Recap of the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards

On October 7, 2025, the Christian music industry gathered at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee for the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards.   Hosted by Tauren Wells, the night was full of inspiring performances, powerful moments of worship, and recognition of outstanding achievements in Christian and gospel music.

Key winners and highlights

Here are some of the major outcomes from the night:

• Artist of the Year: Forrest Frank claimed the top honor.

• New Artist of the Year: Leanna Crawford was recognized as the breakout artist of the year.

• Song of the Year: The award went to “Hard Fought Hallelujah”, written by Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown and Benjamin William Hastings.

• Songwriter of the Year (Artist): Brandon Lake earned this recognition.

• Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year: CeCe Winans (with Shirley Caesar) won for “Come Jesus Come”.

• Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year: Israel & New Breed & Unified Sound (featuring Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Nate Diaz, Aaron Moses, Lucia Parker) took the honor for “Coritos de Fuego”.

Beyond the awards themselves, the evening included memorable performances and surprise collaborations — making it a night of worship, celebration and unity in the broader Christian music community.

Performance Highlights

Here are three standout artists and moments from the night. These help us understand the energy, the artistry, and the spiritual impact of the evening.

1. Brandon Lake

Brandon Lake came into the night as one of the most-nominated artists and he left as the most-awarded. He secured five wins, including Songwriter of the Year (Artist), Song of the Year, and more.

His winning song, Hard Fought Hallelujah, has resonated widely, blending themes of struggle, perseverance, and worship—a powerful combination for today’s church and Christian community. The live performance of it closed the show in a rain-soaked stage moment, with guest Jelly Roll and Jon Batiste.

2. Forrest Frank

Winning Artist of the Year is no small feat—and Forrest Frank took home that honor at this year’s Dove Awards.

Frank’s body of work this year spanned Pop/Contemporary and worship arenas, showing both artistic versatility and commercial appeal. The winning highlights included “YOUR WAY’S BETTER” (Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song) and his album CHILD OF GOD (Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year) according to the winners list.

3. CeCe Winans

A beloved figure in gospel worship, CeCe Winans was honored with multiple awards at this ceremony—including Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year for her collaboration with Shirley Caesar on Come Jesus Come.

Her presence brought both legacy and worship-leading credibility to the night. The acoustic praise & worship version of Come Jesus Come performed live was described as “poignant” and deeply worshipful.