Once all the winners were announced at the 38th annual Gospel Music Awards, you couldn't help but experience a little bit of déjà vu, at least for most of the key awards.

Chris Tomlin was the night's biggest winner, managing to outdo last year's total of five awards. This time he earned six, again drawing top honors as Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. In addition to Pop/Contemporary Album and Praise & Worship Album trophies for his See the Morning project, the worship leader also took home Doves for Worship Song ("Holy Is the Lord") and Special Event Album (Passion's Everything Glorious, the first win for the popular college worship movement).

"I'm just overwhelmed by the whole thing," the typically humble Tomlin said backstage with more Doves than he could carry. "Ultimately, all of this is the favor of God. I'm just trying to be faithful to God and continue to write songs that give people a voice to worship him."

Tomlin's awards weren't the only ones reminiscent of 2006. His friend and collaborator Ed Cash also won Producer of the Year. Natalie Grant repeated her Female Vocalist of the Year win. Casting Crowns was named Group of the Year for the third consecutive time while also earning a Dove for Pop/Contemporary Song ("Praise You in the Storm"). And KJ-52 once again claimed Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (Remixed), as well as Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song ("Never Look Away").

Aaron Shust won three awards

But there was at least one genuine Cinderella story at this year's event, and it started with the announcement for Songwriter of the Year. Newcomer Aaron Shust edged out the veterans (Mac Powell, Mark Hall, Kirk Franklin) and the crossover sensation (Mat Kearney), and did so again when his pop-flavored hymn adaptation "My Savior, My God" was declared the Song of the Year. By the time he took the stage a third time for New Artist of the Year, the good-natured singer/songwriter could hold back the emotions no longer.

"I'm a huge fan of Christian music and always have been," said a tearful Shust after some self-deprecating jokes. "Which makes me feel a little more than out of place here."

Backstage, Shust noted that his home church in Atlanta serves as the host for the Passion movement, and that Chris Tomlin has served as a worship leader and friend to him: "I've been sitting under the worship influence of Chris Tomlin for the last seven years as a worship leader and friend."

There were also two smaller underdog success stories in the rock categories. Having previously earned a Grammy nomination for their debut album, DecembeRadio took honors for Rock Album, facing stiff competition from popular bands Skillet, Hawk Nelson, Red, and Family Force 5. In turn, Red's "Breathe Into Me" was named Rock Recorded Song of the Year over hits by DecembeRadio, Skillet, Stellar Kart, and Plumb.

Jars of Clay, an industry favorite for their highly acclaimed Good Monsters project, won two of the five awards for which they were nominated: Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year and Short Form Music Video ("Work"). Perennial nominee Third Day didn't leave empty-handed, earning one for Christmas Offerings in the newly established Christmas Album of the Year category.

Casting Crowns is Group of the Year

Also notable was the winner for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year, "Find Your Wings" by ex-4Him member Mark Harris. Co-writer and longtime CCM songwriter Tony Wood accepted the award—it was his first win after more than ten nominations over the years.

Otherwise, it was an evening of predictable wins, from Selah's success with Inspirational Album of the Year (Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album) and The Crabb Family for Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus"), to Kirk Franklin's Urban Recorded Song of the Year ("Imagine Me") and Israel Houghton taking Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("Turn It Around").

CCM legend Andraé Crouch earned an award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year through his Mighty Wind project. Country superstar Alan Jackson in turn earned his first Dove for Country Album of the Year, thanks to his Precious Memories release.

It was Doves all around for the Sheard family. A beaming Karen Clark Sheard earned Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for It's Not Over, which garnered trophies for producer Otto Price and her 17-year-old son who also co-produced. Later, she accepted the award for Urban Album of the Year on behalf of her daughter Kierra Kiki Sheard (for This Is Me), who was unable to attend because she was busy studying for college finals.

And no GMA Dove Awards would be complete without expanding the collection of Steven Curtis Chapman. He earned his fifty-first Dove for his contribution to The End of the Spear soundtrack, which won Instrumental Album of the Year.

Click here to see the complete list of winners.

Top Female Artist Natalie Grant also hosted

Hosting duties were capably split between three Christian music luminaries. Natalie Grant was sweet, and looked terrific for someone who birthed twins only nine weeks ago. Donnie McClurkin was a class act as always. But charismatic Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell was the ham of the bunch, and clearly favored among the emcees.

When the Doves are broadcast in syndication (network/times TBA), viewers can also look forward to plenty of musical performances. The clear-cut highlight of the evening was the delightfully rousing opener "Lose My Soul" by tobyMac, along with Kirk Franklin, American Idol contestant Mandisa Hundley, and a gospel choir. Tomlin gave a stirring, harmony-heavy performance of his arrangement of "Amazing Grace," while Shust offered a simple acoustic rendition of "My Savior, My God." The event also includes the last public performance of The Crabb Family as a group before they disband to pursue personal projects and ministries.

In contrast, performances by Leeland, Red, Family Force 5, and DecembeRadio were disappointingly pre-recorded, and thus looked removed from the traditional Gospel Music Awards event. And much of the event had a dated feel to it, between a performance from legendary gospel group The Caravans to the sleepy piano-and-sax music that Kirk Whalum and John Stoddardt provided between segments.

Y! Music has picked up exclusive video performances from the show, and a behind-the-scenes recap.

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