The small award show that began 52 years ago to honor excellence in southern gospel music has grown into a celebration of the wide range of genres in Christian music today. Entertainers from gospel and pop to rap and hip hop gather together to enjoy live performances and acknowledge the sacrifice and talent that goes into creating music that honors God. Through the years, legend Steven Curtis Chapman has received the most doves, winning 59 of the statues since receiving his first in 1989.
The award show is excited to return live and in person this year to Allen Arena in Nashville, TN. The theme for the October 19th show will be “Stronger Together”. If you’re unable to make it to Nashville to see your favorite artists in person, you will be able to watch the award show on TBN on October 22.
This year’s nominees were announced this morning and here are a few of the creatives that could be bringing home a descending dove statue this year. Who would you choose to win?
52nd Dove Award Nominees 2021
Song of the Year
Another In The Fire
(Writers) Chris Davenport, Joel Houston, (Publishers) Hillsong MP Songs, Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
Famous For (I Believe)
(Writers) Alexis Slifer, Chuck Butler, Jordan Sapp, Krissy Nordhoff, Tauren Wells, (Publishers) All Essential Music, Be Essential Songs, Buddybabe Music, Capitol CMG Paragon, Crucial Music Entertainment, Integrity’s Praise! Music, Jord A Lil Music, Nordained Music, Songs By JSapp
Graves Into Gardens
(Writers) Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Tiffany Hudson, Brandon Lake, (Publishers) Bethel Music Publishing, Brandon Lake Music, Maverick City Publishing Worldwide, Music by Elevation Worship Publishing
Speak To Me
(Writers) Donnie McClurkin, Jeremy Hicks, Johnta Austin, Troy Taylor, (Publishers) Don Mac Music, Naked Under My Clothes Music, Peermusic III Ltd, Savgos Music Inc, Sony/Atv Tunes Llc, W S Music
Thank You For It All
(Writers) Aaron Lindsey, Christopher Thomas Leach, Jamone Davis, Marvin Sapp, (Publishers) Capitol Cmg Paragon, Five Lions Publishing, Jarmone Hoox Davis Publishing, Marvin L. Sapp Music, Universal Music Brentwood Benson Songs
The Blessing
(Writers) Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, Steven Furtick, (Publishers) Capitol CMG Paragon, Kari Jobe Carnes Music, Music by Elevation Worship Publishing, Worship Together Music, Writer’s Roof Publishing
The Father’s House
(Writers) Benjamin Hastings, Cory Asbury, Ethan Hulse, (Publishers) Be Essential Songs, Bethel Music Publishing, Cory Asbury Publishing, EGH Music Publishing, SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia
There Was Jesus
(Writers) Jonathan Smith, Casey Beathard, Zach Williams, (Publishers) Anthems of Hope, Be Essential Songs, Cashagamble Jet Music, Little Louder Songs, Seven Ring Circus Songs, Wisteria Drive
TOGETHER
(Writers) Joel Smallbone, Josh Kerr, Kirk Franklin, Luke Smallbone, Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson, (Publishers) Curb Dayspring Music, Curb Word Music, Heavenly Junkie Music, Kilns Music, Method to the Madness, Richmond Park Publishing, Shankel Songs, Shaun Shankel Pub Designee, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., WC Music Corp.
