The 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 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 2021. The awards show was aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Friday, October 22, 2021.
The nominees were announced on August 11, 2021, with producer and songwriter Steven Furtick leading ten nominations among non-artists, whilst Elevation Worship and Brandon Lake led the artist nominations with seven each. CeCe Winans won the most awards, with 4 including Gospel Artist of the Year, alongside producer Jason Ingram and worship band Elevation Worship, who both also clinched 4 awards each, the latter winning Song of the Year for "The Blessing". Pop duo For King & Country won their second consecutive Artist of the Year, whilst Maverick City Music took home the New Artist of the Year award.
Nominations announcement The nominations were announced on August 11, 2021, during a livestream event which was broadcast on the GMA Dove Awards' Facebook page and YouTube channel. The event featured Alex Campos, John Cooper, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Kari Jobe, Brian and Jenn Johnson, Jonathan McReynolds, Wande and Tauren Wells as the announcers.
Performers The following musical artists performed at the 52nd GMA Dove Awards: Brandon Lake Cain CeCe Winans Dante Bowe Donnie McClurkin Elevation Worship Hope Darst Jonathan McReynolds Kelontae Gavin KB Koryn Hawthorne Lauren Daigle Mali Music Matt Redman Maverick City Music Natalie Grant The Isaacs We the Kingdom Zach Williams
Presenters The following served as presenters at the 52nd GMA Dove Awards: Anthony Brown Blanca Brooke Ligertwood Christine D'Clario Chris Tomlin Cory Asbury Evan Craft Francesca Battistelli Hezekiah Walker Jason Crabb Jay DeMarcus Jekalyn Carr Joel Houston Joseph Habedank Kelontae Gavin Kevin Quinn Lecrae Mali Music Pastor Mike Jr. Sinach Social Club Misfits
Nominees and winners This is a complete list of the nominees & winners for the 52nd GMA Dove Awards. Winners are in bold.
General
Song of the Year "Another in the Fire" (writers) Chris Davenport, Joel Houston, (publishers) Hillsong MP Songs, Hillsong Music Publishing Australia "Famous For (I Believe)" (writers) Alexis Slifer, Chuck Butler, Jordan Sapp, Krissy Nordhoff, Tauren Wells, (publishers) All Essential Music, Be Essential Songs, Buddybabe Music, Capitol CMG Paragon, Crucial Music Entertainment, Integrity's Praise! Music, Jord A Lil Music, Nordained Music, Songs By JSapp "Graves into Gardens" (writers) Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Tiffany Hudson, Brandon Lake, (publishers) Bethel Music Publishing, Brandon Lake Music, Maverick City Publishing Worldwide, Music by Elevation Worship Publishing "Speak to Me" (writers) Donnie McClurkin, Jeremy Hicks, Johnta Austin, Troy Taylor, (publishers) Don Mac Music, Naked Under My Clothes Music, Peermusic III Ltd, Savgos Music Inc, Sony/Atv Tunes Llc, W S Music "Thank You for It All" (writers) Aaron Lindsey, Christopher Thomas Leach, Jamone Davis, Marvin Sapp, (publishers) Capitol Cmg Paragon, Five Lions Publishing, Jarmone Hoox Davis Publishing, Marvin L. Sapp Music, Universal Music Brentwood Benson Songs "The Blessing" (writers) Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, Steven Furtick, (publishers) Capitol CMG Paragon, Kari Jobe Carnes Music, Music by Elevation Worship Publishing, Worship Together Music, Writer's Roof Publishing "The Father's House" (writers) Benjamin Hastings, Cory Asbury, Ethan Hulse, (publishers) Be Essential Songs, Bethel Music Publishing, Cory Asbury Publishing, EGH Music Publishing, SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia "There Was Jesus" (writers) Jonathan Smith, Casey Beathard, Zach Williams, (publishers) Anthems of Hope, Be Essential Songs, Cashagamble Jet Music, Little Louder Songs, Seven Ring Circus Songs, Wisteria Drive "Together" (writers) Joel Smallbone, Josh Kerr, Kirk Franklin, Luke Smallbone, Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson (publishers) Curb Dayspring Music, Curb Word Music, Heavenly Junkie Music, Kilns Music, Method to the Madness, Richmond Park Publishing, Shankel Songs, Shaun Shankel Pub Designee, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., WC Music Corp. "Truth Be Told" (writers) AJ Pruis, Matthew West, (publishers) Combustion Five, Get Ur Seek On, Highly Combustible Music, Two Story House Music
