Matthew West and Mandisa returned as co-hosts for the 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards, which once again aired across TBN stations and the TBB app, making the show available to fans around the world. Two of the night’s biggest winners opened and closed the show with unforgettable performances. Group/Duo of the Year winners for KING & COUNTRY jumpstarted the evening with a creative rendition of megawatt single “God Only Knows,” which surprisingly beat Lauren Daigle’s unstoppable juggernaut, “You Say,” for Song of the Year honors. Meanwhile, following emotional acceptance speeches for Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year, Daigle concluded the evening’s celebrations with a two-fold performance of “Look Up Child” and “You Say.”
Additional highlights of the night included We Are Messengers winning the first award of their career and appearances from Kathie Lee Gifford, Danny Gokey, Rebecca St. James and The Kendrick Brothers’ Alex Kendrick. The award show followed a full weekend of fan-fueled activities, including the returning Run For Love 5K and loads of artist/fan interactions.
2019 K-LOVE Fan Award Winners
Artist of the Year: Lauren Daigle
Heading into the 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards with three nominations, Lauren Daigle was chosen as Artist of the Year, as voted on exclusively by fans. Daigle’s second career Artist of the Year win came at the height of her “You Say” era after the release of her landmark sophomore LP, “Look Up Child,” in 2018. Daigle followed “You Say” around the world on a global arena tour that continued into 2020. The epic song broke all manner of records becoming the biggest song in Christian music history after spending 132 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1.
WATCH NOW: Lauren Daigle, 2019 Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year: Danny Gokey
Reclaiming the Male Artist of the Year title after conceding the category to TobyMac in 2018, Danny Gokey captured fans’ votes and hearts with “Haven’t Seen It Yet,” the title-cut of his 2019 studio effort that released a little over a month in advance of the 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards. Furthermore, the faith-affirming track was also nominated for Song of the Year.
WATCH NOW: Danny Gokey, 2019 Male Artist of the Year
Female Artist of the Year: Lauren Daigle
In addition to taking home the coveted Artist of the Year trophy, Lauren Daigle was named Female Artist of the Year for the fourth time in a row. The decorated songstress dedicated her repeat win to her aging grandparents, who had driven more than nine hours from her home state of Louisiana to be in the audience to cheer on their granddaughter.
WATCH NOW: Lauren Daigle, 2019 Female Artist of the Year
Group/Duo of the Year: for KING & COUNTRY
Like Daigle, for KING & COUNTRY also sealed their fourth, albeit non-consecutive, Group/Duo of the Year honor on the strength of their 2018 collection, “Burn The Ships” and the album’s mammoth single, “God Only Knows.” In addition, the duo’s rigorous touring schedule and next-level production in support of the project and song helped secure them the Group/Duo title yet again.
WATCH NOW: for KING & COUNTRY, 2019 Group/Duo of the Year
Song of the Year: “God Only Knows,” for KING & COUNTRY
for KING & COUNTRY opened the 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards with an epic rendition of “God Only Knows,” which the duo reimagined time and time again across a series of notable versions that included high-profile collaborations with Timbaland, Echosmith and Dolly Parton, among others. In a surprise upset over Lauren Daigle’s “You Say,” “God Only Knows” also beat out Casting Crowns’ “Only Jesus,” Crowder’s “Red Letters” and Danny Gokey’s “Haven’t Seen It Yet” for Song of the Year honors.
WATCH NOW: for KING & COUNTRY, 2019 Song of the Year
Worship Song of the Year: “Who You Say I Am,” Brooke Ligertwood
“Who You Say I Am” earned Brooke Ligertwood the first GRAMMY® of her storied career. With an unforgettable chorus about our unwavering identity in Christ, 2019’s fan-voted Worship Song of the Year was sung around the globe as believers collectively declared, “Who the Son sets free, oh, is free indeed. I’m a child of God. Yes, I am.”
WATCH NOW: Brooke Ligertwood, 2019 Worship Song of the Year
Breakout Single: “Maybe It’s Ok,” We Are Messengers
Following multiple nominations, We Are Messengers won the first award of their entire career when fans chose “Maybe It’s Ok” as Breakout Single of the Year at the 2019 K-LOVE Fan Awards. Lead singer Darren Mulligan couldn’t hide his pure joy as he and his bandmates took the stage to accept the accolade. The song granted listeners permission to be imperfect, and fans really resonated with the raw authenticity of the track.
WATCH NOW: We Are Messengers, 2019 Breakout Single
Sports Impact: Joe Gibbs
As the former head coach of the Washington Redskins, Joe Gibbs is the only coach in history to win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 1996, the 2019 Sports Impact recipient is regarded as one of the winningest coaches in the NFL. Following a prolific career in football, Gibbs — a devout Christian — switched his focus to NASCAR. Under his ownership, the Joe Gibbs Racing team had won four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships and three Daytona 500s, as of 2019.
WATCH NOW: Joe Gibbs, 2019 Sports Impact
Film/Television Impact: “Unplanned”
Faith-based film “Unplanned” turned heads and sparked lively conversation by tackling the subject of abortion head on. The movie was based on the inspiring true story of Abby Johnson, who ran an abortion clinic before having a life-transforming encounter with Christ and becoming one of the country’s strongest pro-life advocates. While the graphic nature of the film merited a controversial R-rating, fans rallied around the movie’s redemptive message, ultimately choosing the biopic as the 2019 Film/Television Impact winner.
WATCH NOW: "Unplanned," 2019 Film/Television Impact
Book Impact: “The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi,” Kathie Lee Gifford with Rabbi Jason Sobel
Former “TODAY” show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford and Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel were on hand in Nashville to accept the 2019 Book Impact award for their collaborative work on the “New York Times” bestseller, “The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi.” The longtime friends journeyed to the Holy Land in the unique book that explored the genesis of Gifford’s Christianity and unearthed her passion for Scripture. As they traversed the ancient streets of Israel together, in turn, the pair sifted through their beliefs, challenging and strengthening their faith.
Don’t miss the 2023 K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend, May 26-28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Visit klovefanawards.com for more info.
