The 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony were held on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at the Allen Arena located in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2018. The ceremony was produced by the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The awards show aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 8 p.m. CT.
On August 8, 2018, the Gospel Music Association announced with Francesca Battistelli and Travis Greene on Facebook Live, the nominees for the 49th Annual GMA Dove Awards, themed Reverent Wonder. Going into the awards, producer and songwriter Colby Wedgeworth had the most nominations with eight, with Tauren Wells leading the artist nominations with seven nominations. The big winners of the night were Tauren Wells with four awards, with Cory Asbury and Colby Wedgeworth receiving three awards each.
Performers The following musical artists performed at the 49th GMA Dove Awards: 1K Phew Trace Adkins Cory Asbury Big Daddy Weave Anthony Brown & group therAPY Jekalyn Carr Jason Crabb Lauren Daigle for KING & COUNTRY Kirk Franklin Koryn Hawthorne Joel Houston KB Tori Kelly Natalie Grant Newsboys Rascal Flatts Social Club Misfits Rebecca St. James The Walls Group Tauren Wells Zach Williams
Presenters The following served as presenters at the 49th GMA Dove Awards: Trace Adkins Pat Barrett Ricky Dillard Erwin Brothers Jordan Feliz DeVon Franklin Bill Gaither Joseph Habedank Israel Houghton Joel Houston Michael Huppe (SoundExchange) Brian & Jenn Johnson Dr. Bobby Jones Tasha Cobbs Leonard Mark Lowry Matt Maher Jonathan McReynolds Bart Millard Jasmine Murray Chonda Pierce Rebecca St. James Marvin Sapp Russ Taff Chris Tomlin The Walls Group Matthew West Brian Courtney Wilson Deborah Joy Winans
Nominees and winners This is a complete list of the nominees for the 49th GMA Dove Awards. The winners are in bold.
General
Song of the Year "All My Hope" (writers) David Crowder, Ed Cash (publishers) Alletrop Music, Inot Music, sixsteps Music, worshiptogether.com songs "Blessings" (writers) Allen Swoope, Asheton Hogan, Lecrae Moore, Maurice Simmonds, Tyrone Williams Griffin, Jr. (publishers) Asheton Hogan BMI Pub Designee, Eardrummers Entertainment LLC, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. "Broken Things" (writers) Andrew Jacob Pruis, Jason Houser, Matthew West (publisher) Housermania Music "Control (Somehow You Want Me)" (writers) Jason Ingram, Matt Bronleewe, Mike Donehey (publishers) Fellow Ships Music, No Alibis Publishing, So Essential Tunes "Different" (writers) Kyle Lee, Micah Tyler (publishers) Fair Trade Global Songs, Fair Trade Tunes, From The Void "Hills and Valleys" (writers) Chuck Butler, Jonathan Smith, Tauren Wells (publishers) Be Essential Songs, Crucial Music Entertainment, Jord A Lil Music, Not Just Another Song Publishing, So Essential Tunes "I just need U." (writers) Blake NeeSmith, Bryan Fowler, Kevin McKeehan (publisher) Achtober Songs, Blake Neesmith Publishing Designee, RELWOF, So Essential Tunes "I'll Find You" (writers) Danny Majic, John Mitchell, Justin Franks, Lecrae Moore, Natalie Sims, Sasha Sloan, Victoria Kelly (publishers) Artist 101 Publishing Group, Artist Publishing Group West, Danny Majic Music Publishing, Eardrummers Entertainment LLC, J Franks Publishing, John Mitchell Pub Designee, Mod Junkie, Sasha Sloan Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., WB Music Corp. "O'Lord" (writers) Joe Williams, Paul Mabury (publishers) FLYCHILD Publishing, Joe Williams Publishing Designee, So Essential Tunes "Old Church Choir" (writers) Colby Wedgeworth, Ethan Hulse, Zach Williams (publishers) Anthems of Hope, Be Essential Songs, Colby Wedgeworth Music, EGH Music, Fair Trade Music Publishing, Wisteria Drive "Reckless Love" (writers) Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, Ran Jackson (publisher) Bethel Music Publishing, Richmond Park Publishing, Watershed Music Publishing "So Will I (100 Billion X)" (writers) Benjamin Hastings, Joel Houston, Michael Fatkin (publisher) Capitol CMG Publishing, Hillsong Music Publishing "Unfinished" (writers) Ben Glover, Colby Wedgeworth (publisher) 9t One Songs, Ariose Music, Colby Wedgeworth Music, Fair Trade Music Publishing
