Four-time GRAMMY winning duo and Curb | Word Entertainment recording artist for KING & COUNTRY are among the leaders of the 2021 Dove Award nominations after the morning’s announcement that the duo has been nominated seven times – Artist of the Year, Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop / Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, Christmas / Special Event Album, Recorded Music Packaging, and Long Form Video. Voting for the final winners will run August 19 through August 26. The 52 Annual GMA Dove Awards will air exclusively on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) on Friday, October 22.

This morning’s announcement continues a busy few days for the No. 1 hitmakers. On August 6^th, for KING & COUNTRY debuted their BRAND-NEW single, “Relate,” with a live performance on the nationally syndicated morning show Fox & Friends. Additionally, the duo premiered the official music video for “Relate” on Apple Music, while the lyric video premiered across SiriusXM’s social platforms. The official music video, filmed in part against the backdrop of a dusky Los Angeles skyline, explores what it means ttravel through the stories of other people’s lives in search of community, togetherness, and unity. Watch the music video HERE.

Since for KING & COUNTRY premiered the track on Good Morning America, “TOGETHER (feat. Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly)” has given hope to millions with its message of perseverance and has spun off a multitude of remixes and multi-genre collaborations. “TOGETHER” has hit No. 1 on the Christian AC charts, and has seen mainstream success hitting No. 15 on the AC charts and No. 6 on the Digital Song Sales chart. for KING & COUNTRY has broken their own industry record with their sixth consecutive No. 1 single, the multi-chart smash hit “Amen.” Billboard recently wrote about the duo’s unparalleled success in a Chart Beat piece at the link provided HERE.

The Gospel Music Association is pleased to announce nominees for the 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. Top nominations include Steven Furtick with ten (10) nominations, Chris Brown with nine (9), Wayne Haun with eight (8), seven (7) nominations each for Elevation Worship and Brandon Lake, six (6) to for KING & COUNTRY and five (5) nods to CeCe Winans, Ed Cash, Tiffany Hammer (Hudson) and Zach Williams. Voted on by the GMA Professional Membership, this year’s nominees were chosen from over 4,600 submitted entries and include a wide range of creativity and artistic integrity in both artist and non-artist categories.

Nominees were announced in a star-studded livestream event featuring Alex Campos, John Cooper, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Kari Jobe, Brian & Jenn Johnson, Jonathan McReynolds, Wande and Tauren Wells. The announcement premiered on the GMA Dove Awards YouTube and Facebook pages with clips on the Dove Awards Instagram and TikTok.

“We are thrilled to welcome back an in-person Dove Awards this year and equally excited about our impressive list of nominees,” says GMA President Jackie Patillo. “As we continue to celebrate the immense creativity and diversity within our community, we’re looking forward to an awards program this year’s nominees deserve.”

Voting for the final winners will run August 19th through August 26th. The GMA Dove Awards are happening live and in person in Nashville, TN, October 19th, 2021. A limited number of tickets and Fan Experiences are still available. The broadcast will air exclusively on TBN, Friday, October 22nd, 2021 8:00p.m. ET and then again at 10:00p.m. ET.

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

Song of the Year
“Another In The Fire” (Writers) Chris Davenport, Joel Houston
“Famous For (I Believe)” (Writers) Alexis Slifer, Chuck Butler, Jordan Sapp, Krissy Nordhoff, Tauren Wells
“Graves Into Gardens” (Writers) Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Tiffany Hudson, Brandon Lake
“Speak To Me” (Writers) Donnie McClurkin, Jeremy Hicks, Johnta Austin, Troy Taylor
“Thank You For It All” (Writers) Aaron Lindsey, Christopher Thomas Leach, Jamone Davis, Marvin Sapp
“The Blessing” (Writers) Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, Steven Furtick
“The Father’s House” (Writers) Benjamin Hastings, Cory Asbury, Ethan Hulse
“There Was Jesus” (Writers) Jonathan Smith, Casey Beathard, Zach Williams
“TOGETHER” (Writers) Joel Smallbone, Josh Kerr, Kirk Franklin, Luke Smallbone, Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson
“Truth Be Told” (Writers) AJ Pruis, Matthew West