Songwriter of the Year Brandon Lake Chris Brown Ed Cash Kirk Franklin Matthew West
Songwriter of the Year (Non-artist) Ethan Hulse Jason Ingram Jordan Sapp Steven Furtick Tiffany Hammer
Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year For King & Country, Curb Word Entertainment Hillsong United, Hillsong Music Tauren Wells, Provident Label Group We the Kingdom, Sparrow Records Zach Williams, Essential Records / Provident
Southern Gospel Artist of the Year Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Gaither Music Gaither Vocal Band, Gaither Music Jason Crabb, Red Street Records Joseph Habedank, Daywind Records Triumphant Quartet, StowTown
Gospel Artist of the Year CeCe Winans, Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Jonathan McReynolds, E1 Music Kirk Franklin, RCA Inspiration Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
Artist of the Year Elevation Worship, Elevation Worship Records For King & Country, Curb Word Entertainment Lauren Daigle, Centricity Music Phil Wickham, Fair Trade Zach Williams, Essential Records / Provident
New Artist of the Year Brandon Lake, Bethel Music Cain, Provident Label Group Dante Bowe, Bethel Music Hope Darst, Fair Trade Maverick City Music, Tribl Records
Producer of the Year AyRon Lewis The Creak Music (David Leonard, Brad King, Seth Talley) Jordan Mohilowski Jordan Sapp Wayne Haun
Rap/Hip Hop
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year "10K" – KB (writers) Kevin Elijah Burgess, Wes the Writer, Quinten Coblentz, Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman "Deep End" – Lecrae (writers) Lecrae Moore, Anthony MrWriteNow Gardner "Glory on Me" – Steven Malcolm, featuring Childish Major and Taylor Hill (writers) Joseph Prielozny, Markus Randle, Steven Malcolm, Taylor Hill, Torrance Esmond "Is That Okay?" – Social Club Misfits (writers) Martin Santiago, Fernando Miranda, Jimmy James "Reasons" – Hulvey, featuring Lecrae, SVRCINA (writers) Christopher Michael Hulvey, Zach Paradis, Lecrae Moore, Molly Svrcina, Sam Tinnesz, Joe Williams
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year 1970-01-01 03:34:00 – Zauntee (producers) Zauntee, Jordan Mohilowski, Geoff Duncan, Mako, Riley Friesen, Jordan Sapp Feared By Hell – Social Club Misfits (producers) Jimmy James, Martin Santiago, Samuel Ash, Tommee Profitt, Dirty Rice, Ben Lopez, Juicebangers His Glory Alone – KB(producers) Quinten Coblentz, Wes Writer, Jacob Cardec, Mashell Leroy, DJ Pez, Tee-Wyla Swoope, Kevin Elijah BurgessRestoration – Lecrae (producers) Dave James, Lasanna "Ace" Harris, Taylor Hill, Alex Medina, Raymond Castro "Ray Rock", Gawvi, S1 for S.K.P. The Divine Storm – Ty Brasel (producers) Dirty Rice, Joseph Prielozny, Juicebangers, Ty Brasel
Rock/Contemporary Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year"I Need a Ghost" – Brandon Lake (writers) Brandon Lake, Joshua Silverberg "A Place Called Earth" – Jon Foreman, featuring Lauren Daigle (writers) Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman, Lauren Daigle "Stand My Ground" – Zach Williams (writers) Zach Williams, Jonathan Smith, Hank Bentley "This Is the Kingdom" - Skillet (writers) John L. Cooper, Mia Fieldes, Seth Mosley"Who Am I" - Needtobreathe(writers) Bear Rinehart, Thomas Rhett, Jordan Reynolds, Cason Cooley, Jeremy LutitoRock/Contemporary Album of the YearDepartures – Jon Foreman (producers) Jon Foreman, Erick Owyoung, Tim Foreman, Jeremy Larson, Darren KingOut of Body – Needtobreathe(producers) Needtobreathe, Cason Cooley, Jeremy LutitoSongs of Death and Resurrection – Demon Hunter (producer) Jeremiah Scott The Joy of Being – Citizens (producers) Brian Eichelberger, Zach Bolen The Path – Fit for a King (producer) WZRD BLD
