GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NOMINEES
FOR THE 57th ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS
TAUREN WELLS RETURNS TO HOST FOR A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Phil Wickham Earns Nine Nominations as Top Male Artist Nominee; CeCe Winans Leads Female Artists with Seven
Show set for October 6, 2026 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena; broadcast airs exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ App October 9 at 7:30 and 10 PM ET, with fans also able to listen on SiriusXM's The Message during the simulcast
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 29, 2026) - The Gospel Music Association (GMA) today announced the nominees for the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards, celebrating the best in Christian and Gospel music. Phil Wickham earns nine nominations as this year's top male artist nominee, while CeCe Winans leads all female artists with seven. Both are joined in the Artist of the Year category by Brandon Lake, Josiah Queen and Lauren Daigle.
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57th Annual GMA Dove Awards Host, Tauren Wells
Eight-time Dove Award winner Tauren Wells will return to host the Dove Awards for the fourth consecutive year, marking one of the longest hosting runs in the show's history. This year Wells also serves as an Executive Producer of the show and is a two-time nominee himself, in addition to taking the stage as a performer.
"The Dove Awards are more than just an awards show. The promise of scripture is if two or three people come together that Jesus is in our midst. We know this isn’t about trophies; it’s about elevating the name of Jesus and celebrating those who have done that very well this year. I’m so grateful to be back hosting and I cannot wait to get back on that stage, it’s truly an honor." said Wells.
Behind the scenes, the creative forces shaping this year's biggest Christian and Gospel records earned even deeper recognition: Jonathan Smith leads all nominees with 14 nominations, followed by Jacob Sooter with 12 and Steven Furtick with 11. Their work threads through several of the year's most nominated songs and albums. Alongside them, a new generation is making its own mark: this year's New Artist of the Year nominees, bodie, Emerson Day, Jamie MacDonald, Megan Woods and SEU Worship, represent some of the fastest-rising voices in the genre.
This year's theme, "Together For One," is inspired by Colossians 3:14: "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
“Every year, the Dove Awards bring the diverse voices of the Christian music community together to celebrate the God we all serve, and that's exactly the heart behind this year's theme, 'Together For One.' This year's class of nominees embodies that spirit, creating life-changing music that continues to unite people across the globe,” said Jackie Patillo, President of the Gospel Music Association.
The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards, presented in partnership with the Cantinas Arts Foundation, will be held Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Tickets are on sale now HERE.
The show broadcasts exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ App Friday, October 9 at 7:30 PM and 10 PM ET, with a rebroadcast airing Friday, October 16, at the same times. Fans can also listen on SiriusXM's The Message (Channel 65) during the October 9 simulcast.
Returning alongside the awards show, the Dove Awards Music City Fan Experience gives fans an immersive weekend built around Christian and Gospel music. Packages include:
- - Premium seating at the Night of Worship at the Ryman Auditorium, featuring Elevation Worship
- - New Artist of the Year Showcase, featuring the nominees of the New Artist of the Year category
- - The Drop: exclusive previews from artists and creators in faith-based entertainment
- - Riverboat lunch cruise with artist and songwriter performances
- - Three-night stay at the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown
- - Round-trip transportation to all Fan Experience events
- - Premium seating for the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards
A limited number of Fan Experience packages are available HERE.
The official 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards nominee playlists are available now on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pandora.
This year's nominees were selected by GMA Professional Members from more than 2,800 submitted entries. Final-round voting runs August 7–14, 2026.
For the complete list of nominees, ticket information, Fan Experience packages, press credential applications and more, visit doveawards.com. Find the official social media toolkit HERE. Images of Tauren Wells and top nominees are available HERE. Logos for the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards are located HERE.
Below is a preview of select category nominees for the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards. For the complete list of nominees across all 39 categories, visit doveawards.com.
Song of the Year Presented by MultiTracks.com
"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
"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
"Homesick For Heaven" (Writers) Phil Wickham, Jonathan Smith
"I Know A Name” (Writers) Steven Furtick, Brandon Lake, Jacob Sooter, Hank Bentley
"Left It In The River" (Writers) Jamie MacDonald, Jonathan Gamble, Colby Wedgeworth
"Mighty Name Of Jesus" (Writers) Hope Darst, Jacob Sooter, Lauren Sloat
"No Fear" (Writers) Jon Reddick, Matthew West, Jeff Pardo
"What An Awesome God" (Writers) Phil Wickham, Jonathan Smith, Rich Mullins
Artist of the Year
Brandon Lake
CeCe Winans
Josiah Queen
Lauren Daigle
Phil Wickham
New Artist of the Year Presented by Cantinas Arts Foundation
bodie
Emerson Day
Jamie MacDonald
Megan Woods
SEU Worship
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
“Bless You” - Lecrae, Torey D'Shaun
“DAVE” - Hulvey
“God Did II” - RUA YOUNG, KB
“ROB HELL” - indie tribe, nobigdyl., Torey D'Shaun (ft. Jon Keith)
“Yes” - Steven Malcolm, for KING & COUNTRY, KB
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
"eyes on Him" - Strings & Heart
"idols" - Stephen Stanley
"No Survivors" - Jeremy Camp (ft. Skillet)
"SEVENS" - Brandon Lake
"The Love I Have For You" - Colton Dixon
Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year
"Black Sheep" - Ben Fuller
"Broken Man Can" - Scotty Inman
"Speaking Terms" - Ella Langley
"Still Do" - Anne Wilson, Cole Swindell
"The Jesus I Know Now" - Brandon Lake, Lainey Wilson
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Already Good (Tasha Slide)” - Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“imposter syndrome” - ANTHNY
“Jesus I Do” - Mariah Carey (ft. The Clark Sisters)
“Still (Live)” - Jonathan McReynolds, Jamal Roberts
“Sunday Morning” - Tauren Wells, Pastor Mike Jr.
Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year
"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
"Tu Voz" - Sarai Rivera
Worship Recorded Song of the Year Presented by CCLI
"God I'm Just Grateful" - Elevation Worship, Chandler Moore
"How Good It Is" - Chris Tomlin
"Mighty Name Of Jesus" - Hope Darst, Josh Baldwin
"What An Awesome God" - Phil Wickham
"Worthy Of It All (Worthy)" - CeCe Winans
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
Counting My Blessings -Seph Schlueter
Jamie MacDonald - Jamie MacDonald
King Of Hearts - Brandon Lake
Mt. Zion - Josiah Queen
Walk Through Fire - Ben Fuller
Southern Gospel Album of the Year
Forever - Tribute Quartet
Good Answers - Karen Peck & New River
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
Greater - Todd Galberth
Live at Redemption Church - Red Worship
More Than This (Deluxe Edition) - CeCe Winans
Promises: The Best Of Todd Dulaney - Todd Dulaney
Soundcheck - VaShawn Mitchell
Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept)
“Heaven On My Mind” - TobyMac
“I've Got A Fire” - Pat Barrett
“Raised By Wolves” - Franni Cash
“SEVENS” - Brandon Lake
“World On Fire” - for KING & COUNTRY, Taylor Hill
Feature Film of the Year
A Great Awakening
DAVID
I Can Only Imagine 2
Sarah's Oil
Soul on Fire
Television Series of the Year
Duck Dynasty: The Revival
House of David
The Chosen
The Promised Land
The Wingfeather Saga
The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by the Gospel Music Association in partnership with TPR. Jackie Patillo, Justin Fratt and Tauren Wells serve as executive producers, Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returns as director, and Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.
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