The 47th annual GMA Dove Awards named Lauren Daigle and Kirk Franklin among the biggest winners Tuesday night, while reuniting the legendary group DC Talk on stage.
Tuesday’s show at the Allen Arena at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, surprised everyone in attendance when rock/rap trio DC Talk hit the stage together following a 16-year hiatus. TobyMac kicked things off by performing one of his songs and then brought out bandmates Kevin Max and Michael Tait to perform “Love Feels Like,” a new tune that brought the three together in the studio this past year.
As the award show continued, Lauren Daigle earned the night’s top honor for the prestigious category of “Artist of the Year,” just one year after being named the best “new artist” in Christian music by the association.
The theme for the 2016 Dove Awards was “Love Amplified,” which speaks to the collective power of unity when Christians come together with one voice. As artist after artist hit the stage to accept their awards, everyone stuck to the theme of the night, particularly gospel pioneer Kirk Franklin.
He took the stage to accept his award for “Gospel Artist of the Year” and urged his fellow Christian family to ask their audiences and congregations to “pray with us for racial healing.”
“We have the spirit of redemption when we speak. When we say something, we want to bring it together, not separate it. When police are killed, we need to say something. When black boys are killed, we need to say something. And when we don’t say something, we’re saying something,” Franklin told the packed crowd according to The Tennessean.
2016 Dove Awards Winners Include:
“Song of the Year – “Good, Good Father” by Chris Tomlin
Songwriter of the Year – Lauren Daigle
Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year – for KING & COUNTRY
Southern Gospel Artist of the Year – Karen Peck & New River
Gospel Artist of the Year – Kirk Franklin
Artist of the Year – Lauren Daigle
New Artist of the Year – Jordan Feliz
Producer of the Year – Bernie Herms
Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year – “Uncomfortable” by Andy Mineo
Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year – “Happiness” by NEEDTOBREATHE
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year – “Trust In You” by Lauren Daigle
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year – “Till I Met You” by Laura Story
Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year – “The Way That You Love Me” by Jonathan McReynolds
Worship Song of the Year – “No Longer Slaves” by Bethel Music
Worship Album of the Year – EMPIRES by Hillsong UNITED
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year – Therapy Session by NF
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year – The Wonderlands: Sunlight & Shadows by Jon Foreman
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year- This Is Not A Test by TobyMac
Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year – Losing My Religion by Kirk Franklin
Urban Worship Album of the Year – Sounds of Revival by William McDowell
Southern Gospel Album of the Year – Still by Booth Brothers
Long Form Video of the Year – “Hymns That Are Important To Us” directed by Joey + Rory
Inspirational Film of the Year- “War Room” directed by Kendrick Brothers
Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) will air the awards show on Sunday, October 16, reaching over 100 million viewers in the U.S. and around the world. To see a list of winners in additional categories visit doveawards.com/2016-winners
