Sara Rue (ABC’s Less Than Perfect) as they introduced The Bomb Squad, an unsigned band that won the Coca-Cola New Music Award Competition and the opportunity to perform on the AMA’s.

Dan Raines, President of Creative Trust and manager to Chapman, quipped, “The momentum around Steven continues to grow and we are thankful to Dick Clark and all of the fans for this award.”