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

Gospel Artist of the Year
CeCe Winans
Jonathan McReynolds
Kirk Franklin
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Travis Greene

Southern Gospel Artist of the Year
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Gaither Vocal Band
Jason Crabb
Joseph Habedank
Triumphant Quartet

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“Famous For (I Believe)” – Tauren Wells
“Good God Almighty” – Crowder
“Hold On To Me” – Lauren Daigle
“There Was Jesus” – Zach Williams, ft. Dolly Parton
“TOGETHER” – for KING & COUNTRY, ft. Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“First Church of Mercy” – The Sound
“I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen” – Gaither Vocal Band
“My King is Known By Love” – Crabb Family
“Religion Isn’t Working” – Joseph Habedank
“Wake Up” – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“I Got It” – Pastor Mike Jr.
“joyful” – Dante Bowe
“Never Lost” – CeCe Winans
“Speak To Me” – Koryn Hawthorne
“Touch from You” – Tamela Mann

Worship Recorded Song of the Year
“Battle Belongs” – Phil Wickham
“God So Loved” – We The Kingdom
“Graves Into Gardens” – Elevation Worship, ft. Brandon Lake
“Jireh” – Elevation Worship / Maverick City Music, ft. Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine
“Peace Be Still” – Hope Darst

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
3:34 – Zauntee
Feared By Hell – Social Club Misfits
His Glory Alone – KB
Restoration – Lecrae
The Divine Storm – Ty Brasel

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
Chris Tomlin & Friends – Chris Tomlin
Holy Water – We The Kingdom
Inhale (exhale) – MercyMe
No Stranger – Natalie Grant
To Love A Fool – Cory Asbury

Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year
Alone With My Faith – Harry Connick, Jr.
Little More Love – Jordan Family Band
My Savior – Carrie Underwood
Peace At Last – Nelons
Songs of the Times – Isaacs

Spanish Language Album of the Year
Desesperado (Spanish) – Evan Craft
Mil Generaciones – Miel San Marcos, Essential Worship
Renovada – EP – Blanca
Todos Mis Mejores Amigos – Hillsong Young & Free, Hillsong En Español
Uno – Alex Zurdo – Redimi2 – Funky

Worship Album of the Year
Graves Into Gardens – Elevation Worship
Old Church Basement – Elevation Worship / Maverick City Music
Revival’s In The Air – Bethel Music
The Blessing (Live) – Kari Jobe
The People Tour: Live from Madison Square Garden – Hillsong UNITED

Inspirational Film of the Year
A Week Away
Fatima
Mahalia
My Brother’s Keeper
QUEEN ESTHER

The Grammy® Award nominated gospel act, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, has scored their fourth No. 1 Billboard Gospel Airplay hit with the heart-wrenching ballad, “Help” from their digital EP, Stuck in the House: The Pandemic Project (Key of A / Tyscot / FairTrade).

The song tops the chart for the week ending August 14, 2021, and it also holds the top spot on the Mediabase Gospel Airplay charts too.

Watch “Help” video below;

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has announced that nominations for the 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be unveiled next week. Nominations will be announced via Facebook Live or YouTube on Wednesday, August 11th at 11am ET.

The 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards are scheduled to take place live and in person on October 19th at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville, TN.

The GMA Dove Awards celebrate the contributions of artists from every style of Christian/Gospel music. Nominees are determined by over 1,600 professional members, and winners will be voted on by the entire GMA membership of nearly 2,500.

BMI has recently named Essential Music Publishing (EMP) writer Ethan Hulse as BMI’s Christian Songwriter of the Year. This is the third consecutive year that he has received this honor. In addition, EMP received 11 individual song awards (listed below) representing 12 of the team’s writers.

