2017 marked five years of giving God the glory with the 5th anniversary of the K-LOVE Fan Awards. Matthew West and Elisabeth Hasselbeck once again co-hosted the star-studded evening. Danny Gokey kicked off the festivities with a high-energy performance followed by appearances from other fan favorites, including Jeremy Camp, Britt Nicole, Hawk Nelson, Kari Jobe, Jesus Culture and many more. for KING & COUNTRY ended the night extending their reign as the most-awarded act in K-LOVE Fan Awards history after snagging three more trophies in 2017 for Artist of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year and Song of the Year (“Priceless”).
For the first time ever, the K-LOVE Fan Awards hit the big screen for a one-night-only Fathom Event at select movie theaters nationwide. Furthermore, in 2017 K-LOVE partnered with the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF) to aid veterans and their loved ones. For every 500,000 votes cast, K-LOVE assisted MWSF in placing a combat wounded hero or Gold Star spouse into a newly-renovated, mortgage-free home.
2017 K-LOVE Fan Award Winners
Artist of the Year: for KING & COUNTRY
When David and Helen Smallbone moved their large family from Australia to America in 1991, they never could have dreamed that three of their seven children would grow up to become award-winning Christian artists. Following in the footsteps of their older sister, Rebecca St. James, Joel and Luke (aka for KING & COUNTRY) stayed on top in 2017, winning their second Artist of the Year statuette.
WATCH NOW: 2017 Artist of the Year Nominees
Male Artist of the Year: Danny Gokey
For the second consecutive year, fans voted Danny Gokey Male Artist of the Year. The bilingual singer opened the 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards with an energetic performance of “The Comeback” from his acclaimed album, “Rise.”
WATCH NOW: Danny Gokey, 2017 Male Artist of the Year
Female Artist of the Year: Lauren Daigle
Opposite Gokey, Lauren Daigle also won Female Artist of the Year for the second year running. While the win was driven by the continued impact of her record-breaking debut collection, “How Can It Be” — which was already two years old at this point — at the 2017 Kick-Off Concert, Daigle did treat fans to a brand new song…a little unreleased track called “You Say.”
WATCH NOW: Lauren Daigle, 2017 Female Artist of the Year
Group/Duo of the Year: for KING & COUNTRY
Third time was indeed the charm for for KING & COUNTRY in 2017 when the duo added a third Group/Duo of the Year trophy to their mantle. The brothers, who won their first Group/Duo statuette in 2015, proved their creative talents extended well beyond music when they released their first original feature film, “Priceless,” the previous fall. The outfit is currently working on their second movie, “Unsung Hero,” which tells the remarkable story of the Smallbone family.
WATCH NOW: for KING & COUNTRY, 2017 Group/Duo of the Year
Song of the Year: “Priceless,” for KING & COUNTRY
for KING & COUNTRY’s debut feature film, “Priceless,” also spawned a chart-topping single of the same name, which appeared on both the movie’s soundtrack and their second LP, “RUN WILD. LIVE FREE. LOVE STRONG.” Fans voted it Song of the Year in 2017, and the hit simply reaffirmed the message for KING & COUNTRY always shares on stage as they implore concertgoers to celebrate, respect and honor the women in their lives.
WATCH NOW: for KING & COUNTRY, 2017 Song of the Year
Worship Song of the Year: “The Lion & The Lamb,” Big Daddy Weave
Although Big Daddy Weave’s recording of “The Lion & The Lamb” only peaked at No. 2 on the Christian charts, that didn’t stop fans from voting it Worship Song of the Year at the 2017 K-LOVE Fan Awards. The track was part of 2015’s “Beautiful Offerings” album and became the 15th Top 10 hit of the band’s lengthy career at the time. They performed the award-winning selection at the Grand Ole Opry House during the 5th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards ceremony.
WATCH NOW: Big Daddy Weave, 2017 Worship Song of the Year
Breakout Single: “Chain Breaker,” Zach Williams
Zach Williams’ record-breaking debut single, “Chain Breaker,” made waves in 2017, earning Breakout Single honors and the singer’s inaugural K-LOVE Fan Awards trophy. He performed the smash hit at the awards show, as well as during the annual Kick-Off Concert that jumpstarted the full weekend of festivities.
WATCH NOW: Zach Williams, 2017 Breakout Single
Sports Impact: Ben Zobrist
Second baseman and outfielder Ben Zobrist won the Sports Impact award in 2017. A two-time World Series champ, Zobrist was named the 2016 World Series MVP. Previously, he played for the Tampa Bay Rays, the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals, with whom he won his first World Series Championship in 2015. Five days after the Royals declared victory, Zobrist celebrated another milestone — the birth of his third child.
WATCH NOW: Ben Zobrist, 2017 Sports Impact
Film/Television Impact: “The Case For Christ”
When Lee Strobel brought his bestselling book, “The Case For Christ,” to the silver screen, the atheist-turned-Christian put his investigative journalism skills to good use, embarking on a journey for the truth behind his beliefs. Fans obviously loved the film adaptation as much as they enjoyed the book, leading them to pick “The Case For Christ” as the top contender for 2017’s Film/Television Impact award.
WATCH NOW: "The Case For Christ," 2017 Film/Television Impact
Book Impact: “Through The Eyes of a Lion,” Levi Lusko
Pastor, speaker and author Levi Lusko shared his family’s personal story of suffering and redemption in “Through The Eyes of a Lion.” The memoir detailed the tragic loss of his five-year-old daughter after she suffered an asthma attack just five days before Christmas. In the book, Lusko revealed his firsthand experience with grief, which obviously resonated with an audience wide enough to vote “Through The Eyes of a Lion” the 2017 Book Impact award recipient.
Don’t miss the 2023 K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend, May 26-28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Visit klovefanawards.com for more info.
