The GMA Dove Awards celebrated many of the biggest songs and artists of the year when the annual awards ceremony aired on Friday night (Oct. 10) on TBN. This year’s awards show took place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (the awards show had previously been held at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena for several years).
With the theme “Creation Sings,” it was appropriate that the evening both started and concluded with two elements: the evening began with For King & Country, Taylor Hill, Africa Nashvlle, and Stage Ready performing a new song, “World on Fire,” as flames danced across the stage.
The show was filled with uplifting singing, all aimed a sharing a faith-filled message. Being in Music City, a various sounds were represented during the evening, including rap/hip-hop, Southern Gospel, Spanish-language, pop, and country.
New artist of the year winner Leanna Crawford performed her hit “Still Waters (Psalm 23),” while host Tauren Wells and Gio also offered up a sterling, energetic rendition of “Let the Church Sing,” complete with staging that included pews and a church podium, as he sang joined by a choir.
Josiah Queen performed “Dusty Bibles” and “The Prodigal” while Elevation Worship and Elevation Rhythm performed “Goodbye Yesterday” and “I Have Decided.” Other performers included Fred Hammond with The Choir Room.
Josiah Queen performs at the DOVE Awards. Photo: Blue Amber
Blue Amber Photo
Israel & New Breed teamed with Unified Sound, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Alex Campos, Christine D’Clario, Josh and Waleska Morales, Ingrid Rosario, Janina Rosado, Lucia Parker, Nate Diaz and Aaron Moses for a charismatic, uplifting performance of “Coritos de Fuego,” while flying several flags including flags representing Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Forrest Frank was awarded the biggest honor of the evening, artist of the year, as well as accolades for pop/contemporary recorded song of the year (“YOUR WAY’S BETTER”) and pop/contemporary album of the year (CHILD OF GOD). Frank had previously released a video on social media stating he was not attending the awards ceremony, and was not present at the ceremony.
The Brandon Lake/Jelly Roll collaboration “Hard Fought Hallelujah” took home honors for song of the year, bluegrass/country/roots recorded song of the year and short form music video. Lake took home five total awards — he also won songwriter of the year-artist, and worship recorded song of the year, for “I Know a Name” with Elevation Worship and Chris Brown.
“I’m not sure how much I belong speaking up here right now…I ain’t been this nervous since I went to criminal court, y’all,” Jelly Roll said as he took the stage alongside Lake as song of the year winners for “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” “This is a real thing for me….I was thinking about Matthew, when he talks about ‘the least,’ when he said, ‘When I was hungry, you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me water, when I was in jail you came and visited me and I realized I am standing here because people took the time with the least. I want to give this message as clear as I can…the world is hearing about Jesus like they haven’t in decades right now. There is a revival happening in the United States of America, where you can’t go on a corner and not hear about Jesus right now,” he said, encouraging those listening, “They’ve heard of Jesus, now go show them Jesus.”
Leanna Crawford at the GMA Dove Awards. Photo: Tessa Voccola
@tessavoccola
Hulvey accepted the rap/hip-hop album of the year accolade for his project Cry, saying, “Glory to the father. And GMA, thank y’all for doing things spirit-filled, for showing the world that we can love Him through our music.”
Carrie Underwood joined Ben Fuller on a rendition of their collaboration “If It Was Up to Me.” To commemorate the Opry 100 celebration happening this year as the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its centennial anniversary, Opry members Steven Curtis Chapman, Vince Gill and Lady A highlighted the longstanding ties between country music and faith-filled messages, performing a version of Hank Williams Sr.’s “I Saw the Light,” as well as Lady A’s “I Run to You,” Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain” and the country classic “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”
CeCe Winans won two honors during the evening, including Christmas recorded song of the year, for “Joy to The World.” In winning Gospel worship recorded song of the year for “Come Jesus Come” with Shirley Caesar, Winans thanked Caesar, telling the crowd, “I love her, I grew up listening to her, so to be able to sing with her was just amazing..I’m honored to do what we all get a chance to do,” adding, “God is faithful…we have an awesome responsibility and that is to bring as many people as we can…Let’s remember why we do what we do, so God would be glorified, and so that as many souls as possible would come to know who Jesus is.” Winans also sang “Come Jesus Come” during the evening, turning in one of the most inspired, powerful performances.
