TAUREN WELLS RETURNS TO HOST DOVE AWARDS FOR THE 4TH TIME + NOMINEEES LIST

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.

 

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 78) 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.

 

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

 

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.