Our recent trip to Nashville for GMA Week and the Dove Awards was the culmination of years of remote collaboration for the three of us—Jay, Kelly, and me (Mike). As the team behind Today’s Christian Entertainment (TCE) and Kingdom Builder, we’ve worked side-by-side yet separated by distance, making this first opportunity to work a major red carpet and share these life-changing moments in person truly significant. This article is more than a recap; it’s a deep, four-part reflection on God’s profound faithfulness, the bonds of our team, and the vibrant Christian music community we are blessed to serve.

Day 1: Monday, October 6 – The Perfect, Purposeful Prelude

A Personal Triumph and a Kingdom-Building Evening

The trip began with both a personal tradition and a long-awaited first. Since Jay and I both live in Central Florida, we flew up together on Avelo Airlines out of the small Lakeland airport—and honestly, we have no complaints. The short, easy flight set the perfect tone for what would become an unforgettable week. Once we landed in Tennessee and grabbed our rental, our first stop was Hattie B’s Nashville Hot Chicken near the Factory in Franklin. It’s where I had my very first meal on a previous trip, so it felt right to share that experience with Jay and make it a new tradition. It was his first time trying Hattie B’s, and while I went for the hot chicken, he laughed and admitted that even his “mild” had a surprising kick. After getting settled at our friend’s generous accommodation, we spent the afternoon in great conversation with our host—reflecting and preparing our hearts for the days ahead. It was the perfect start—equal parts comfort, connection, and anticipation.

The next major milestone was picking up Kelly. Though we’ve been working closely together for a long time, Jay and I had never met Kelly in person. That moment, dropping her off at her hotel, was the immediate realization of a goal, and we dove straight into business, using the time to finalize our questions for the massive red-carpet event the next day. It was a tangible sign of our team finally being fully together.

The night concluded at the Jesus In a Bar showcase at Live Oak in downtown Nashville—an event that set the spiritual tone for the entire GMA week. Kelly perfectly described it as an intimate, acoustic writers’ round featuring sixteen incredibly talented songwriters. She noted, “These are some of my favorite types of shows where not only are we treated to the music, but the stories of where the songs came from.” We heard powerful acoustic sets from artists Kelly particularly enjoyed, like Rhett Walker and Eli Gable, but for me, it was a profound networking and ministry opportunity. Kelly was thrilled to catch up with friends like Kate Stanford and Grace Graber, and I was equally excited to finally meet some of my new friends in the flesh, including Grace Graber and the amazing Rachael Nemiroff, whose music I’ve recently grown to really admire. I also connected with my brother Bradden Ford and gave a huge shout-out to Krystal Polychronis of 3 Strands Management, one of the main organizers and a true ministry inspiration in my life. The whole atmosphere felt like an undeniable “God moment.” Jay and I, armed with our new business cards, were not just networking; we were actively “Building the Kingdom” for the week ahead. Even the fun observation of Baylee Littrell (son of the Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell, who was also in attendance) performing underscored the fact that music, faith, and community intersect in the most unexpected and beautiful ways. As I reflected on the night much later, what stood out was the sheer volume of familiar faces and the powerful sense of shared purpose; it truly was a Kingdom-building night in every sense.

Day 2: Tuesday, October 7 – The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards

From Downpour to Dream Come True on the Red Carpet

Tuesday was the culmination of months of planning and anticipation: the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards at the Bridgestone Arena. It began with a touch of nostalgia for me, having breakfast at Hardee’s with Jay—a place I hadn’t visited in years. Then it was off to meet Kelly at her hotel for our final red-carpet preparations before heading downtown.

The weather seemed determined to test our faith. As we arrived near the arena, the sky opened up in a literal downpour. I remember thinking, “Lord, how is this rain going to really affect our situation?” But in a beautiful display of God’s provision, everything was safely indoors. Once inside, the atmosphere shifted to one of pure joy and electric energy.

For our entire team, this was a massive step. Jay summarized the experience perfectly: “Being at the GMA Dove Awards with my team from TCE/Kingdom Builder for the first time was an amazing experience. As a tight-knit team that has worked together remotely for years, it was a true blessing for the three of us to get together (finally) in person to work our first red carpet together.” This was not only my first time covering the Dove Awards red carpet, but also my first time in Nashville seeing the show live. For a journalist in Christian entertainment, it was a dream come true and an incredible honor to represent both TCE and Kingdom Builder on such a stage.

Kelly, too, was embracing her first time on the carpet. She admitted she was “definitely a bit nervous going into it” but called it a “fun experience.” She loved the interactions with artists like Point Of Grace, Selah, The Isaacs, and Colton Dixon, and also made sure to give props to the hard-working publicists and fellow media. The interviews we conducted were deeply fulfilling, allowing us to be face-to-face with artists who have truly impacted my life over the past six months.

