The 2020 Dove Awards nominations are in, even if nearly everything else about awards season looks different this year.
For King & Country and Zach Williams lead the artist nominees with five nominations each, including Artist of the Year. Hillsong Worship, Jonathan McReynolds and Kirk Franklin follow with four apiece.
Songwriter and producer Jason Ingram leads all nominees with eight nominations. Ed Cash, Jonathan Smith and Jordan Sapp received seven each, meaning the people behind the songs will remain nearly as busy on awards night as the people standing in front of the microphones.
The Artist of the Year category brings together For King & Country, Hillsong Worship, Lauren Daigle, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Zach Williams.
First-time nominees include We The Kingdom, which earned three nominations, along with Chris Renzema, Cochren & Co., Elle Limebear and Switch in the New Artist of the Year category.
The ballot also reflects an unusually broad year in Christian and gospel music. Kanye West received three nominations for Jesus Is King, while Gloria Gaynor earned two nominations.
Here is a look at the nominees in several of the year’s major categories.
Artist of the Year
For King & Country
Hillsong Worship
Lauren Daigle
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Zach Williams
New Artist of the Year
Chris Renzema
Cochren & Co.
Elle Limebear
Switch
We The Kingdom
Song of the Year
“Almost Home”
Barry Graul, Bart Millard, Ben Glover, Mike Scheuchzer, Nathan Cochran and Robby Shaffer, songwriters
“Burn the Ships”
Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Matt Hales and Seth Mosley, songwriters
“Dead Man Walking”
Emily Weisband, Jeremy Camp and Jordan Sapp, songwriters
“Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus)”
Desmond Davis, Donald Lawrence, Marshon Lewis, Robert Woolridge and William Stokes, songwriters
“Holy Water”
Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash and Scott Cash, songwriters
“King of Kings”
Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram and Scott Ligertwood, songwriters
“Love Theory”
Kirk Franklin, songwriter
“Nobody”
Bernie Herms, Mark Hall and Matthew West, songwriters
“Rescue”
Jason Ingram, Lauren Daigle and Paul Mabury, songwriters
“Rescue Story”
Andrew Ripp, Ethan Hulse, Jonathan Smith and Zach Williams, songwriters
“See a Victory”
Ben Fielding, Chris Brown, Jason Ingram and Steven Furtick, songwriters
“The God Who Stays”
AJ Pruis, Jonathan Smith and Matthew West, songwriters
“Way Maker”
Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, songwriter
Songwriter of the Year: Artist
Chris Brown
Kirk Franklin
Lauren Daigle
Matthew West
Zach Williams
Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
For King & Country
Hillsong United
Tauren Wells
TobyMac
Zach Williams
Gospel Artist of the Year
Jekalyn Carr
Jonathan McReynolds
Kirk Franklin
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Travis Greene
Southern Gospel Artist of the Year
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Gaither Vocal Band
Jason Crabb
Joseph Habedank
Karen Peck & New River
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“Nobody”
Casting Crowns featuring Matthew West
“Burn the Ships”
For King & Country
“Dead Man Walking”
Jeremy Camp
“Rescue”
Lauren Daigle
“Holy Water”
We The Kingdom
Worship Recorded Song of the Year
“King of Kings”
Hillsong Worship
“Goodness of God”
Jenn Johnson
“The Blessing”
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes and Elevation Worship
“Way Maker”
Leeland
“Great Things”
Phil Wickham
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Blessings on Blessings”
Anthony Brown & group therAPy
“Won’t Be Moved”
Gene Moore
“People”
Jonathan McReynolds
“B!g”
Pastor Mike Jr.
“Truly Amazing God”
Travis Greene
Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“This Is the Place”
Gaither Vocal Band
“The God I Serve”
Karen Peck & New River
“What Kind of Man”
Legacy Five
“The Power of an Empty Tomb”
The Erwins
“Can I Get a Witness”
The Sound
Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year
Not by Chance
Aaron Cole
Work in Progress
Andy Mineo
Heathen
GAWVI
Jesus Is King
Kanye West
MOOD // DOOM
Social Club Misfits
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
The Story’s Not Over
Jeremy Camp
Citizen of Heaven
Tauren Wells
Reason
Unspoken
Live at the Wheelhouse
We The Kingdom
Rescue Story
Zach Williams
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards will not follow the usual live ceremony format. The celebration will instead be presented through prerecorded performances and acceptance segments, with the broadcast airing Oct. 30 on TBN.
See the complete list of nominees at DoveAwards.com.