Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake, CeCe Winans Lead 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards Nominees: Exclusive

The nominees have been revealed for the upcoming 57th annual GMA Dove Awards, which will honor the top artists and music of the year in Christian and Gospel music.

Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake and CeCe Winans are among this year’s top nominees. Each is nominated in the year’s top category, artist of the year, alongside Josiah Queen and Lauren Daigle.

Wickham’s other nominations include song of the year and worship recorded song of the year, while Winans is nominated in categories including Gospel worship album of the year and worship recorded song of the year. Lake’s nominations include song of the year, rock/contemporary recorded song of the year, pop/contemporary album of the year, and country/roots recorded song of the year.

The 57th annual GMA Dove Awards, which is presented in partnership with the Cantinas Arts Foundation, is set for Oct. 6 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Eight-time GMA Dove Awards winner Tauren Wells will return to host the Dove Awards for a fourth consecutive year. Wells also serves as an executive producer on the award show, and is a two-time nominee, 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,” Wells said in a statement.

The artists vying for new artist of the year are bodie, Emerson Day, Jamie MacDonald, Megan Woods and SEU Worship. The contemporary Gospel recorded song of the year category features nominated songs from Tasha Cobbs Leonard (“Already Good (Tasha Slide)”), ANTHNY (“Imposter Syndrome”), Jonathan McReynolds with Jamal Roberts (“Still (Live)”), Wells with Pastor Mike Jr. (“Sunday Morning”) and Mariah Carey feat. The Clark Sisters (“Jesus I Do”). The country/roots recorded song of the year category features songs by Ben Fuller (“Black Sheep”), Scotty Inman (“Broken Man Can”), Ella Langley (“Speaking Terms”), Anne Wilson with Cole Swindell (“Still Do”) and Lake with Lainey Wilson (“The Jesus I Know Now”).

Other nominations honor the writers and/or producers that work behind the scenes to help shape the top music of the year, including Jonathan Smith with 14 nominations, Jacob Sooter with 12 nominations and Steven Furtick with 11 nominations.

Each year, the GMA Dove Awards ceremony features a theme, with this year’s theme being “Together For One,” inspired by the Biblical verse Colossians 3:14.

“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,” Jackie Patillo, president of the Gospel Music Association, said in a statement.

The awards show will broadcast exclusively on TBN and TBN+ on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET, with a rebroadcast on Oct. 16 at the same times. Fans can also listen to the show on SiriusXM’s The Message during the Oct. 9 simulcast.

The nominees were selected by GMA professional members, from more than 2,800 submitted entries. Final round voting will run from Aug. 7-14, 2026.

See a list of nominations in major categories below, with a full list of nominations across all 39 categories available at 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