Beyond the interviews, the night held profound personal moments. For Jay, who had been to the awards show three times prior, “this one was truly special in that fact that for the first time, we were actually able to attend and experience the show itself.” For me, a highlight was finally meeting Jackie Patillo, President of the GMA—and the mother of my late friend, Gabe Patillo. That moment was incredibly meaningful. I also had the chance to spend time with Justin Sarachik, Editor-in-Chief of Rapzilla, as his setup was right next to ours on the carpet. Getting to “chop it up” with him and discuss Christian Hip Hop was awesome. And, of course, the exuberant personality and pure joy of Joey Tran was a huge morale booster for the night. The show itself was a deep emotional experience; I will admit that the night had me in tears on numerous occasions, especially after everything my family and I have been through lately. Kelly echoed this, calling it one of the best Dove Awards she’s ever seen, highlighting performances like the incredible opening by for King & Country and the powerful tribute featuring Steven Curtis Chapman, Lady A, and Vince Gill. It was all about God, our Savior, and the shared message of hope.

Day 3: Wednesday, October 8 – Fellowship, Interviews, and Backstage at the Opry

A Day of Meaningful Affirmation and a Bucket-List Evening

Wednesday was a crucial day of deepening relationships and experiencing a historic Nashville landmark. It began with early interviews for me, including a rearranged 8:30 a.m. session downtown with artists Marcel Patillo, Kennis Clark, and Jimmy Rock. Connecting with Marcel was especially significant, given my history with his brother, Gabe Patillo, and it felt like a true, heartfelt conversation.

Following that, we gathered back in Franklin for a one-on-one interview that Kelly took the lead on with emerging artist Michael Sarver (a former American Idol contestant). Kelly called the conversation about his debut single “Warrior” and God’s faithfulness in his life a “great conversation that I hope will encourage everyone who sees it.”

The afternoon was dedicated to meaningful fellowship that continued to affirm our mission. We had a delightful Greek lunch with Brianne of AOH Music, who had been an artist we had covered and supported. She wholeheartedly affirmed that our work at TCE is powerful and deeply appreciated within the industry. Following that, we had a wonderful time over coffee with Grace + Max. As Kelly noted, it was a “wonderful afternoon of fellowship, heartfelt conversations and quality time with these awesome humans I’m so thankful to call friends.” These meetings were precious reminders that the artists we work with are truly friends and family in the body of Christ.

The evening was a massive bucket-list moment: a show at the Grand Ole Opry. The trip was made exponentially special by the generosity of a publicist who secured us backstage access. Jay’s excitement was palpable: “Just being able to enjoy a show at the Opry for the first time was truly amazing. But having backstage access to the iconic venue during a show, was truly a blessed once-in-a-lifetime experience!” He found walking the halls and admiring the history incredibly humbling. Kelly, who grew up watching the Opry, felt like she was part of the Opry family, noting that seeing icons like Vince Gill, Deana Carter, and Marty Stuart brought back so many fond memories. For me, getting to not just see the show, but meet and talk with artists like Vince Gill and celebrate Connie Smith’s 60th year as an Opry member, was a profound memory. Even running into Charles Esten (from the Nashville TV show) made the whole experience feel like a surreal convergence of entertainment worlds. This experience was truly a highlight of the trip, celebrating not just music, but the deep faith and powerful memories being made.

Day 4: Thursday, October 9 – Reflection and Legacy

A Concluding Note of Gratitude and Historic Confirmation

Thursday was our final day, marking Kelly’s journey home and a final, reflective outing for Jay and me.

The day began with a farewell breakfast. Kelly’s thoughts perfectly encapsulated the reflective spirit of the end of the trip: “Reflecting on everything those few days held, I can’t help but see God’s kindness, faithfulness and remember that He truly knows the dreams of your heart and will take you places you never thought possible… when you trust in Him.” Her departure was a moment to pause and appreciate the immense opportunities we had been given and the strengthening of our friendship.

For Jay and me, the final stop was the brand-new Museum of Christian & Gospel Music. It was a destination Jay was particularly enthusiastic about: “As a lover of museums, history and Christian music, it really offers the best of them all, highlighting all of the ground-breaking pioneers that have made the industry what it is now. Visiting here is a must and offers music fans something truly special.” Visiting it during its opening week was the perfect final note. Walking through the halls, seeing the history of the music and ministry we cover, felt like a spiritual and professional affirmation. It provided a deep, historical context for the contemporary work we had just celebrated at the Dove Awards.

For me, the museum visit cemented the understanding that our work at TCE and Kingdom Builder is part of a much larger, powerful legacy. The entire Nashville trip—from the intimate “Jesus In A Bar” event to the professional demands of the red carpet, the surreal backstage access at the Opry, and the profound history we absorbed at the museum—was a transformative experience. We came together as a remote team, saw our mission validated by industry leaders, and witnessed firsthand the movement of God within the faith and entertainment community. We left Nashville as a more unified force, ready to continue spreading the word and giving all the glory to Him.

See Kingdom Builder and Today’s Christian Entertainment’s red-carpet coverage and more on our YouTube playlist below!