If you’ve never watched the GMA Dove Awards and you’re a Christian music fan, you’re missing out. It’s like the Grammys, Oscars and Emmys for faith-based music, movies and TV productions full of some really entertaining music performances. Now celebrating its 54th year, the award show was recorded last Tuesday in Nashville and broadcast tonight on TBN. Did you miss it? Good news – the special will have two encore presentations on October 27 at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 pm on TBN or you can stream it right now on the TBN app.
Hosted by Tauren Wells, the night includes performances byBrandon Lake, for KING + COUNTRY, Katy Nichole, Miel San Marcos, Pastor Mike Jr., Phil Wickham, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Zach Williams with Walker Hayes and more. A special moment highlighting the impact of hip hop across the decades features performances from Hulvey, Social Club Misfits, and GRITS and TobyMac taking it all the way back with a reprise of 2002’s “Ooh Aah (My Life Be Like).”
Brandon Lake was the big winner of the night with four total awards including Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year – Artist, Worship Recorded Song of the Year and Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year. Song of the Year went to “Goodness Of God,” honoring songwriters Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, and Brian Johnson. Tasha Cobbs Leonard took home two awards, Gospel Worship Album of the Year and Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. New Artist of the Year went to Katy Nicole and Jesus Revolution took home Feature Film of the Year.
“There are so many people in this room that I look up to and who gave me permission to write as a young boy. They say imitate before you innovate. I have imitated so many of you year after year after year and songs not making it and no one hearing it and then God breathes on a little something. I’m so grateful to be a part of this community. During COVID, what was really beautiful is, the song ‘Gratitude’ says, ‘You’ve got a lion inside your lungs.’ Thousands of people were sending me messages of people that were in the hospital and the world would say, you’ve got death in your lungs, and they would say, no, you’ve got the Lion of the tribe of Judah in your lungs. Get up and praise the Lord!”
– Brandon Lake accepting the award for Artist of the Year
(Jason Davis, GMA Dove Awards)
“I made this record in honor of my son Truett, my firstborn who we lost. His life was like a shot of lightning, burning fast and hot. You couldn’t help but take notice. I couldn’t be more thankful that our God loves the wild ones. I made these songs in the hardest, coldest of valleys and we still don’t know why God would ask this of us, but sometimes we don’t get to ask those questions. He didn’t promise us that we wouldn’t face hard things, that we wouldn’t face loss. He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. If you take the time to look in the hardest deepest valleys, the coldest places in this world, if you take the time to look, He is there. He is true to His word that He will not leave us. I have experienced that. He is the only reason that there is life after death.
TobyMac accepting the award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Life After Death
“Don’t look at me, look at Jesus. I am just so thankful. When they say it takes a team I really mean that. I wouldn’t stay grounded if it weren’t for the people around me who say, it’s not about you, this is about God. This is about Jesus. My first Christian song I ever wrote was called ‘Shine.’ And I just wanted to leave you with this – God put a light inside of us so we may go out into the world and shine before others so that they can see His goodness. So whatever you do from this moment forward, do it for the goodness of our God, for the glory of our God.”
– Katy Nichole accepting the award for New Artist of the Year
(Blue Amber Photography, GMA Dove Awards)
This year’s winners are:
- ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Brandon Lake
- NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Katy Nichole
- SONG OF THE YEAR: “Goodness of God”
- WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LION: Live From The Loft – Elevation Worship
- RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Church Clothes 4 – Lecrae
- SPANISH LANGUAGE RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Coritis (En Vivo)” – Miel San Marcos, Daniel Calveti, Marcos Witt, Ingrid Rosario
- BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Good Morning Mercy” – Jason Crabb, Dylan Scott
- POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Life After Death – TobyMac
- GOSPEL WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Hymns (Live) – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
- FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR: Jesus Revolution
- TELEVISON SERIES OF THE YEAR: The Chosen
- For the full list of winners, CLICK HERE.
Main images: GMA Dove Awards
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