“We are incredibly proud of this group of songs and the writers who helped create them,” shares Holly Zabka, Sr. Vice President for Essential Music Publishing and Head of Creative for Provident Label Group. “As a publishing company, it’s so encouraging to not just see a large number of songs represented, but so many different writers from our Essential Music Publishing team contributing. Honored to celebrate alongside them and excited for what’s next.”

Christian Songwriter of the Year Ethan Hulse was the co-writer on three songs recognized this year “Rescue Story” (Zach Williams), “Stand In Your Love” (Josh Baldwin), and “The Father’s House” (Cory Asbury). Hulse signed his first publishing deal with Essential Music Publishing in 2016 and has become one of the most sought-after writers in Christian music. With cuts also recorded by Cory Asbury, Bethel Music, Josh Baldwin, and Zach Williams, Hulse has seven No. 1 songs to his name.

Essential Music Publishing – BMI Song Awards (EMP writers):
“Rescue Story”
(Ethan Hulse, Andrew Ripp, Jonathan Smith, Zach William

“Stand In Your Love”
(Ethan Hulse)

“The Father’s House”
(Ethan Hulse)

“God’s Not Done With You”
(Tauren Wells)

“See A Victory”
(Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Jason Ingram)

“The Blessing”
(Chris Brown, Steven Furtick)

“Alive”
(Jason Ingram, Jonathan Smith, Zach Williams)

“Nobody”
(Mark Hall)

“The God Who Stays”
(Jonathan Smith)

“Together”
(Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson)

“Yes I Will”
(Mia Fieldes, Jonathan Smith)

International Gospel music minister, Sinach has become the first Nigerian to win the prestigious BMI Christian Award after her hit single “Way Maker” won the “Song of the Year” award at this year’s event.

BMI celebrated the best in Christian music at its annual Christian Awards celebration yesterday (Aug. 2). The honorees were announced on BMI.com and across the organization’s digital platforms, celebrating the encouraging and uplifting music of BMI’s Christian songwriters.

Song of the Year honors went to “Way Maker,” written by Sinach and published by Capitol CMG Publishing. In 2020, the hit also won the Dove Award for Song of the Year, making Sinach the first Nigerian Christian artist to win the award. The song has been covered by Christian rock band Leeland as well as Michael W. Smith. The Leeland and Smith versions of the song entered the Billboard Hot Christian Chart in the top ten, marking the first time in history that two versions of the same song resided together in the top of the chart.

Watch Video Below

BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) paid tribute to the best and brightest in Christian music with its annual Christian Awards celebration. The honorees were announced today on BMI.com and across the organization’s digital platforms, celebrating the encouraging and uplifting music of BMI’s Christian songwriters. To honor these achievements, BMI created a page on its website where fans can watch special video messages and performances, listen to award-winning music, and more. To view this exclusive content and hear the story behind some of this year’s uplifting songs, please visit bmi.com/christian2021.

“The BMI Christian Awards is one of our favorite annual celebrations, but it is especially meaningful after the events of the last year. Throughout this time, each and every one of these extraordinary songwriters has used their gift to uplift others,” says Leslie Roberts, AVP, Creative, BMI Nashville. “BMI is so proud to honor the creators of the inspirational songs of hope and faith that bring comfort to so many around the world. I am hopeful that we will all be together again to celebrate in person next year.”

The Song of the Year title went to “Way Maker,” written by Sinach and published by Capitol CMG Publishing. In 2020, the hit won the Dove Award for Song of the Year, making Sinach the first Nigerian Christian artist to win the award. The song has been covered by numerous artists including Christian rock band Leeland as well as the iconic Michael W. Smith. The Leeland and Smith versions of the song entered the Billboard Hot Christian Chart in the top ten, marking the first time in history that two versions of the same song resided together in the top of the chart.

