“I Can Only Imagine 2” was crowned the Film Impact champion at the 13th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards. 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards nominees Levi Lusko and Shannon Bream presented the trophy to MercyMe’s Bart Millard, singer-songwriter Tim Timmons and co-director Andy Erwin, who accepted the award on behalf of the cast and crew. Their wives and family members joined them on stage to celebrate the moment.
“It’s just a privilege to get to work amongst so many music artists that have personally impacted the stories that we tell… The reason why the stories that we tell preach Jesus is [my wife] preached the real Jesus to me first; and so I’m grateful for that,” Erwin revealed. “Testimonies have power. It’s amazing what the true story of somebody who’s been chased by Jesus can do. This story was really about, where’s God on the hard days? Where is He when ‘happily ever after’ breaks?”
Starring John Michael Finley and Milo Ventimiglia, “I Can Only Imagine 2” unveils the powerful story behind MercyMe’s signature hit, “Even If.” Continuing Millard’s (Finley) narrative, first told in its 2018 predecessor, the sequel introduces his close friend and “Even If” co-writer, Timmons (Ventimiglia), who is navigating a life-altering diagnosis. Meanwhile, the frontman tries to better relate to his son, who is battling Type 1 diabetes. The parallel journeys that unfold revisit the original movie’s father-son dynamic, but this time, for the next generation, resulting in an emotional film that emphasizes the importance of friendship, unconditional love and living every day to the fullest.
Earlier in the evening, MercyMe took home their third trophy for Group of the Year. In the wake of their first theatrical hit, the band swept the K-LOVE Fan Awards back in 2018, winning Artist of the Year, Group of the Year and Song of the Year for “Even If.” That same year, the first “I Can Only Imagine” movie also garnered the award for Film Impact.
Hosted by Lauren Daigle and Sadie Robertson Huff, the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards honored the year’s biggest faith-based artists, songs, films, television series, books, podcasts and more as fans voted for their favorites across 11 categories. With winners publicly revealed during an exclusive broadcast on May 29 via Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the show is now available to watch on demand on TBN+ with an encore network presentation airing June 5.
