Nashville, TN (October 21, 2022) – The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards were handed out Tuesday night, October 18th, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee to a sold-out audience. The show aired tonight, Friday, October 21st, exclusively on TBN and was simulcast on SiriusXM The Message. Co-hosts Erica Campbell and Chris Tomlin led the all star night of music with performances from across the community including Gospel, Latin, hip hop and Southern Gospel.

Iconic artist CeCe Winans made Dove Awards history this year as the first Black female solo artist to win Artist of the Year. When accepting her award, instead of an acceptance speech, she sang a few lines from the hymn “To God Be The Glory,” moving many in the audience to tears. She and co-writers for “Believe For It” were also awarded Song of the Year. Throughout her incredible career, CeCe has won a staggering 25 Dove Awards including the very first New Artist of the Year award in 1988 with her brother BeBe Winans.

For KING + COUNTRY and writer/producer Jeff Pardo led the night with three awards each with Pardo winning Producer of the Year and For KING + COUNTRY winning Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. Anne Wilson took home two awards including New Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year for “My Jesus.” See the full list of winners here.

The theme of this year’s show was Sound of Heaven, highlighting how all the different styles of Christian and Gospel music come together under one banner of hope. “The music created by the artists assembled tonight covers a lot of ground style-wise,” said co-host Chris Tomlin, “but collectively they represent the sound of heaven.” Co-host Erica Campbell added, “We bring it all together to unite as one for the kingdom of God. One mind, one voice, giving glory to God. That’s the sound of heaven.”

The night was packed with one-of-a-kind performances, moments of reverent worship, and joyful celebration. In a touching, personal moment, TobyMac paused before his performance of “The Goodness” with Blessing Offor to address the crowd. “Thank you for the kindness you showed me and my family as we walked through the deepest valley in losing my firstborn son. Thank you for your thoughts and thank you for your prayers. We have felt surrounded by love. And that’s what the body of Christ should feel like, so thank you. There were times I never thought I would ever write another song, much less an up-tempo song or a song that felt like joy. But God is good. He might not always give us what we want, or take away the pain, but He is right here with us. He doesn’t leave. He remains.”

The night also included a one-of-kind Southern Gospel tribute with an all-female band including performers Karen Peck, Kim Hopper, The Nelons, and High Road, as well as a performance from Gateway Worship Español featuring Christine D’Clario, Josh Morales, Daniel Calveti, Becky Collazos and Travy Joe. Steven Curtis Chapman kicked off his performance with an exuberant look back on his 35-year career singing a mash-up of “The Great Adventure,” “Lord Of The Dance,” and “Dive.”

To watch the 53rd GMA Dove Awards on demand on the TBN app: CLICK HERE

To get the full awards show audio broadcast including exclusive backstage interviews with winners, performers and presenters from SiriusXM The Message only in the SXM App: CLICK HERE

List of winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: CeCe Winans

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Anne Wilson

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Non Artist : Jason Ingram

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Artist : Phil Wickham

SONG OF THE YEAR: “Believe For It”

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Jeff Pardo

RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “King Jesus” – KB, nobigdyl.

WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Hymn Of Heaven – Phil Wickham

INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “God is Good” – Francesca Battistelli

SOUTHERN GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “My Feet Are On The Rock” – Gaither Vocal Band

BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “In The Sweet By and By” – Dolly Parton, ft. Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, Jerry Salley, Bradley Walker

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “My Portion” – Jekalyn Carr

SPANISH LANGUAGE RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Danzando” – Gateway Worship Español, ft. Daniel Calveti, Becky Collazos, Christine D’Clario, Travy Joe, Josh Morales

BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: God Is Real – The Sound

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Higher Power” – CROWDER, ft. Hulvey

GOSPEL WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Breathe” – Maverick City Music, ft. DOE, Jonathan McReynolds, Chandler Moore

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “My Jesus” – Anne Wilson

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Gotta Believe” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard

WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: “Hymn of Heavens” – Phil Wickham

RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: No Church In A While – Lecrae, 1K Phew

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Into The Mystery – NEEDTOBREATHE

POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: What Are We Waiting For – for KING & COUNTRY

INSPIRATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Be Still & Know – Jordan Smith

SOUTHERN GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Keeping On – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Clarity – DOE

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live) – Ricky Dillard

GOSPEL WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Tribl Nights Atlanta – Tribl, Maverick City Music

SPANISH LANGUAGE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Viviré – Marcos Witt

CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Getty Kids Hymnal – Hymns from Home – Keith & Kristyn Getty, ft. The Getty Girls

CHRISTMAS/SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Emmanuel: Christmas Songs Of Worship (Live) – Chris Tomlin

MUSICAL/CHORAL COLLECTION OF THE YEAR: Give Me Jesus

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR: Canyon – Ellie Holcomb

SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (CONCEPT): “RELATE” – for KING & COUNTRY

SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (PERFORMANCE): “Fake It” – Tauren Wells, ft. Aaron Cole

LONG FORM VIDEO OF THE YEAR: What Are We Waiting For? | The Worldwide Special – for KING & COUNTRY

INSPIRATIONAL FILM/SERIES OF THE YEAR: The Chosen

Select quotes from the 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards:

“It’s amazing when we come together and we love each other and we stand for righteousness, it’s amazing what God will do. It’s amazing what He’s already done. But He wants to do so much more. I’m believing for God to move in this industry greater than He ever has before. The God we serve responds to faithfulness and the testimonies I’ve heard through this song have blessed my life. I want us to understand that the God of miracles is still working miracles. So keep believing.” – CeCe Winans accepting the award for Song of the Year

“I’ve been leading worship since I was 12 years old. I can’t believe God would give me a voice beyond the walls of my church to write new prayers for the church to sing. It’s just another reason to remember God’s grace and faithfulness in our lives.” – Phil Wickham accepting the award for Worship Album of the Year

“When we sing together in every language and from every nation, it’s literally the sound of heaven. It’s literally a picture of heaven because one day we’ll all be singing around the throne of heaven. It shows the beautiful diversity in the kingdom of God.” – Marcos Witt presenting the award for Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year

“This project was an intentional move to get together and collaborate with people that didn’t look like everybody else. It was an intentional opportunity for us to get together and write songs, not just hand someone a song and say here sing this. We said, let’s get together and you write what the Lord’s doing in you and I’ll write what the Lord’s doing in me and let’s put it together.” – Naomi Raine from Maverick City Music accepting the award for Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year

“This is our first Dove Award we’ve ever received. How humble we are to be mentioned alongside these other artists. This record was made with the idea that the greatest evidence of the existence of God is the changed life of a Christ follower. Thank you so much.” – Levi Mills from The Sound accepting the award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year

“I’m so grateful for the power of songs and specifically ‘My Jesus.’ This song has impacted so many lives. A woman recently shared with me that she was struggling to continue with life. She heard ‘My Jesus’ come on the radio and decided to give her life to Jesus. That’s the power that songs have, especially songs that glorify the Lord.” – Anne Wilson accepting the award for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year

The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by the Gospel Music Association. Jackie Patillo and Justin Fratt serve as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returns as director, Michael Nolan as scriptwriter, Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.

About Gospel Music Association & Foundation:
Since 1964, the Gospel Music Association’s mission has been to expose, promote and celebrate the Gospel through music. As a trade organization, the GMA serves creatives and professionals within the Christian and Gospel music industry. It supports this richly diverse community by providing for basic needs through the GMA Foundation, preserving the legacies of the genre’s trailblazers through the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and celebrating the work of today’s artists through events like the GMA Dove Awards – which reaches millions of people around the world annually.

For more information about the Gospel Music Association, visit www.gospelmusic.org. Join the GMA social communities on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About TBN:
TBN is the world’s most watched faith-and-family broadcasting network, reaching over 175 nations with inspirational programming in 14 languages and on 32 global networks. TBN, the original pioneer of faith-based television, is expanding into other marketplaces such as publishing and innovative digital content in various formats, all designed to reach every viewer demographic with the life-changing message of hope and grace. To find out more about the TBN Networks, visit us at tbn.org or our social communities on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.

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Courtesy of Wortman Works Media & Marketing