Pop/Contemporary Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year"Famous For (I Believe)" – Tauren Wells(writers) Alexis Slifer, Chuck Butler, Jordan Sapp, Krissy Nordhoff, Tauren Wells"Good God Almighty" – Crowder (writers) David Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka "Hold on to Me" – Lauren Daigle (writers) Lauren Daigle, Paul Duncan, Paul Mabury "There Was Jesus" - Zach Williams, featuring Dolly Parton (writers) Jonathan Smith, Casey Beathard, Zach Williams "Together" - For King & Country, Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin (writers) Joel Smallbone, Josh Kerr, Kirk Franklin, Luke Smallbone, Ran Jackson, Ricky JacksonPop/Contemporary Album of the YearChris Tomlin & Friends – Chris Tomlin (producer) Chris Tomlin, Corey Crowder, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Ed Cash, Dave Haywood, David GarciaHoly Water – We the Kingdom(producers) We the Kingdom, Ed Cash, Steven V. TaylorInhale (Exhale) – MercyMe (producers) Brown Bannister, Jordan Mohilowski, Tedd Tjornhom, Chris Stevens, Micah Kuiper, David Leonard, Ben Glover No Stranger – Natalie Grant (producers) Bernie Herms for SoulFuel Productions, Joseph Prielozny, Dirty Rice for COBRA To Love a Fool – Cory Asbury (producers) Paul Mabury
Inspirational Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year"A Woman" – Faithful, Ellie Holcomb and Amy Grant (writers) Ellie Holcomb, Ann VosKamp, Sarah MacIntosh "Alone with My Faith" – Harry Connick, Jr. (writer) Harry Connick, Jr."Great Is Thy Faithfulness" – Carrie Underwood, featuring CeCe Winans(writers) Thomas Obadiah Chisholm, William M. Runyan"Promise Keeper" – Hope Darst (writers) Hope Darst, Jonathan Smith, Ethan Hulse "There Is a God" – Phillips, Craig & Dean (writers) Randy Phillips, Matthew West, AJ PruisInspirational Album of the YearAll Things – Jaime Jamgochian (producers) Jaime Jamgochian, Jeremy Redmon, Andrew Berthgold, Antonio Porcheddu, Benton Miles, Micah Kuiper, Tommy Iceland, Austin Cannon Evensong - Hymns and Lullabies at the Close of Day – Keith & Kristyn Getty, Sandra McCracken, Skye Peterson, Vince Gill, Ellie Holcomb, Sierra Hull, Deborah Klemme, The Getty Girls, Heather Headley (producers) Ben Shive, Keith & Kristyn GettyStep into My Story – Selah(producers) Jason Kyle SaetveitYou Are More – Tiffany Coburn (producers) Wayne Haun, Mike Swift You're Still God – Phillips, Craig & Dean (producer) Nathan Nockels
Southern Gospel Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year"First Church of Mercy" – The Sound (writers) Aaron Wilburn, Lee Black "I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen" – Gaither Vocal Band (writer) William J. Gaither"My King is Known By Love" – Crabb Family(writers) Jason Cox, Jeff Bumgardner, Kenna West"Religion Isn't Working" – Joseph Habedank (writers) Jesse Reeves, Joseph Habedank, Michael Farren, Nick Romes, Tony Wood "Wake Up" – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (writers) Ernie Haase, Wayne Haun, Joel LindseySouthern Gospel Album of the YearBigger Than Sunday – Triumphant Quartet (producers) Wayne Haun, Scott Inman, Jason Webb, Kris Crunk, Chipper Hammond, Joshua FrerichsChange Is Coming – Joseph Habedank(producer) Dottie Leonard Miller, Wayne Haun, Joseph Habedank, Lindsey HabedankIt's Still Good News – Guardians (producers) Wayne Haun, John Darin Rowesy That's Gospel, Brother – Gaither Vocal Band (producer) Gordon Mote, Bill Gaither The Journey – Greater Vision (producers) Trey Ivey, Gerald Wolfe
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year"Because He Lives" - Harry Connick, Jr. (writers) Bill Gaither, Gloria Gaither "Better Off There" – The Browns (writers) Wayne Haun, Sonya Issacs Yeary, Jimmy Yeary "Go Rest High on That Mountain" – Fortune/Walker/Rogers/Isaacs (writers) Vince Gill "Great God Almighty" – The Sound (writers) David Carr, Johnny Powell, Mark Lee"If God Pulled Back the Curtain" – The Nelons(writers) Jason Cox, Kenna Turner West, Michael BoggsBluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the YearAlone with My Faith – Harry Connick, Jr.