52nd GMA Dove Awards


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 (band)|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:

Presenters

The following served as presenters at the 52nd GMA Dove Awards:

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"
  • * Chris Davenport, Joel Houston, Hillsong MP Songs, Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
  • "Famous For (I Believe)"
  • * Alexis Slifer, Chuck Butler, Jordan Sapp, Krissy Nordhoff, Tauren Wells, 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"
  • * Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Tiffany Hudson, Brandon Lake, Bethel Music Publishing, Brandon Lake Music, Maverick City Publishing Worldwide, Music by Elevation Worship Publishing
  • "Speak to Me"
  • * Donnie McClurkin, Jeremy Hicks, Johnta Austin, Troy Taylor, 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"
  • * Aaron Lindsey, Christopher Thomas Leach, Jamone Davis, Marvin Sapp, Capitol Cmg Paragon, Five Lions Publishing, Jarmone Hoox Davis Publishing, Marvin L. Sapp Music, Universal Music Brentwood Benson Songs
  • "The Blessing"
  • * Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, Steven Furtick, Capitol CMG Paragon, Kari Jobe Carnes Music, Music by Elevation Worship Publishing, Worship Together Music, Writer's Roof Publishing
  • "The Father's House"
  • * Benjamin Hastings, Cory Asbury, Ethan Hulse, Be Essential Songs, Bethel Music Publishing, Cory Asbury Publishing, EGH Music Publishing, SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia
  • "There Was Jesus"
  • * Jonathan Smith, Casey Beathard, Zach Williams, Anthems of Hope, Be Essential Songs, Cashagamble Jet Music, Little Louder Songs, Seven Ring Circus Songs, Wisteria Drive
  • "Country, [Tori Kelly">Christian country music">Country, [Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin song)|Together]"
  • * Joel Smallbone, Josh Kerr, Kirk Franklin, Luke Smallbone, Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson 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"
  • * AJ Pruis, Matthew West, Combustion Five, Get Ur Seek On, Highly Combustible Music, Two Story House Music
Songwriter of the Year
Songwriter of the Year
Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
Southern Gospel Artist of the Year
Gospel Artist of the Year
Artist of the Year
New Artist of the Year
Producer of the Year

Rap/Hip Hop

Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year
  • 1970-01-01 03:34:00 – Zauntee
  • * Zauntee, Jordan Mohilowski, Geoff Duncan, Mako, Riley Friesen, Jordan Sapp
  • Feared By Hell – Social Club Misfits
  • * Jimmy James, Martin Santiago, Samuel Ash, Tommee Profitt, Dirty Rice, Ben Lopez, Juicebangers
  • His Glory Alone – KB
  • * Quinten Coblentz, Wes Writer, Jacob Cardec, Mashell Leroy, DJ Pez, Tee-Wyla Swoope, Kevin Elijah Burgess
  • Restoration – Lecrae
  • * Dave James, Lasanna "Ace" Harris, Taylor Hill, Alex Medina, Raymond Castro "Ray Rock", Gawvi, S1 for S.K.P.
  • The Divine Storm – Ty Brasel
  • * Dirty Rice, Joseph Prielozny, Juicebangers, Ty Brasel

Rock/Contemporary

Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year

Pop/Contemporary

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year

Inspirational

Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
Inspirational Album of the Year

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
Southern Gospel Album of the Year
  • Bigger Than Sunday – Triumphant Quartet
  • * Wayne Haun, Scott Inman, Jason Webb, Kris Crunk, Chipper Hammond, Joshua Frerichs
  • Change Is Coming – Joseph Habedank
  • * Dottie Leonard Miller, Wayne Haun, Joseph Habedank, Lindsey Habedank
  • It's Still Good News – Guardians
  • * Wayne Haun, John Darin Rowesy
  • That's Gospel, Brother – Gaither Vocal Band
  • * Gordon Mote, Bill Gaither
  • The Journey – Greater Vision
  • * Trey Ivey, Gerald Wolfe

Bluegrass/Country/Roots

Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year
Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year

Contemporary Gospel

Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year

Traditional Gospel

Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year

Gospel Worship

Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year
Gospel Worship Album of the Year
  • Believe for It – CeCe Winans
  • * Kyle Lee, Dwan Hill
  • Come Alive – All Nations Music
  • * Ernest Vaughan
  • Never Be Defeated – Rich Tolbert Jr.
  • * Rich Tolbert Jr., Joshua Easley, Will Davis, Shajuan Andrews
  • The N.O.W. Experience – Kelontae Gavin
  • * Kelontae Gavin, Marquis Boone
  • VaShawn Mitchell Presents Africa Worship – Various Artists
  • * VaShawn Mitchell

Spanish Language

Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year
Spanish Language Album of the Year

Worship

Worship Recorded Song of the Year
Worship Album of the Year

Other categories

Children's Album of the Year
  • Living Color – Elevation Church Kids
  • * Steven Furtick, Aaron Robertson
  • No Reason To Wait – Worship Together Kids
  • * Terryl Padilla, John Roberts
  • Ready Set Go – Yancy & Little Praise Party
  • * Stephen Leiweke
  • Sing The Bible, Vol. 4 – Slugs And Bugs
  • * Ben Shive
  • Todos Mis Días – Gateway Kids Worship
  • * Julian Collazos, Kyle Lee, Josh Alltop
Christmas / Special Event Album of the Year
Musical/Choral Collection
  • Behold The Lamb Of God
  • * Andrew Peterson, Carson Wagner, Russell Mauldin
  • Christmas Comes Alive
  • * Devin McGlamery, Cliff Duren, Phillip Keveren, Phil Nitz
  • I Choose Christ: The Songs of Sue C. Smith
  • * Cliff Duren, Sue C. Smith
  • Love Lifted Up: An Easter Musical
  • * Jason Cox, Joseph Habedank, Cliff Duren, Jay Rouse, Marty Hamby, Phil Nitz
  • Love Was Born A King
  • * Joel Lindsey, Jeff Bumgardner
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year

Videos and films

Short Form Video of the Year
Long Form Video of the Year
Inspirational Film of the Year