Truth Be Told
(Writers) AJ Pruis, Matthew West (Publishers) Combustion Five, Get Ur Seek On, Highly Combustible Music, Two Story House Music
Songwriter of the Year (Artist)
Brandon Lake
Chris Brown
Ed Cash
Kirk Franklin
Matthew West
Ethan Hulse
Jason Ingram
Jordan Sapp
Steven Furtick
Tiffany Hammer
Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
for KING & COUNTRY
Hillsong UNITED
Tauren Wells
We The Kingdom
Zach Williams
Southern Gospel Artist of the Year
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Gaither Vocal Band
Jason Crabb
Joseph Habedank
Triumphant Quartet
Gospel Artist of the Year
Jonathan McReynolds
Kirk Franklin
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Travis Greene
Artist of the Year
Elevation Worship
for KING & COUNTRY
Lauren Daigle
Phil Wickham
Zach Williams
New Artist of the Year
Brandon Lake
CAIN
Dante Bowe
Hope Darst
Maverick City Music
Producer of the Year
AyRon Lewis
The Creak Music (David Leonard, Brad King, Seth Talley)
Jordan Mohilowski
Jordan Sapp
Wayne Haun
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
KB -10K
Lecrae- Deep End
Steven Malcolm, ft. Childish Major & Taylor Hill – Glory On Me
Social Club Misfits – Is That Okay?
Hulvey, ft. Lecrae, SVRCINA – Reasons
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
Brandon Lake – I Need A Ghost
Jon Foreman, ft. Lauren Daigle – Place Called Earth
Zach Williams – Stand My Ground
Skillet – This Is the Kingdom
NEEDTOBREATHE – Who Am I
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
Tauren Wells – Famous For (I Believe)
Crowder – Good God Almighty
Lauren Daigle – Hold On To Me
Zach Williams, ft. Dolly Parton – There Was Jesus
for KING & COUNTRY, ft. Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly – TOGETHER
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
FAITHFUL, Ellie Holcomb & Amy Grant – A Woman
Harry Connick, Jr. -Alone With My Faith
Carrie Underwood, ft. Cece Winans – Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Hope Darst – Promise Keeper
Phillips, Craig & Dean – There Is a God
Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
The Sound – First Church of Mercy
Gaither Vocal Band – I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen
Crabb Family – My King is Known By Love
Joseph Habedank – Religion Isn’t Working
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – Wake Up
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year
Harry Connick, Jr. – Because He Lives
Browns – Better Off There
Fortune/Walker/Rogers/Isaacs – Go Rest High on That Mountain
The Sound – Great God Almighty
Nelons – If God Pulled Back the Curtain
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
Pastor Mike Jr. – I Got It
Dante Bowe – joyful
CeCe Winans – Never Lost
Koryn Hawthorne – Speak To Me
Tamela Mann – Touch from You
Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
Jekalyn Carr – Changing Your Story
Anthony Brown & group therAPy – Help
Maranda Curtis – I Made It
PJ Morton, ft. J Moss – Repay You
Melvin Crispel III – Wonderful Is Your Name
Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year
CeCe Winans – Believe For It – Travis Greene, ft. Steffany Gretzinger
Travis Greene, ft. Steffany Gretzinger – Good & Loved
Rich Tolbert Jr. – Never Be Defeated
Dante Bowe, ft. Steffany Gretzinger, Chandler Moore – Voice of God
Jonathan Traylor – You Get The Glory
Worship Recorded Song of the Year
Phil Wickham – Battle Belongs
We The Kingdom – God So Loved
Elevation Worship, ft. Brandon Lake – Graves Into Gardens
Elevation Worship / Maverick City Music, ft. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine – Jireh
Hope Darst – Peace Be Still
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
Zauntee – 1970-01-01 03:34:00
Social Club Misfits – Feared By Hell
KB – His Glory Alone
Lecrae – Restoration
Ty Brasel – The Divine Storm
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
Jon Foreman – Departures
NEEDTOBREATHE – Out Of Body
Demon Hunter – Songs Of Death And Resurrection
Citizens – The Joy Of Being
Fit For A King – The Path
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
Chris Tomlin – Chris Tomlin & Friends
We The Kingdom – Holy Water
MercyMe – inhale (exhale)
Natalie Grant – No Stranger
Cory Asbury – To Love A Fool
If you can’t wait until October to see a great Dove Award Performance, check out We The Kingdom perform at the 2020 Dove Awards.
You Can’t Help but Dance to We The Kingdom’s Performance of Holy Water at the Dove Awards