Faith Takes Center Stage In The Music City: See Which Artists Are Up For Christian Fan Awards

As CMA Fest approaches next week, bringing in hundreds of thousands of fans to the country music capital of the world, a different genre takes center stage Friday night.

K-LOVE, which creates media designed to inspire and encourage people to develop a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, is set to air its annual Fan Awards. The awards ceremony took place at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Sunday, but it will be broadcast to the public on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET when the awards will be officially revealed for the first time.

The ceremony will feature Christian artists found on K-LOVE stations across all 50 states as well as online. The K-LOVE Fan Awards is a yearly event that celebrates the accomplishments of artists, authors, entertainers — and even athletes this year — who share the message of Jesus Christ.

The year’s most nominated artist is Phil Wickham, who enters the awards ceremony with four nominations. Other top nominees include Lauren Daigle, Jamie MacDonald, Jeremy Camp, Josiah Queen, and Elevation Worship, who all have three nominations each.

Wickham has been a force for decades in contemporary Christian music. The California native is nominated for Song of the Year, Worship Song, Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.

Credit: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

The Song of the Year category is stacked with hits including “Can’t Steal My Joy” by Josiah Queen and Brandon Lake, as well as “The Love I Have For You” by Colton Dixon.

For Dixon, it’s not his first time being nominated, but Friday could mark his first win.

“I was incredibly honored to be nominated for Song of the Year with ‘The Love I Have For You,'” Dixon told The Daily Wire. “The K-LOVE Fan Awards are all about the connection between the song and the listener, and I’m just grateful to know that God has used me, even in a small way, to bridge the gap of a need in someone’s life.”

The 13th annual awards take place at the historic Grand Ole Opry, where hosts Lauren Daigle and Sadie Robertson Huff are expected to bring a strong message to the audience.

“The theme this year is beauty from ashes, and I really believe this night will bring so much hope and joy to people walking through hard times,” Robertson Huff said. “This night is about worship, coming together, and lifting up the name of Jesus. We could all use a night like this!”

This year will mark the second time Robertson Huff has hosted the event. She previously hosted the awards with Brandon Lake in 2024. Daigle, the most decorated female in the history of the K-LOVE Fan Awards, will host the awards show for the first time.

Daigle, a nine-time winner of the K-LOVE Fan Awards, told The Daily Wire that fans give the music purpose.

“The fans make all the difference when it comes to music! You can sit in a room crafting songs, giving it your most earnest effort, there is great joy in this — but when you see the impact a song has on those listening, everything changes,” Daigle said. “I’m so grateful for the honor of hosting the K-LOVE Fan Awards with my dear friend and fellow Louisiana native, Sadie.”

Daigle, who has become a mainstream name in music since releasing her debut album in 2015, said she tried to get an unlikely guest to the Grand Ole Opry for Friday’s celebration.

Credit: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

“I tried getting a live alligator to the set, but they didn’t go for it,” Daigle said.

The awards are the finale for a weekend takeover of Christian music in Nashville. In addition to the ceremony, fans traveled to see live performances in Nashville, including previously announced concerts and showcases.

CAIN, who headlined the 2026 K-LOVE Kickoff Concert, is up for Group of the Year after releasing “Jesus Lifted Me” last year.

“Year in and year out, this is always one of our favorite weekends because we know it will be both an incredible night of celebrating Jesus and all He has done and praising God with our peers and Christian music fans from all over the world,” CAIN told The Daily Wire.

The K-LOVE Fan Awards air on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the TBN+ app on Friday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET.