MercyMe returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2023 when they took home the coveted trophy for Group of the Year at the 13th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards. Previous K-LOVE Fan Award winner Rachael Lampa and 2026 Female Artist of the Year contender Blanca presented the accolade to the band, marking their third Group of the Year tally and their fifth career win overall.
“I just can’t believe we get to be a part of this family for this long. If you call it a ‘job,’ it’s the best job ever,” MercyMe frontman Bart Millard enthused as he took the stage alongside his bandmates, noting that the act has been together since 1994. “I’m a product of the system,” he added, referencing his lifelong love of Christian music, “and I’m getting old because I’ve cried through every song tonight, I think. These songs are timestamps on our lives, and they matter. The only thing we take with us from this world to heaven is the ability to worship. So it’s a big deal, and I just thank God for all of you guys.”
MercyMe recently summited the Christian charts with their latest radio hit, “Make It Well,” a song inspired by February’s major theatrical release, “I Can Only Imagine 2.” Both “Make It Well” and “I Can Only Imagine 2” are also nominated in the categories of Song of the Year and Film Impact, respectively.
In between movie press, the beloved collective has been supporting their 12th studio album, “Wonder & Awe,” out on the road. The award-winning group just announced a massive fall tour with Jeremy Camp, slated to also feature performances from two of the real-life protagonists portrayed in “I Can Only Imagine 2”: singer-songwriter Tim Timmons and up-and-comer Sam Wesley, Millard’s son.
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.
