Month: July 2025

Indianapolis, IN. (July 30, 2025) – The Gospel Music Association has revealed the nominees for the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards.  Tyscot Records, which will celebrate its 50^th anniversary next year, is celebrating with three Dove Award nominations. 

Gospel music’s coolest crooner, Jason Nelson (Pastor of the Tab church in Windsor Mills, MD), earned two nominations. His seventh album, You Belong: Live in Durham (Jaelyn Song / Tyscot / Fair Tarde), earned a nomination as Gospel Worship Album of the Year. The project was recorded live at World Overcomers Church in Durham, NC, in the summer of 2023. The set features pulsating tracks such as “You Over Everything,” the choir groove “Don’t Worry” (which features Alexis Johnson, Shawn Bigby, and Zacardi Cortez), and touching moments such as “Come Home.” Nelson’s song, “Yahweh,” a recent Billboard No.1 single with Melvin Crispell III, earned a nomination as Gospel Worship Song of the Year. Meanwhile, “Made New (Radio Edit),” a new and brilliantly inspiring duet with Madison Ryann Ward, is racing up the charts.

“What an amazing day and year this has been,” Nelson says. “Two Dove nominations is more than I expected. I’m humbled by my peers seeing the value of my music and my team that worked so hard to create this sound from You Belong.  God continues to amaze me.”

Then, the legendary Prince of Gospel, John P. Kee, earned a nomination for “Church Medley” in the category of Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year. The track is a fusion of Kee’s 1990s era standards “I Believe,” “I Won’t Let Go,” “It Will Be Alright,” “Thank You Lord (He Did It All),” and “He’ll Welcome Me.” It’s a preview of Kee’s forthcoming two-volume project, Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee, an album with new live recordings of some of the biggest hits of Kee’s 40-year career.

“I’m so honored,” Kee said. “The Dove Awards have always represented excellence. I’m super glad to be nominated.”

The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards, presented in partnership with the Cantinas Arts Foundation, will be held October 7, 2025, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The broadcast will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ App Friday, October 10, 2025, at 7:30 pm and 10 pm ET and will be simulcast on SiriusXM The Message. A rebroadcast will air on TBN and the TBN+ App on Friday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. 

Libra Boyd

Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.

Nashville, TENN. (July 30, 2025) – The Gospel Music Association has revealed the nominees for the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards. Brandon Lake leads artist nominations with nine. Artist of the Year nominees include Brandon Lake, CeCe Winans, Forrest Frank, Josiah Queen, Lauren Daigle, and Phil Wickham.

A new and diverse crop of talent showcasing the future of Christian and Gospel music is represented in this year’s class of first-time nominees. Artists include: Abbie Gamboa, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Annatoria, bodie, Caleb Gordon, Chelsea Plank, Chris Blue, Connor Price, Davies., Down East Boys, ECCOS, Emerson Day, FK&M, Gabriel EMC, Gracie Binion, Hannah McClure, High Road, Jaelee Roberts, Jamie MacDonald, Jelly Roll, JWLKRS Worship, Karen Espinosa, Kenzie Walker, Lakewood Music Español, Leanna Crawford, Marcus Cole, Megan Woods, Miles Minnick, Nick Day, ONE HOUSE, Patrick Mayberry, Paul McClure, Red Worship, Roosevelt Stewart, SEU Worship, Skye Peterson, The Belonging Co, Transformation Worship, Waleska Morales, Yandel, and Zane & Donna King. 

The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards, presented in partnership with the Cantinas Arts Foundation, will be held October 7, 2025, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The broadcast will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ App on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm ET, and will be simulcast on SiriusXM The Message. A rebroadcast will air on TBN and the TBN+ App on Friday, October 17th, at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. 

“It’s such an exciting time as we announce this year’s nominees,” says GMA President Jackie Patillo. “We love honoring the incredible gifts of our community of artists, songwriters, producers, and creatives and showcasing all they’ve accomplished this past year. I look forward to celebrating with you at Bridgestone Arena this October!”

The theme for the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards is Creation Sings. “As someone who lives to create, perform, and lead in worship, I’m constantly reminded that our music is just a reflection of a much greater song… one that began when God spoke the world into existence,” shares Dove Awards Host Tauren Wells. “From the rhythms of the ocean to the harmonies of human praise, all of creation is echoing His glory. I can’t wait to celebrate the artists who are adding their voices to that eternal sound.”

Listen to the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards nominee playlists on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Voted on by the GMA Professional Membership, this year’s nominees were chosen from over 2,800 submitted entries. Final round voting will run August 7th through August 14th, 2025.

For the complete list of nominees, visit https://doveawards.com.

– Excerpted from a media release

Libra Boyd

Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.