Worship Song of the Year "Do It Again" (writers) Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Matt Redman, Steven Furtick (publishers) Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing "Reckless Love" (writers) Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, Ran Jackson (publishers) Bethel Music Publishing, Richmond Park Publishing, Watershed Music Publishing "So Will I (100 Billion X)" (writers) Benjamin Hastings, Joel Houston, Michael Fatkin (publishers) Capitol CMG Publishing, Hillsong Music Publishing "Spirit of the Living God" (writers) Jacob Sooter, Mia Fieldes (publisher) Essential Music Publishing "Tremble" (writers) Andres Figueroa, Hank Bentley, Mariah McManus, Mia Fieldes (publisher) Essential Music Publishing
Songwriter of the Year Lecrae Matthew West Tauren Wells TobyMac Zach Williams
Songwriter of the Year (Non-artist) Bryan Fowler Colby Wedgeworth Ethan Hulse Jason Ingram Jonathan Smith
Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year for KING & COUNTRY, Word Label Group MercyMe, Fair Trade Services Tauren Wells, Provident Music Group TobyMac, Capitol CMG Zach Williams, Essential Records
Southern Gospel Artist of the Year Bradley Walker, Gaither Music Group Gaither Vocal Band, Gaither Music Group Joseph Habedank, Daywind Records Karen Peck & New River, Daywind Records Mark Lowry, Daywind Records
Gospel Artist of the Year CeCe Winans, Pure Springs Gospel / Thirty Tigers Jekalyn Carr, Lunjeal Music Group Kirk Franklin, RCA Inspiration Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
Artist of the Year Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Music Australia / Capital CMG MercyMe, Fair Trade Services NEEDTOBREATHE, Atlantic Records Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel Zach Williams, Provident Label Group
New Artist of the Year Cory Asbury, Bethel Music Koryn Hawthorne, RCA Inspiration Mosaic MSC, Essential Worship Pat Barrett, Capitol CMG Tauren Wells, Provident Label Group
Producer of the Year Ed Cash David Garcia Tommee Profitt Wayne Haun Jason Ingram and Paul Mabury (Team) Kenneth Leonard Jr. and Natasha Leonard (Team)
Rap/Hip Hop
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year "Not Today Satan (feat. Andy Mineo)" – KB (writers) Andrew Mineo, Chris Mackey, Jacob Cardec, Joseph Prielozny, Kevin Burgess "War Cry (feat. Tauren Wells)" – Social Club Misfits (writers) Andrew Wells, David Frank, Fernando Miranda, John Thomas Roach, Martin Santiago, Tommee Profitt "SMILE" – Tedashii (writers) Lasanna Harris, Marquis Rachad, Philip Green, Shama Joseph, Tedashii Anderson "Forever" – Trip Lee (writers) Jacob Cardec, William Barfield "Praying Hands (feat. Trip Lee)" – Ty Brasel (writers) Kenneth Christian Mackey, Ty Brasel
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year Today We Rebel – KB(producers) Benjamin Backus, Chris "Dirty Rice" Mackey, Clinton Lightfoot, David L. Baker, Dominique Hubbard, G Roc, Howard Reeves, Jacob Cardec, Joseph Prielozny, Mykallife, William JosiahCrooked – Propaganda (producers) Courtland Urbano, Daniel Steele, JR Into the Night – Social Club Misfits (producers) 42 North, Andrew Wells, Beam, Ben Lopez, Daniel Steele, Elvin Wit Shahbazian, Jaime Zeluck Hindlin, Rey King
