2026 Dove Awards: Phil Wickham, Josiah Queen among night's big winners as artists glorify God

By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Entertainment Editor Friday, October 09, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Worship artist Phil Wickham took home Artist of the Year at the 57th annual GMA Dove Awards, a night marked by powerful performances and calls for unity as Christian and Gospel music's biggest stars gathered to celebrate the impact of music and media.

Held Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena, the ceremony brought together artists across generations and genres under the theme “Together For One,” based on Colossians 3:14 to highlight the shared mission of pointing audiences to Jesus Christ.

The evening opened with a performance by TobyMac, who reunited with fellow Diverse City member Mr. TalkBox for the first time in 10 years for “Heaven on My Mind.” Later, Anne Wilson performed a rousing rendition of “Who I Am to You,” while Brandon Lake and country star Lainey Wilson delivered an intimate rendition of “The Jesus I Know Now,” which also won Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year.

Near the end of the night, Amy Grant and Natalie Grant joined forces for one of the most anticipated performances of the show, a tribute to Dolly Parton that included a duet of “How Great Thou Art.” Parton, who died on Aug. 25, was also among the evening's winners, earning Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year alongside The Grascals for “Broken Angels.”

Wickham, who entered the evening with nine nominations, also won Worship Album of the Year for “Song of the Saints” and used his acceptance speech to reflect on the privilege of writing songs that Christians sing in churches around the world.

“God has given us reason after reason to worship Him,” Wickham said, thanking Jesus for the opportunity and stressing he doesn't take a moment of ministry for granted.

“To write these songs and to think that people sing them to Jesus [is an honor],” he said. “The fact that I get to lead people in worship to Jesus is so worth it.”

The awards ceremony was hosted for the fourth consecutive year by singer and songwriter Tauren Wells, who opened the evening by calling the annual event a “Christian music family reunion.”

“You see people that you love. You see people you haven't seen all year. You see like 37 people you know you should have texted back,” Wells joked. “Don't make eye contact with them. Just keep walking.”

Wells also pointed to the diverse musical traditions represented in the room, from traditional hymns to contemporary pop and modern worship songs.

“Speaking of building bridges, the theme of tonight's Dove Awards is ‘Together For One,’” he said. “We share one purpose, the same purpose, and that is to worship the one true King.”

“Music is a spiritual soundtrack to the human experience,” Wells said. “It gives us words for our joy and grief and everything we really don't quite know how to say.”

The host also paid tribute to the songwriters, producers, record label employees and other industry professionals whose work often goes unrecognized but helps bring Christian music to listeners around the world.

“These gifts matter, but the gift never matters more than the giver,” Wells said. “The song is never greater than the One we're singing about, and at the center of it all, at the center of this night, is Jesus, and that's why we can be together for one.”

Among the night's other major winners was Brandon Lake, who earned Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for King of Hearts and Songwriter of the Year (Artist). Lake also shared the Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year honor with Lainey Wilson for “The Jesus I Know Now.”

Hulvey, who performed during the ceremony, won Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year for COULD BE TONIGHT, while Josiah Queen's “Dusty Bibles” earned both Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. Queen also won Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for Mt. Zion.

Accepting his Song of the Year award, Queen shared how Scripture transformed his life during seasons of loneliness and depression.

“I grew up following the Dove Awards and stuff because I've looked up to so many of you songwriters and musicians,” the 23-year-old “Demons” singer said. “You guys have really changed my life.”

“The greatest honor that I can have as a human is to serve Jesus,” he added. “I grew up so many seasons of my life feeling alone and depressed. It wasn't through social media or anything else, but it was opening up my Bible and spending time with Him that He completely radically changed my life.”

New Artist of the Year went to Jamie MacDonald, who reflected on her long road to a music career, including years spent waiting tables and recovering from addiction.

The Michigan native credited the music of CeCe Winans with helping change her life, saying the songs taught her to speak biblical truth over herself.

“Since then, this room has filled my heart and my mouth with the truth,” she told the audience, thanking the artists and songwriters whose music had encouraged her.

Winans herself was among the evening's winners, taking home Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year for “More Than This,” featuring Todd Dulaney, and using the moment to encourage believers to offer God their wholehearted worship.

“The heart behind ‘More Than This’ is, Lord, help us to give You more,” Winans said. “Jesus has given us everything. The Father gave His Son, the Son gave His life, and so my desire is that we would learn to worship God the way He deserves to be worshiped.”

Gospel powerhouse Tasha Cobbs Leonard, who won Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for TASHA, also delivered an emotional acceptance speech alongside her husband, Kenneth Leonard Jr., sharing how God “assigned” her latest project.

“With this album, TASHA, He gave me an assignment that was scary,” she said. “I am used to doing live albums, and He said this time I want you to go in the studio because it's personal.”

“God took me on a journey over the last year and a half, where He just wanted to spend time with me, personal time with me, and I've seen sides of Him that I have never seen before,” she added. “The goodness of God and who He is just absolutely amazing.”

Cobbs Leonard also won Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “Church,” featuring John Legend, while Jonathan McReynolds and Jamal Roberts earned Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “Still (Live).”

Other notable winners included Elevation Worship and Chandler Moore, who took home Worship Recorded Song of the Year for “God I'm Just Grateful,” and Jeremy Camp, whose collaboration with Skillet, “No Survivors,” won Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.

Andrea Bocelli, Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe earned Inspirational Song of the Year for “The Blessing,” while Strings & Heart won Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year for “Plastic Wine.”

Producer Jonathan Smith, who led this year's nominations with 14, won Producer of the Year, while Jacob Sooter was named Songwriter of the Year (Non-Artist).

The evening also recognized the growing impact of faith-based entertainment beyond music, with the hit biblical drama “The Chosen” winning Television Series of the Year for its fifth season.

Actors Paras Patel, who portrays Matthew, and George Xanthis, who plays John, accepted the award on behalf of series creator and director Dallas Jenkins, the cast and crew, and the show's global fan base. The show's sixth season, which chronicles the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion, is scheduled to premiere Nov. 15 on Prime Video.

“We wanted to accept this award on behalf of our director Dallas Jenkins,” they said, thanking the show's producers, partners and supporters. “We worked so hard to bring you the story, and we are just so grateful for this moment.”

The animated biblical musical “David,” from Angel Studios, was another major winner, earning Feature Film of the Year and Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year for its soundtrack. “Follow the Light,” performed by Brandon Engman, Phil Wickham and Angel, won Children's Recorded Song of the Year, with songwriters Brock Monroe Baker and Molly Kate Kestner recognized for the track.

Other film and television honors included Tommee Profitt's “The Resurrection of a King,” which won Long Form Music Video of the Year.

The awards also recognized artists across Southern Gospel, bluegrass, Spanish-language music and hip-hop. Daddy Yankee won Spanish Language Album of the Year for Lamento en Baile, while Sarai Rivera earned Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year for “Tu Voz.” Indie tribe, nobigdyl. and Torey D'Shaun won Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year for “ROB HELL.”

Karen Peck & New River won Southern Gospel Album of the Year for Good Answers, while Jeff & Sheri Easter took home Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “No Rock.” Chosen Road earned Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year for “American Morning: Side A - EP.”

The 57th annual GMA Dove Awards aired Friday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET on TBN and TBN+.