The Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song is a category at the annual Grammy Awards. It was first awarded in 2015. It combines two previously separate categories in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music field, Best Gospel Song (for songwriters) and Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance (for performers). The current category recognizes both songwriters and performers (solo/duos/groups/collaborations/etc.) and is open for singles or tracks only. Songwriters are only awarded a Grammy Award if it is a newly written song. Grammys for cover versions of previously recorded songs are awarded to the performer(s) only.
These changes were made in June 2014 by NARAS "in the interest of clarifying the criteria, representing the current culture and creative DNA of the gospel and Contemporary Christian Music communities, and better reflecting the diversity and authenticity of today's gospel music industry."Grammy.com, 12 June 2014
Along with its sister category Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, both are the only Grammy categories that award both performers and songwriters.
According to the Grammy committee, the move recognizes "the critical contribution of both songwriters and performers by combining songwriters and artists into the Best Gospel Performance/Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song categories." The category awards traditional Christian, roots gospel or contemporary gospel music.
Contemporary Christian Music performances, which were previously recognized in the Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance category, now fall under the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song category only.
Kirk Franklin has won the most Grammy's in this category, six as of 2024. (If a winning artist is both the performer and the composer, they win just one Grammy).
Recipients
Year Work Performing artist(s) Songwriter(s)NomineesSongwriter(s) mentioned first, followed by title and performing artist(s). Songwriters are only eligible for an award if it is a new composition. If songwriters are non-eligible, their names are mentioned between parentheses.Ref.2015"No Greater Love"Smokie NorfulAaron W. Lindsey & Smokie NorfulList of Nominees 20152016"Wanna Be Happy?"Kirk FranklinKirk Franklin2017"God Provides"Tamela MannKirk Franklin2018"Never Have To Be Alone"CeCe Winans Dwan Hill & Alvin Love IIIGrammy.com, 28 November 20172019"Never Alone"Tori Kelly featuring Kirk FranklinKirk Franklin & Victoria KellyGrammy.com, 7 December 20182020"Love Theory"Kirk FranklinKirk Franklin2020 Grammy Awards nominations list2021"Movin' On"Jonathan McReynolds & Mali MusicDarryl L. Howell, Jonathan Caleb McReynolds, Kortney Jamaal Pollard & Terrell Demetrius Wilson2021 Nominations List2022Never LostCeCe WinansChris Brown, Steven Furtick & Tiffany Hammer2023KingdomMaverick City Music & Kirk FranklinKirk Franklin, Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore & Jacob Poole2024"All Things" Kirk FranklinKirk Franklin2025 "One Hallelujah" Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell & Israel Houghton featuring Jonathan McReynolds & Jekalyn Carr Morris Coleman, Israel Houghton, Kenneth Leonard, Jr., Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Naomi Raine2026"Come Jesus Come"Cece Winans featuring Shirley Caesar
See also Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
References
External links Official site