GMA Announces 56th Dove Award Nominations, Brandon Lake Leads

The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards, celebrating excellence in Christian and gospel music, will take place on October 7, 2025, at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, marking the event's move to a larger venue. Brandon Lake leads the nominations with nine, including Artist of the Year, competing against CeCe Winans, Forrest Frank, Josiah Queen, Lauren Daigle, and Phil Wickham. The awards will also highlight a diverse new generation of artists, with over 40 receiving their first nominations, such as Abbie Gamboa, Down East Boys, and Nick Day. Tauren Wells returns as host for the third consecutive year, and the show's theme is "Creation Sings," emphasizing the connection between worship music and the natural world. Broadcast coverage will be exclusive to TBN and the TBN+ app on October 10, with a simulcast on SiriusXM The Message, and includes recognition for inspirational films like "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." The nominees were selected by over 1,500 GMA professional members from more than 2,800 submissions, with final voting scheduled for August.