Tauren Wells calls for Christian unity at 2026 Dove Awards: ‘They will know us by our love’

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — For Tauren Wells, the message of Christian unity at the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards was bigger than any trophy handed out inside Bridgestone Arena.

Walking the red carpet Tuesday night with his wife and four sons, the eight-time Dove Award winner and host said this year's theme, “Together For One,” called on Christians to avoid letting their differences overshadow their shared witness to the world.

“To me, it is laying down all of our differences and still recognizing some of the differences between us and choosing that there's something that matters more,” Wells told The Christian Post. “And that's the testimony of the Church to the world. And the testimony of the Church to the world is unity. They will know us by our love for one another. So I'm excited to bring that into the light tonight.”

The theme, based on Colossians 3:14, echoed throughout the red carpet as nominees and presenters reflected on unity within the Body of Christ and the responsibility that comes alongside the growing reach of Christian music.

The awards, held Oct. 6 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, marked Wells' fourth consecutive year as host, one of the longest hosting runs in Dove Awards history. Wells also served as an executive producer, performer and two-time nominee.

The evening's lineup included performances from Wells, TobyMac, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Anne Wilson, Brandon Lake with country star Lainey Wilson, Tye Tribbett, Hope Darst and others.

Amy Grant and Natalie Grant also joined together for a tribute to Dolly Parton, while “The Chosen” actors Paras Patel and George Xanthis were among the presenters.

Matthew West, a longtime fixture at the Dove Awards and nominee this year for the song "No Fear," told CP the event is at its best when Christian music serves as a community united around a common purpose.

“I hope that the Christian music community is just that; it's a community. It's not a competitive one,” West said. “Everybody wants to have their songs do well, but we are all gathering together and giving our gifts back to the One who gave them to us.”

“'Together for One’ means that every single artist and songwriter and producer on this red carpet and represented at these awards, we have one goal, and that is to tell a lost and hurting world that Jesus is the answer,” he added. “And so that's why I write my songs every single day, and that's what I love about this genre.”

West, whose latest album, “Jesus Is King,” was released in September, also urged Christians to be increasingly courageous about their beliefs in a culture where people on all sides declare what they stand for.

“May we be just as bold, not being afraid of being canceled, not being afraid of what the world might think, but be bold,” he said, adding that Christians need to live out their faith instead of being defined by “the words we say or the signs we hold.”

At this year's awards, Phil Wickham led male artists with nine nominations, while CeCe Winans led female artists with seven. Wickham and Winans were nominated for Artist of the Year alongside Brandon Lake, Josiah Queen and Lauren Daigle.

Franni Cash, attending her first Dove Awards as a solo artist nominee, said “Together For One” reflected the increasingly diverse sounds within Christian music as artists like Lake collaborate with mainstream artists like Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll.

“All these different sounds and styles and types of people coming together for one purpose to bring the message of hope to a broken world,” she said. “I think that is so powerful. ... Just because somebody maybe listens to Christian music doesn't necessarily mean that they know Jesus or that they've been to church or they might have experienced a lot of church hurt or who knows.”

Seph Schlueter added that the broader reach of Christian music presents an opportunity for the Gospel to reach people who might otherwise never set foot in church, but reminded artists to “keep the main thing the main thing.”

“People are looking for authenticity. They're looking for something that's going to change their lives,” he said. “I can't change lives. None of us can actually change lives. Only Jesus can.”

Bethel Music’s Jenn Johnson, whose album was nominated for Worship Album of the Year, added that the night's theme was a reminder that worship leaders and artists are not pursuing their calling alone.

“We all have the calling to be worshippers, and so we're all carrying that together,” they told CP. “There's a beautiful thing that we get to do where we carry that and run after that, and that's the goal of what we're doing. … The best thing that we can do as songwriters is to know the Lord and spend time with Him and to know His Word and to be connected to local churches,” she said.

Worship artist Josh Baldwin also reflected on how the range of genres and backgrounds represented at the Dove Awards as a visible expression of the year's theme.

“We're all doing the same thing, and that's music and music for the Lord, music to help lead people to the Lord,” Baldwin said. “But so many different styles and genres and people from all over ... it's cool to see everybody come together for tonight.”

“It's all one goal and one mission,” he added.

Mr. TalkBox, a longtime member of TobyMac’s Diverse City band who reunited with TobyMac for their first performance together in more than a decade, also emphasized how Christian artists’ growing crossover influence can create opportunities to point audiences toward their faith.

The Grammy-nominated artist, who was also featured on Bruno Mars’ blockbuster “24K Magic,” said his work outside Christian music has allowed him to connect with non-believers in remarkable ways.

“The thing that I'm most excited about is that the influence that I have can help turn people to God. That's literally it,” Mr. TalkBox told CP. “One of my prayers when I first started my career was, ‘God, I want to reach the dark. I want to reach people that do not know You.’”

“I wasn't looking for that, but He gave it to me,” he said. “I did a song with Bruno Mars. It's called ‘24K Magic,’ ... but I've been able to bring more people to Christ because they know me from that song, and they talk to me. They always ask, ‘How did you get here? What did you do?’ Well, I sought the Lord. It always opens the door for the conversation.”

Still, Mr. TalkBox urged Christian artists to “lock in with Christ” as the genre grows, adding:

“Your private life will bleed over into your public life. You can try and disguise it. You can try and hide, but it's going to come out. Don't worry about all of the details of your career. All you do is prepare yourself, get in His Word, pray, write your songs, do your part and let God do all of the other things.”

This year's Dove Awards also introduced the Community Impact Award for Peace & Purpose, presented by Jesus Calling, with God Behind Bars named its inaugural recipient. The ministry works to bring churches, discipleship and Christian resources into prisons across the United States.

God Behind Bars founder Jake Bodine said the organization has seen incarcerated men and women find faith and purpose, stressing that Christians can find both justice and redemption.

“I think it's often a misconception that you can't care deeply about justice all while championing for redemption,” Bodine told CP. “I don't believe that those two things have to be opposing thoughts.”

“One mistake or a minute that was or a five-minute moment doesn't get naming rights over your life,” he added. “Jesus gets naming rights over your life.”

The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ app Friday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET and will be simulcast on SiriusXM's The Message.