2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards: Worship Song of the Year Nominees

Elevation Worship fights life’s daily battles with praise on their current tribal-inflected single, “Alleluia.” The anthemic chant boasts lead vocals from Chandler Moore and the group’s Chris Brown. The wild and free original was penned by Moore, Steven Furtick and Benjamin William Hastings and appears on the K-LOVE Fan Award-winning collective’s 18th LP, “SO BE IT,” released in February. With lyrics that meet you in the most ordinary moments of your day, “Alleluia” launches praise like a missile at whatever lies ahead. Together with a choir of voices, Moore and Brown have praise on their lips morning, noon and night across the frenetic, drum-heavy selection.

Phil Wickham has written multiple songs about eternity, but “Homesick For Heaven” might be his best attempt to capture it yet. While he references seeing loved ones and heroes of the faith walking on streets of gold, Wickham’s latest anthem is far more than a longing for the beauty and friendship that await. In fact, the bright, driving track was ironically inspired by his four children. Watching them play outside in the backyard one night, he realized that, as a parent, his biggest dream for heaven isn’t mansions of glory, but the pleasure of seeing his kids run into the arms of the Father. The personal chart-topping hit is a part of the SoCal native’s “Song Of The Saints” project.

“How Good It Is” gave Chris Tomlin the largest streaming week of his 25-plus year career when it released ahead of his 18th effort, “The King Is Still The King.” Unbridled energy pulsates throughout the vibrant track, making praise feel like the only response. Awash with colorful sonic textures and ready-made for singalongs on this year’s Winter Jam, which he co-headlined, the project opener is as effervescent as any selection in Tomlin’s catalog, to date, recalling the vitality of his “God’s Great Dance Floor” era. Meanwhile, Scripture from the book of Psalms weaves its way throughout the original selection like a golden thread, extolling the unchanging character of Christ.

Hope Darst’s “Mighty Name Of Jesus” became a global anthem thanks to the song’s unflinching belief in a God who provides and protects. Securing her first entry in the Worship Song of the Year bracket, Darst draws a firm line in the sand with lyrics that simultaneously serve as a pleading prayer and a powerful declaration. The original selection titles her inaugural live effort, “In The Mighty Name.” She later turned it into a duet with fellow K-LOVE Fan Awards nominee Josh Baldwin, while also delivering a studio edit, an acoustic version and a strings edition that all now live alongside the original live recording, further amplifying the surprising viral reach of the single used to soundtrack many a TikTok reel.

“The Lord Will Provide” was first introduced at Passion 2024, facilitating an earnest moment of trust and surrender for the capacity crowd gathered at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The group’s Landon Wolfe leads the steady refrain, which leans into the truth found in Matthew 6 and paints a beautiful portrait of God’s careful attention to detail. Written by Brett Younker, Chris Davenport and Jess Cates, the reassuring cadence of “The Lord Will Provide” affirms we can trust God to supply all of our needs. Later released to radio, a live version of “The Lord Will Provide,” featuring both Wolfe and Anna Golden, opens Passion’s 2025 collection, “Call On Heaven.”

Following the widespread impact of “Goodbye Yesterday (feat. Gracie Binion),” Elevation Rhythm returned with yet another joy bomb called “Washed.” While “Goodbye Yesterday” focused on the resurrection power available to us through a relationship with Jesus, sister selection “Washed” centers on Christ’s death and the power of His sacrifice, which ultimately offers us new life. The group’s visionary and producer, Josh Holiday, penned the energetic original with Mitch Wong, Joe L Barnes and Steven Furtick. Led by Nate Diaz, the vibrant single recognizes the freedom, grace and forgiveness the cross extends, celebrating the beauty of that fateful day on Calvary. Garnering Elevation Rhythm two 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards nods, the friendly singalong creatively articulates how we are washed clean by the blood of Jesus.