In December of 2025, K-LOVE Afternoon Show host Lauree and producer Stix introduced a new on-air game called “Hit The Note.” During each round, an artist steps up to the mic to sing either a well-known hit by a classic artist or one of their own songs. Once Lauree and Stix press play on a song of their choice, the music will eventually fade out. The artist is then tasked with the challenge of continuing to sing a cappella in the interim in an effort to find out if they can “Hit The Note” when the music comes back in. Spoiler alert: It’s harder than it sounds, even for the most seasoned vocalists.
“I saw an iteration of this game [online] that had the host singing. Full disclosure: I’m not great at singing. So I punted the responsibility to the artists to sing their own songs, and we’re just the cheering section,” Lauree shares of the original idea for “Hit The Note.” “We all want to cheer for something. We want to celebrate that moment when someone crosses the finish line, takes the shot from half court at the buzzer, or hits the note. And that’s why I think this has become such a fun benchmark on the show; we all want to rally together.”
From perennial favorites to fresh faces, a dozen singers have taken on the challenge to date, but only three have crushed it on the first try. Can these 12 Christian artists “Hit The Note”? Watch below and find out.
Tasha Layton
Tasha Layton becomes the first-ever contestant on “Hit The Note.” In a special holiday edition, the songstress channels a bygone era by trying her hand at Johnny Mann classic “Hang Up Your Stockin’,” famously recorded by The Chipmunks in 1963. Layton put her stamp on the jazzy standard for her full-length seasonal project, “This Is Christmas,” in 2023.
CAIN
CAIN stops by the K-LOVE Afternoon Show for another Christmas installment of “Hit The Note.” The sibling trio takes on Amy Grant’s beloved version of “Sleigh Ride,” nailing the chipper holiday classic with their signature three-part harmony. Following the release of fresh original cut, “Living Water,” the group’s “Live and In Worship Tour” kicks off this fall.
We The Kingdom
The men of multigenerational band We The Kingdom step up to the plate for a taste of “Holy Water.” Their harmonies shine bright even if they’re still in need of a future redemption round. The collective dropped not one, but two records, this year, the first of which features their latest single, “Rescue Me.”
Peter Burton
New artist Peter Burton claims he’s “pretty good with tempo” before playing “Hit The Note” via his chart-topping debut single, “Where Would I Be.” The California native delivers an earnest vocal as he vies for a win with Lauree filing his admission under “famous last words.” Burton will support both Matthew West and Anne Wilson on their respective headlining tours this fall.
Bay Turner
A former contestant on “America’s Got Talent,” newcomer Bay Turner takes his turn at “Hit The Note” with his debut single, “Somebody’s Praying.” After requesting a mulligan, the formally trained opera singer selects a Whitney Houston classic and tries his hand at the iconic “I Will Always Love You.”
KB
Six-time GMA Dove Award winner KB steps up to the mic to “Hit The Note” on “Church Clap.” The lyric-heavy selection from the rapper’s debut project, “Weight & Glory,” originally featured fellow hip-hop titan Lecrae. KB, who’s collaborated with an array of artists including for KING + COUNTRY and Brandon Lake, just dropped a brand-new 13-track album, “This Cannot Be Sold,” in June.
Lauren Daigle
With fellow Louisiana native Sadie Robertson Huff in-studio to cheer her on, Lauren Daigle attempts to “Hit The Note” on Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” a ’70s funk classic Daigle often covers in concert. Earlier this year, Daigle and Huff hosted the 13th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards together, marking the first time an all-female duo has emceed the ceremony.
Matthew West
After he narrowly misses the mark on “Hello, My Name Is,” Matthew West redeems himself with a bonus round of “Hit The Note,” chiming in on his feel-good ballad, “Good.” The award-winning singer-songwriter celebrates his triumphant win with a victory lap around the K-LOVE Studios.
Pat Barrett
Following a “blind” installment of “Hit The Note,” during which Pat Barrett jams out to Switchfoot’s “Meant To Live,” the Georgia native requests an assist from his dad. His father, Marty, joins him on cowbell as Barrett goes for round two with “I’ve Got A Fire.” The pair performed the song live at this year’s K-LOVE Fan Awards in May.
for KING + COUNTRY
Competitive brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone go head to head with their recent hit, “World On Fire (feat. Taylor Hill),” the lead single from for KING + COUNTRY’s fifth studio album, “The Most Beautiful Colours,” arriving Sept. 18, 2026. Meanwhile, Lauree and Stix bring in reinforcements to help the Australian duo keep the beat.
Leanna Crawford
After attempting to “Hit The Note” on her breakthrough single, “Still Waters (Psalm 23),” Leanna Crawford agrees to a redemption round. Giving her a second chance, Lauree and Stix serve up her go-to karaoke song, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Her mom, dad, sister and husband — NBA star Cody Zeller — as well as some members of her label team, even get in on the fun.
Francesca Battistelli
With long-awaited new music on the way, Francesca Battistelli stops by the K-LOVE Afternoon Show to revisit her very first single, “Free To Be Me,” which has recently been given a glow-up on TikTok thanks to a whole new generation of fans just now discovering Battistelli’s classic hit. The mom of seven reminisces about the now infamous “dents in her fender” and “rips in her jeans” as she nails “Hit The Note.”
Tune in to the K-LOVE Afternoon Show to hear more artists try to “Hit The Note.”