For the third year in a row, the Songwriter of the Year award went to Ethan Hulse, who wrote “Rescue Story,” “Stand In Your Love” and “The Father’s House.”  In 2019, Hulse won his first BMI Award and was simultaneously named Songwriter of the Year.

Capitol CMG took home the Publisher of the Year award. The company had the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs, including the hits “Believer,” “Burn the Ships,” “Dead Man Walking,” “God’s Not Done With You,” “Holy Water,” “Let It Rain (Is There Anybody),” “See a Victory,” “Stand In Your Love,” “The Blessing,” “The Father’s House,” “Way Maker,” and “You Are Loved.”

In addition to the major award winners, BMI also paid homage to the Twenty-Five Most Performed Christian Songs of the Year (2020). This year’s winners featured 17 first time Christian award winners including Cody Carnes (“The Blessing”), Franni Cash Cain (“Holy Water”), Martin Cash (“Holy Water”), Dillon Chase (“Symphony”), Dave Clark (“River”), Sheri Easter (“You Are Loved”), Cassidy Estevez (“Symphony”), Rob Estevez (“Symphony”), Luke Guevara (“Symphony”), Matt Hales (“Burn the Ships”), Jason Ingram (“Alive,” “See A Victory”), Ricky Jackson (“Together”), Andrew Ripp (“Rescue Story”), Sinach (“Way Maker”), Rita Springer (“Stand In Your Love”), Mitch Wong (“Believer”), and Jimmy Yeary (“The God I Serve,” “Sometimes It’s The Radio”), who has previously been awarded seven BMI Country Awards. Legendary Christian songwriter and producer Bernie Herms is receiving his 17th and 18th Awards. He was named 2016 Christian Songwriter of the Year and also wrote the 2016 Christian Song of the Year, “Good Good Father.”

For a complete list of winners, video messages and performances, go to bmi.com/christian2021.

eOne celebrated a powerful night of faith and music at the 36^th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which aired on BET on Sunday, August 1st. The Stellar Awards, which taped live on July 10th at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN, featured several of eOne’s chart-topping artists during its broadcast including Jonathan McReynolds, JJ Hairston and Latice Crawford.

Amongst the 5 Stellar Award wins, eOne cemented the major categories Male Vocalist of the Year and Choir of the Year (full list below). During the telecast Jonathan McReynolds delivered a powerful performance of his #1 single “Grace” and his GRAMMY winning single “Movin On” with Mali Music. JJ Hairston opened the show with his brand-new single “Great Jehovah” – impacting radio now. Latice Crawford, celebrated her new album release, The Cure, on the blue-carpet and she presented an award during the main telecast. Hitmaker, James Fortune, also presented on the main telecast, in celebration of his nomination and #1 single, “Nobody But Jesus (feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith).”

A complete list of Entertainment One’s wins can be seen below:

eOne’s 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners

Category #3 – MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds; People; eOne Music

CATEGORY #8 – CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back; JamesTown Music / eOne Music

CATEGORY #9 – PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds, Darryl “LiLMaN” Howell & Rogest “Rosco” Carstarphen, Jr.; People; eOne Music

CATEGORY #12 – CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds; People; eOne Music

CATEGORY #21 – CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back; JamesTown Music / eOne Music

Veteran gospel singer, Monica Lisa Stevenson, has waded in the waters as an independent artist for almost two decades with marginal radio hits such as “He’s the One,” “So Glad He Saved Me,” and “Testimony.”  However, she’s now making waves with Black Smoke Music Worldwide CEO, Kerry Douglas, who has gifted her with both her first Billboard chart entry and her first No. 1 hit.

The bluesy, mid-tempo, “I’m Not Ashamed,” featuring quarter king Paul Porter, tops this week’s Billboard Gospel Airplay chart – after 21 weeks after it hit the Top 30.    “I am overjoyed and thankful for this accomplishment,” she says.  “This has been a long and exciting journey over the years to get to this point.   I’m even more elated that it happened during my 20^th year in music ministry.”

