The 2019 Dove Awards nominations are in, and Lauren Daigle is leading the field as the Gospel Music Association prepares to celebrate a major milestone.
Daigle earned six nominations, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “You Say.” For King & Country and Kirk Franklin follow with five nominations each, while Crowder, Phil Wickham, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and TobyMac received four apiece.
Writer and producer Wayne Haun leads all nominees with 10, proving once again that some of the busiest people in Christian music spend awards season watching other people perform the songs they helped make possible.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the GMA Dove Awards. The ceremony will look back at memorable moments from five decades while recognizing current artists across contemporary Christian music, gospel, worship, rap, rock, Southern Gospel, bluegrass and country.
The Artist of the Year category brings together For King & Country, Hillsong United, Lauren Daigle, MercyMe and TobyMac. New Artist of the Year nominees include Aaron Cole, Austin French, Josh Baldwin, Kelontae Gavin and Riley Clemmons.
Here is a look at the nominees in several of the night’s biggest categories.
Artist of the Year
For King & Country
Hillsong United
Lauren Daigle
MercyMe
TobyMac
New Artist of the Year
The New Artist of the Year field includes pop, gospel, worship and hip-hop performers whose careers were already gaining momentum before the Dove Awards made the introduction official.
Aaron Cole
Austin French
Josh Baldwin
Kelontae Gavin
Riley Clemmons
Song of the Year
“Counting Every Blessing”
Chris Llewellyn and Gareth Gilkeson, songwriters
“Everything”
David Garcia and Toby McKeehan, songwriters
“Joy.”
Ben Glover, Matt Hales, Stephen Blake Kanicka, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone and Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters
“Known”
Ethan Hulse, Jordan Sapp and Tauren Wells, songwriters
“Living Hope”
Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham, songwriters
“Only Jesus”
Bernie Herms, Mark Hall and Matthew West, songwriters
“Red Letters”
David Crowder and Ed Cash, songwriters
“The Breakup Song”
Bart Millard, David Garcia and Francesca Battistelli, songwriters
“Who You Say I Am”
Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, songwriters
“Won’t He Do It”
Loren Hill, Makeba Riddick-Woods and Rich Shelton, songwriters
“You Say”
Jason Ingram, Paul Mabury and Lauren Daigle, songwriters
Gospel Artist of the Year
Jekalyn Carr
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Travis Greene
Worship Song of the Year
“Build My Life”
Brett Younker, Karl Martin, Kirby Kaple, Matt Redman and Pat Barrett, songwriters
“Living Hope”
Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham, songwriters
“Surrounded (Fight My Battles)”
Elyssa Smith, songwriter
“Who You Say I Am”
Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, songwriters
“Yes I Will”
Eddie Hoagland, Jonathan Smith and Mia Fieldes, songwriters
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“Only Jesus”
Casting Crowns
“God Only Knows”
For King & Country
“The Breakup Song”
Francesca Battistelli
“You Say”
Lauren Daigle
“Known”
Tauren Wells
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Blessings on Blessings”
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
“Make Room”
Jonathan McReynolds
“Love Theory”
Kirk Franklin
“Unstoppable”
Koryn Hawthorne
“My God”
Nashville Life Music featuring Mr. TalkBox
Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Longing for Home”
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
“We Are All God’s Children”
Gaither Vocal Band
“How Great Thou Art”
Josh Turner featuring Sonya Isaacs
“I Know I’ll Be There”
Karen Peck & New River
“Even Me”
Triumphant Quartet
Inspirational Film of the Year
Breakthrough
Indivisible
Run the Race
Unbroken: Path to Redemption
Unplanned
The 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held Oct. 15 in Nashville and air Oct. 20 on TBN.
See the complete list of nominees at DoveAwards.com.