The evening closed with another surprise, as Jon Batiste joined Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake to perform “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” They performed on the main stage at Bridgestone, as rain poured down over the performers onstage.
CeCe Winans at the GMA Dove Awards. Photo: Tessa Voccola
@tessavoccola
See the list of winners in select categories below:
Artist of the year
Brandon Lake
CeCe Winans
WINNER: Forrest Frank
Josiah Queen
Lauren Daigle
Phil Wickham
Song of the year
“Counting My Blessings” (Writers) Seph Schlueter, Jordan Sapp, Jonathan Gamble
“Good Day” (Writer) Forrest Frank
“Goodbye Yesterday” (Writers) Gracie Binion, Steven Furtick, Mitch Wong, Josh Holiday
WINNER: “Hard Fought Hallelujah” (Writers) Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Benjamin William Hastings
“Still Waters (Psalm 23)” (Writers) Leanna Crawford, Jonathan Gamble, Justin Mark Richards
“That’s My King” (Writers) Kellie Gamble, Jess Russ, Lloyd Nicks, Taylor Agan
“That’s Who I Praise” (Writers) Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Benjamin William Hastings, Zac Lawson, Micah Nichols
“The Prodigal” (Writers) Josiah Queen, Jared Marc
“The Truth” (Writers) Megan Woods, Matthew West, Jeff Pardo
“Up!” (Writers) Forrest Frank, Connor Price
New artist of the year
Abbie Gamboa
Caleb Gordon
WINNER: Leanna Crawford
Patrick Mayberry
Strings and Heart
Worship recorded song of the year
“At The Altar” – ELEVATION RHYTHM, Tiffany Hudson, Abbie Gamboa
WINNER: “I Know A Name” – Elevation Worship, Chris Brown, Brandon Lake
“Mighty Name Of Jesus (Live)” – Hope Darst, The Belonging Co.
“The King Is In The Room” – Phil Wickham
“What A God (Live)” – SEU Worship, ONE HOUSE, Kenzie Walker, Chelsea Plank, Roosevelt Stewart
Pop/contemporary recorded song of the year
“Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald
“GOODBYE YESTERDAY” – ELEVATION RHYTHM, Grace Binion
“Still Waters (Psalm 23)” – Leanna Crawford
“That’s Who I Praise” – Brandon Lake
WINNER: “YOUR WAY’S BETTER” – Forrest Frank
Gospel worship recorded song of the year
WINNER: “Come Jesus Come” – CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar
“God Is In Control” – DOE
“One Hallelujah” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell, Israel Houghton (ft. Jonathan McReynolds, Jekalyn Carr)
“Rest On Us (Flow) [Live]” – Naomi Raine
“Yahweh” – Jason Nelson (ft. Melvin Crispell III)
Spanish language recorded song of the year
“Al Estar Aquí” – Marcos Witt, TAYA
“ALGORITMO” – Gabriel EMC, Alex Zurdo
WINNER: “Coritos de Fuego” – Israel & New Breed, Unified Sound (ft. Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Nate Diaz, Aaron Moses, Lucia Parker)
“Sigue Caminando” – Sarai Rivera
“Worthy” – Blanca (ft. Yandel)
Rap/hip-hop album of the year
Anike – Anike
Christlike, California – Mile Minnick
WINNER: CRY – Hulvey
SORRY, I CHANGED (AGAIN) – Aaron Cole
The People We Became – nobigdyl.
Southern gospel recorded song of the year
“If Not For Christ” – The Whisnants
“Love ‘Em Where They Are” – Gaither Vocal Band
“Man On The Middle Cross” – Scotty Inman (ft. Jason Crabb, Charlotte Ritchie)
WINNER: “That’s What Faith Looks Like” – Karen Peck & New River
“You’ll Find Him There (Live)” – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Bluegrass/country/roots recorded song of the year
“(More Than A) Hollow Hallelujah” – The Isaacs
WINNER: “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll
“If It Was Up To Me” – Ben Fuller, Carrie Underwood
“There’s a Hole in the Heart” – The Nelons
“There’s a River” – High Road (ft. Jaelee Roberts)
Feature film of the year
For the One
Reagan
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Forge
WINNER: The King of Kings
Television series of the year
God. Family. Football.
House of David
Jesus: Refugee, Renegade, Redeemer with Bear Grylls
WINNER: The Chosen
When Hope Calls