Brandon Lake and MercyMe emerged as the night’s biggest winners at the 13th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, held May 24, 2026, at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. For the second year in a row, Lake took home the trophy for Artist of the Year. Moreover, the “Hard Fought Hallelujah” singer was once again named Male Artist of the Year, his fourth consecutive win in the category. Meanwhile, fans voted MercyMe Group of the Year, an honor previously bestowed on the collective in 2018 and 2023. “I Can Only Imagine 2,” the sequel to 2018’s blockbuster hit that dramatized the story behind the veteran band’s chart-topping single, “Even If,” also won the award for Film Impact.
The incomparable CeCe Winans repeated her win a second time for Female Artist of the Year, and Phil Wickham — who was the night’s most nominated artist with four nods — secured his second-ever K-LOVE Fan Award with a win for Worship Song of the Year, courtesy of “Homesick For Heaven.”
Newcomers Jamie MacDonald and Emerson Day both picked up their inaugural K-LOVE Fan Awards trophies. MacDonald scored her first golden ‘K’ for her second No. 1, “Left It In The River,” which was voted Song of the Year; and Day garnered her debut win for Breakout Single of the Year, thanks to her fiery fan favorite, “Get Behind Me.”
Elsewhere, Anne Wilson, who performed “God Story,” accepted the award for Book Impact for her popular “Hey Girl” devotional. Co-host Sadie Robertson Huff tallied her third Podcast Impact win for “WHOA That’s Good,” and “House of David” dominated the TV/Streaming Impact bracket for the second year in a row. Robert Anthony Cruz, from the Savannah Bananas, was recognized as the 2026 Sports Impact recipient.
Huff and her co-host, Lauren Daigle, made history as the first all-female duo to host the K-LOVE Fan Awards. The Louisiana natives opened the show with a New Orleans-style Second Line with Daigle singing “When The Saints Go Marching In” alongside a brass band and members of K-LOVE Kids, the premier radio network’s new children’s group, who was introduced across the preceding weekend of fan-fueled activities.
Huff and Daigle chose to shine a light on the industry’s leading females throughout the evening, spotlighting their peers and the unique contributions from the strong women sitting in the audience. In addition, the pair highlighted the important work of St. Jude, sharing a video from their recent visit to the Memphis-based hospital and introducing the audience to a St. Jude patient who had the chance to attend this year’s K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend with her family. Furthermore, Huff joined her friends in LO Worship to relay the poignant story behind the group’s original song, “I Remind Myself.” Meanwhile, clad in a black cap and a long, oversized lilac cloak, Daigle took the stage for a medley of hits.
Seventeen performances, in total, punctuated the show. Highlights included a powerful piano-led iteration of Chandler Moore’s anthemic “God I’m Just Grateful,” a moving rendition of Terrian’s chill-inducing “Testimony,” and a stripped-back version of Ben Fuller’s haunting “Black Sheep,” which earned the Male Artist of the Year contender the longest standing ovation of the night, bringing the Vermont native to tears. Additionally, Female Artist of the Year nominee Leanna Crawford gave “Honest” the live treatment with a creative stage design that found her bringing the confessional track to life inside a cozy bedroom setup. Later, Pat Barrett welcomed his adorable dad midway through his contagious delivery of “I’ve Got A Fire.” The father-son duo walked the red carpet together earlier that evening.
The glitzy awards ceremony was the cherry on top of an incredible weekend that encompassed concerts, acoustic showcases, new music listening stations, meet and greets, interviews and book signings from your favorite K-LOVE artists.
The 13th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards aired exclusively on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) on Friday, May 29, and is now available to watch on-demand on TBN+. The show is scheduled for an encore presentation on Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
2026 K-LOVE Fan Award Winners
Artist of the Year
Brandon Lake
Male Artist of the Year
Brandon Lake
Female Artist of the Year
CeCe Winans
Group of the Year
MercyMe
Song of the Year
“Left It In The River,” Jamie MacDonald
Worship Song of the Year
“Homesick For Heaven,” Phil Wickham
Breakout Single of the Year
“Get Behind Me,” Emerson Day
Sports Impact
Robert Anthony Cruz
Film Impact
“I Can Only Imagine 2”
TV/Streaming Impact
“House of David” (Season 2)
Book Impact
“Hey Girl,” Anne Wilson
Podcast Impact
“WHOA That’s Good,” Sadie Robertson Huff