Singer-songwriter, VaShawn Mitchell, originally wrote the song for gospel legend, Shirley Caesar. “I’ve always prayed that God would allow me to write, to produce and to sing songs that can live longer than I will,” he says. “I wrote this song with Pastor Caesar in mind, and I offered it to her, but she didn’t feel that it was right for her and passed on it.” By chance, Mitchell was in the recording studio one day with Stevenson’s engineer husband, Derrick, when Monica’s name came up. “VaShawn asked Derrick if Monica was open to some new music and offered them the song.  They added Paul Porter and the rest is history,” says Stevenson’s manager, Ruben Freeman.    

The first of quartet singer George Bowen’s (The Sensational Gospelaires) six children, Stevenson was raised in Wetumpka, AL and now lives in Atlanta, GA. She and her husband, Derrick, launched the Monicamuzik label in 2009 with the album, Finally…In God’s Time. In 2013, she followed up with the project, Live in Atlanta, and Kainos (The Acoustic Documentary) in 2016.

Watch “I’m Not Ashamed” Video below;

(Birmingham, Alabama) The winning streak kicks into high gear for Blacksmoke Music Worldwide/Rock City recording artist Mike McClure, Jr. known professionally as Pastor Mike, Jr. at the 36th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Pastor Mike, Jr.  brought the audience to its feet with his awe inspiring medley  that encapsulated first his Gospel radio ten consecutive weeks chart topping hit BIG and the debut of a soulfully stirring song, Amazing which is a remix based on Gnarls Barkley’s hit single, Crazy.   

Nominated in seven categories for this year’s Stellars, McClure captured three Stellar Awards during the star studded evening,  for Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year, Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year and the coveted Artist of the Year, rounding his total Stellar Award count to five In just two years.  He is the first Alabamian to win 5 Stellars and the first Alabamian to receive the Artist of the Year Award.
Pastor Mike, Jr. was filled with joy when expressing his gratitude.  “I am so humbled by these awards, especially the prestigious Artist of the Year award.  It’s my prayer that I can continue the rich legacy of Gospel Music and impact lives all across the world.  Thank you, Don Jackson (Stellar Awards Family), Kerry Douglas (Blacksmoke Music Family), Rock City Church and all those who prayed and supported me.  Last but not least, to my wife and family, I love you.”

Blacksmoke Music Worldwide CEO  and 2021 Stellar Hall of Fame inductee Kerry Douglas offered praise for Pastor Mike, Jr.  “I have said so many times before, we all knew that we had something special in Pastor Mike, its just refreshing to know that the Gospel music community continues to validate what we have known for some time.  Pastor Mike, Jr. is an effective agent of change.  Yes, he is a pastor and life catalyst.  Yes, he is a community activist and social scientist.  But most importantly, he is wise enough to use the universal power of music to touch the lives of people from all backgrounds and all ages, all around the world, and we are proud to call him one of ours.”

Pastor Mike continues his impact on the radio with his current single, I Got It taking the top spot at Gospel radio for 3 weeks before crossing over to the urban charts where it is in the top 20.  His latest single, Grateful is fast becoming another fan favorite and his new disc, I Got It Singles Ministry Volume one hits digital retail outlets and streaming platforms in August. 

About Pastor Mike, Jr. Born Mike McClure, Jr., Pastor Mike Jr. is called to minister to people from all walks of life and especially to those who have never met Christ. He is Senior Pastor of The Rock Church in Birmingham, which started as a college ministry and has grown meteorically to over 2,000 members. Pastor Mike Jr. is paving the way for others to break the boundaries of convention through his bold delivery of the Word of God and willingness to talk about the tough subjects that are often left unaddressed. His debut album, Live Free, features inspirational anthems that speak to the desire to win, recover, and survive through Christ. A community minded leader with a heart for the people in the community he lives in, Pastor Mike, Jr. is once again stepping up to the plate and clearing another $1 Million in medical debt for the Birmingham community!