Brandon Lake, Jeff Pardo, Katy Nichole Lead Nominations for 54th Dove Awards

Other leading male nominees included songwriter Jeff Pardo with eight nominations, while Jason Ingram and Kirk Franklin received six each. Leading female nominees included Lauren Daigle, Naomi Raine and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, each with three. Dylan Scott, Tyler Childers and Walker Hayes were first-time nominees.

“I want to congratulate this year’s wonderful list of Dove Awards nominees,” said Jackie Patillo, the GMA president. “Each year, we choose a theme to represent our community and why we celebrate. Today we announced this year’s theme, ‘Joyful Echo.’ Like it says in Isaiah 42:12 from The Message, ‘Make God’s glory resound, echo His praises from coast to coast.’

“We expect and believe this year’s show will be a joyful echo of the love of Jesus,” Patillo said.

Below is a complete list of nominees:

Song of the Year

“Build A Boat” (Writers) Colton Dixon, Seth Mosley, Johan Lindbrandt, Sandro Cavazza, Mikey Gormley; “Fear Is Not My Future” (Writers) Kirk Franklin, Brandon Lake, Jonathan Jay, Hannah Shackleford, Nicole Hannel; “God Really Loves Us” (Writers) David Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka, Dante Bowe; “Goodness Of God” (Writers) Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Brian Johnson; “Gratitude” (Writers) Brandon Lake, Ben Hastings, Dante Bowe; “In Jesus Name (God Of Possible)” (Writers) Ethan Hulse, Katy Nichole, David Andrew Spencer, Jeff Pardo; “Love Me Like I Am” (Writers) Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Michael Pollack, Josh Kerr; “Perfectly Loved” (Writers) Rachael Lampa, Andrew Ripp, Ethan Hulse; “Same God” (Writers) Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Pat Barrett; “Then Christ Came” (Writers) Bart Millard, Phil Wickham, Jason Ingram, David Leonard

Artist of the Year

Brandon Lake; CeCe Winans; for KING + COUNTRY; Lauren Daigle; Phil Wickham

New Artist of the Year

Ben Fuller; Hulvey; Jon Reddick; Katy Nichole; Naomi Raine

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year

“Brighter Days” - Blessing Offor; “I’m So Blessed (Best Day Remix)” - CAIN; “Love Me Like I Am” - for KING + COUNTRY ft. Jordin Sparks; “God Is In This Story” - Katy Nichole ft. Big Daddy Weave; “Thank God I Do” - Lauren Daigle

Worship Recorded Song of the Year

“Gratitude (Radio Version)” - Brandon Lake; “Honey In The Rock” - Brooke Ligertwood, Brandon Lake; “Holy Forever” - Chris Tomlin; “Fear Is Not My Future (Radio Version)” - Maverick City Music ft. Brandon Lake, Chandler Moore; “This Is Our God” - Phil Wickham

Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year

“Jordan” - Darin & Brooke Aldridge, ft. Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney, Mark Fain; “Good Morning Mercy” - Jason Crabb, Dylan Scott; “Matchless” - Tiffany Coburn, ft. Point of Grace; “Way of the Triune God (Hallelujah Version)” - Tyler Childers; “Jesus’ Fault” - Zach Williams, ft. Walker Hayes

Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year

“Guarda Tu Corazón” - Alex Zurdo; “So Good (Cuán Bueno)” - DOE, ft. Lilly Goodman; “Nubes” - Indiomar, ft. Blanca; “Coritos (En Vivo)” - Miel San Marcos, Daniel Calveti, Marcos Witt, Ingrid Rosario; “Suelto” - Sarai Rivera

Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year

“One Name (Jesus) [Live]” - Naomi Raine; “Impossible” - Pastor Mike Jr., ft. Jame Fortune; “I Still Have You” - Smokie Norful; “The Moment (Live)” - Tasha Cobbs Leonard; “You’ve Been Good To Me” - Zacardi Cortez

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year

“New Day” - Blanca, ft. Jekalyn Carr; “Your World” - Jonathan McReynolds; “Miracles” - Kierra Sheard, ft. Pastor Mike Jr.; “Bless Me” - Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin; “Get Up” - Tye Tribbett

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year

My Tribe - Blessing Offor; Jesus Changed My Life - Katy Nichole; Always Only Jesus - MercyMe; Life After Death - TobyMac; A Hundred Highways - Zach Williams

Worship Album of the Year

Come Up Here - Bethel Music; Honest Offering (Live) - CAIN; God Is Good! (Live) - Cody Carnes; LION: Live From The Loft - Elevation Worship; Lamb Of God - Matt Redman

Southern Gospel Album of the Year

Think About There - Greater Vision; Come On In - Guardians Quartet; John 3:16 - Perrys; Believe - The Hoppers; Hymns & Worship - Triumphant Quartet

Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year

My Truth - Jonathan McReynolds; Kingdom Book One (Deluxe) - Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin; Impossible - Pastor Mike Jr.; Overcomer (Deluxe) - Tamela Mann; All Things New - Tye Tribbett

Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year

Church Clothes 4 - Lecrae; Sunday in Lagos - Limoblaze; Everyone Loves A Comeback Story - Social Club Misfits; Tree - Steven Malcolm; NEW HOLLYWOOD – WHATUPRG

Feature Film of the Year

Big George Foreman; Family Camp; I Heard The Bells; Jesus Revolution; Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Terry Wyatt/Stringer

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.