Rock/Contemporary Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year"Walking on Water" – NEEDTOBREATHE(writers) Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart, Matt Maher"Gone" – RED (writers) Anthony Armstrong, Jason McArthur, Michael Barnes, Randy Armstrong, Rob Graves "Brave" – Skillet (writers) John Cooper, Korey Cooper, Seth MosleyRock/Contemporary Album of the YearEverything Or Nothing – Carrollton (producers) Carrollton, John Mays, Scott Cash Gone – Red (producer) Rob GravesUnleashed Beyond – Skillet(producers) Brian Howes, Death Tiger, Jerricho Scroggins, Kane Churko, Kevin Churko, Mike X O'Connor, Seth Mosley, Solomon Olds Pop/Contemporary Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year"All My Hope" – Crowder (writers) David Crowder, Ed Cash "O'Lord" – Lauren Daigle (writers) Joe Williams, Paul Mabury "When We Pray" – Tauren Wells (writers) Colby Wedgeworth, Ethan Hulse, Tauren Wells "I just need U." – TobyMac (writers) Blake NeeSmith, Bryan Fowler, Toby McKeehan"Old Church Choir" – Zach Williams(writers) Colby Wedgeworth, Ethan Hulse, Zach WilliamsPop/Contemporary Album of the YearWonder – Hillsong United (producers) Joel Houston, Michael Guy Chislett Out of the Dark – Mandisa (producers) Ben Glover, Bryan Fowler, Christopher Stevens, Colby Wedgeworth, David Garcia, Mike X O'Connor, Seth Mosley All In – Matthew West (producers) AJ Pruis, David Garcia, Pete Kipley Different – Micah Tyler (producers) Colby Wedgeworth, Hank Bentley, Kyle Lee Hills and Valleys – Tauren Wells(producers) Bernie Herms, Brent Milligan, Casey Brown, Chuck Butler, Colby Wedgeworth, Jordan Sapp Southern Gospel Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year"He Can Take It" – Brian Free & Assurance (writers) Jeff Bumgardner, Kenna Turner West, Sue C. Smith "Clear Skies" – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (writers) Becca Mizell, Sam Mizell "Hallelujah Band" – Gaither Vocal Band (writers) Becca Mizell, Sam Mizell"Washed By The Water" – Jason Crabb(writers) Dave Barnes, Jason Crabb, Jordan Reynolds"Just When You Thought" – Joseph Habedank (writers) Joseph Habedank, Michael Farren, Wayne HaunSouthern Gospel Album of the YearClear Skies – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (producers) Kris Crunk, Michael English, Trey Ivey, Virgil Stratford, Wayne Haun We Have This Moment – Gaither Vocal Band (producers) Bill Gaither, Gordon Mote Still Happy – Goodman Revival (producers) Johnny Minick, Michael Sykes, Tanya Goodman Sykes Hope For All Nations – Karen Peck & New River (producer) Wayne HaunWhat's Not To Love – Mark Lowry(producer) Dony McGuire Bluegrass/Country/Roots Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year"I Will Someday (feat. The Isaacs)" – Bradley Walker (writers) Chris Stapleton, Garnet Bowman, Morgane Hayes, Ronnie Bowman "Little White Church House" – Gaither Vocal Band (writers) Jonathan Smith, Mia Fieldes, Zach Williams "Jailbreak" – Joseph Habedank (writers) Gerald Crabb, Joseph Habedank"Dinner on the Ground (feat. the Oak Ridge Boys)" – Little Roy & Lizzy Show(writers) Jeff Bumgardner, Joel Lindsey, Wayne Haun"Daddy And Son" – The Nelons (writers) Dony McGuire, Jason Clark, Reba Rambo-McGuireBluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the YearBlessed, Hymns and Songs of Faith – Bradley Walker(producers) Ben IsaacsSing It Again, A Collection of Favorites – Jeff & Sheri Easter (producers) Greg Cole, Jeff Easter, Sheri Easter Going Home – Little Roy & Lizzy Show (producer) Jeff Easter, Trey Ivey, Wayne Haun
Contemporary Gospel/Urban Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year"I Got That" – Anthony Brown & Group therAPy (writer) Anthony Brown "A Great Work" – Brian Courtney Wilson (writers) Aaron W. Lindsey, Alvin Richardson, Brian Courtney Wilson "Not Lucky, I'm Loved" – Jonathan McReynolds (writers) Jonathan McReynolds, Terrell Demetrius Wilson"Won't He Do It" – Koryn Hawthorne and Roshon Fegan(writer) Loren Hill, Makeba Riddick, Rich Shelton "You (feat. Tye Tribbett)" – Snoop Dogg (writers) Jovan J. Dawkins, Jevon Hill, Stanley Green Jr, Timothy Tyrone Bush Jr, Tye TribbettContemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the YearA Long Way From Sunday – Anthony Brown & group therAPy(producers) Adam Blackstone, Anthony Brown, Dana Sorey, Darryl Woodson Jr., Justin Savage, Warryn Campbell, Wow JonesA Great Work – Brian Courtney Wilson (producers) Aaron Lindsey, Luther "Mano" Hanes, Shuan Martin, Warryn Campbell Make Room – Jonathan McReynolds (producers) Darryl "Lil' Man" Howell, Jonathan McReynolds Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love – Snoop Dogg