Zach Williams (photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for K-LOVE Fan Awards)
Nashville, Tenn. (Jun. 4, 2021) – for KING & COUNTRY and Zach Williams scored double wins during tonight’s broadcast of the fan-fueled K-LOVE Fan Awards. Taped live and in person in front of a capacity crowd at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry House, Artist of the Year and Group of the Year went to for KING & COUNTRY, as Zach Williams was named Male Artist of the Year and received the Song of the Year award for his duet with Dolly Parton, “There Was Jesus.” Other winners included Michael W. Smith’s first K-LOVE Fan Award nomination and win for Worship Song of the Year (“Waymaker”) and newcomers CAIN for Breakout Single of the Year (“Rise Up”). The eighth annual show, sponsored by Coca-Cola Consolidated, was broadcast by TBN this evening and is now streaming on the TBN app. The K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend, culminating with the award show, was the largest event at the Gaylord Opryland Resort post-COVID.
Centering around the awards’ mission to also recognize mission-driven people and projects outside of the music community, “The Chosen” was named the Film Impact Winner; Scott Drew, Head Coach of Baylor’s National Championship Men’s Basketball team, was honored with the Sports Impact Award; Skillet lead vocalist John Cooper was given the Book Impact Award for his debut book, Awake and Alive to Truth.
Matthew West hosted the night for a record 6th time, which featured unique collaborative performances, including his own with country superstar Carly Pearce, Danny Gokey with Latin stars Evan Craft and Redimi2, Kari Jobe with Cody Carnes and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tauren Wells with Gary LeVox, and Zach Williams with CAIN. Additionally, Andrew Ripp, Casting Crowns, Cory Asbury, Crowder, Dante Bowe, Elevation Worship, MercyMe, Michael W. Smith and We The Kingdom rounded out the vast array of performers.
The evening’s presenters represent the diversity of the award catergories, with appearances by New York Time’s best-selling author and podcaster Annie F. Downs, UK Pastor Charlotte Gambill, We Are Messenger’s Darren Mulligan, multi-platinum artist Michael W. Smith, industry veteran and award-winning singer Natalie Grant, AccessMore Podcast host and former ABC News correspondent Paula Faris, Jonathan Roumi and Dallas Jenkins from the breakout TV series “The Chosen,” and songstress Riley Clemmons.
The award show capped a weekend of live and in-person, fan-focused events, the first in Nashville since March 2020, including a songwriter’s showcase hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman, and a worship service with Natalie Grant and Charlotte Gambill, all at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.
Full List of 2021 K-LOVE Fan Awards WINNERS:
Male Artist of the Year
Zach Williams
Female Artist of the Year
Lauren Daigle
Group of the Year
for KING & COUNTRY
Breakout Single
CAIN “Rise Up”
Worship Song of the Year
Michael W. Smith “Waymaker”
Song of the Year
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton “There Was Jesus”
Artist of the Year
for KING & COUNTRY
Film & Television Impact
The Chosen
Book Impact
John Cooper “Awake & Alive To Truth”
Sports Impact
Scott Drew, Head Coach Baylor Mens Basketball
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