A wide range of artists and entertainers turned out to celebrate the Christian music community at the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards on Oct. 6. Held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and hosted for a fourth year by Tauren Wells, the event highlighted many styles of the evolving format, from gospel and country to contemporary pop, Spanish-language worship, rap, bluegrass and beyond.
The event is billed as Christian and gospel music’s biggest night, organized by the Gospel Music Association. Major winners included Phil Wickham, who took home the night's top prize, artist of the year. Wickham also won the award for worship album of the year for "Song of the Saints," and won children's recorded song of the year for "Follow the Light" with Brandon Engman
and Angel. He came into the night leading the field of nominees, with nine total nods.
In accepting the artist of the year honor from longtime Christian music star Chris Tomlin, Wickham first read an inspirational passage, before addressing his win.
"Honestly, I think this is so beautiful tonight," he said from the stage. "Sometimes I struggle receiving this because that's what it's all about. I know [Wells, the night's host] made a joke about being the most humble or whatever, but gosh, it's another thing to lay at His feet and say, thank you Jesus for what we get to do, and let's keep going guys."
Other big winners on the night included CeCe Winans, the most awarded female gospel artist in history, who took home the honor for worship song of the year for "More Than This" [Radio Edit] (ft. Todd Dulaney). Jamie MacDonald won new artist of the year, and Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson earned the award for country/roots song of the year for their collaboration on "The Jesus I Know Now."
Dolly Parton was also a pre-show winner alongside The Grascals, winning bluegrass recorded song of the year for "Broken Angels."
The night's performers included Anne Wilson, Chosen Road, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tauren Wells, TobyMac, Amy Grant, and Natalie Grant. The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards aired exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ app on Friday, Oct. 9, and were simulcast on SiriusXM The Message. An encore presentation will air on TBN and the TBN+ app Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET.
A partial list of the night's winners is found below with winners in bold. The complete list can be viewed at the Gospel Music Association website.
Song of the Year presented by MultiTracks.com
- "Dusty Bibles" (Writers: Josiah Queen, Zac Lawson, Dylan Thomas, John Michael Howell)
- "God I'm Just Grateful" (Writers: Chandler Moore, Pat Barrett, Steven Furtick, Abubakar Baker Shariff-Farr, Joshua Coleman)
- "Left It In The River" (Writers: Jamie MacDonald, Jonathan Gamble, Colby Wedgeworth)
- "No Fear" (Writers: Jon Reddick, Matthew West, Jeff Pardo)
- "What An Awesome God" (Writers: Phil Wickham, Jonathan Smith, Rich Mullins)
- "Mighty Name Of Jesus" (Writers: Hope Darst, Jacob Sooter, Lauren Sloat)
- "Can't Steal My Joy” (Writers: Josiah Queen, Brandon Lake, Hank Bentley, Jacob Sooter)
- "Come Jesus Come" (Writers: Hank Bentley, Bryan Fowler, Stephen McWhirter, Tara McWhirter)
- "Homesick For Heaven" (Writers: Phil Wickham, Jonathan Smith)
- "I Know A Name” (Writers: Steven Furtick, Brandon Lake, Jacob Sooter, Hank Bentley)
Artist of the Year:
- Phil Wickham
- Brandon Lake
- CeCe Winans
- Josiah Queen
- Lauren Daigle
New Artist of the Year
- Jamie MacDonald
- bodie
- Emerson Day
- Megan Woods
- SEU Worship
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
- "No Survivors" - Jeremy Camp (ft. Skillet)
- "SEVENS" - Brandon Lake
- "The Love I Have For You" - Colton Dixon
- "eyes on Him" - Strings & Heart
- "idols" - Stephen Stanley
Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year
- "The Jesus I Know Now" - Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson
- "Black Sheep" - Ben Fuller
- "Broken Man Can" - Scotty Inman
- "Speaking Terms" - Ella Langley
- "Still Do" - Anne Wilson and Cole Swindell
Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year
- "Tu Voz" - Sarai Rivera - WINNER
- "ABCD" - Daddy Yankee (ft. Alex Zurdo)
- "CRISTO (En vivo desde la Prision de El Salvador)” - Miel San Marcos, Josh Morales, Luis Morales Jr.
- "DIGNO" - Nate Diaz (ft. Aaron Moses, Israel Houghton)
- "Necesito a Cristo (En Vivo)” - Karen Espinosa
Worship Recorded Song of the Year Presented by CCLI
- "More Than This [Radio Edit]" - CeCe Winans (ft. Todd Dulaney)
- "Bless Your Name (Live)" - Maranda Curtis
- "One Good God (Live)" - Jonathan McReynolds
- "Something's About to Shift (Live)" - Red Worship, Jonathan Stamper
- "Yahweh Flow (Live In San Francisco)" - Tye Tribbett (ft. Jocelyn Bowman, D'nar Young, Jewell Jones, Jalisa Faye)
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
- "King Of Hearts" - Brandon Lake
- "Counting My Blessings" - Seph Schlueter
- "Jamie MacDonald" - Jamie MacDonald
- "Walk through Fire" - Ben Fuller
- "Mt. Zion" - Josiah Queen
Short Form Music Video of the Year
- "World On Fire" - for KING + COUNTRY and Taylor Hill
- "Heaven On My Mind" - TobyMac
- "I've Got A Fire" - Pat Barrett
- "SEVENS" - Brandon Lake
- "Raised by Wolves" - Franni Cash
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
- “ROB HELL” - indie tribe, nobigdyl., Torey D'Shaun (ft. Jon Keith)
- “Bless You” - Lecrae, Torey D'Shaun
- “DAVE” - Hulvey
- “God Did II” - RUA YOUNG, KB
- “Yes” - Steven Malcolm, for KING + COUNTRY, KB
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
- "Still (Live)" - Jonathan McReynolds, Jamal Roberts
- "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" - Tasha Cobbs Leonard
- "imposter syndrome" - ANTHNY
- "Jesus I Do" - Mariah Carey (ft. The Clark Sisters)
- "Sunday Morning" - Tauren Wells, Pastor Mike Jr.
Southern Gospel Album of the Year
- "Good Answers" - Karen Peck & New River
- "Forever" - Tribute Quartet
- "Steadfast Love" - The Craguns
- "Then Came the Morning" - Gaither Vocal Band
- "This Is The Time I Must Sing" - The Martins
Gospel Worship Album of the Year
- "Live at Redemption Church" - Red Worship
- "Greater" - Todd Galberth
- "More Than This (Deluxe Edition)" - CeCe Winans
- "Promises: The Best Of Todd Dulaney" - Todd Dulaney
- "Soundcheck" - VaShawn Mitchell
Television Series of the Year
- "The Chosen" - WINNER
- "Duck Dynasty: The Revival"
- "House of David"
- "The Promised Land"
- "The Wingfeather Saga"
Feature Film of the Year
- "DAVID" - WINNER
- "A Great Awakening"
- "I Can Only Imagine 2"
- "Sarah's Oil"
- "Soul on Fire"
Chris Parton is a music reporter for The Tennessean. Reach out to him at CParton@nashvill.gannett.com or follow him on Facebook and Instagram @partonikusmax.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Phil Wickham tops winners list at 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards
