It was only three years ago that CAIN attended the K-LOVE Fan Awards for the first time. That’s why no one was more surprised than the siblings themselves when they were asked to host the highly anticipated 2023 fan-voted event. Logan, Madison and Taylor Cain, whose band moniker bears their last name, ended up exceeding expectations as they emceed an evening at Nashville’s historic Grand Ole Opry House centered around a theme of community in celebration of 10 years of the K-LOVE Fan Awards.
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Taking cues from seven-time K-LOVE Fan Awards host Matthew West, CAIN served up the perfect blend of heartfelt moments, hilarious skits and even an original opening song. The former master of ceremonies joined them backstage for a pre-show pep talk and prayer, officially passing off the hosting baton. “He’s been so good to us,” Madison says of West. “Hopefully we can do half as good as he always does.”
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The trio, who won a K-LOVE Fan Award for Breakout Single of the Year for “Rise Up (Lazarus)” in 2021, kicked off the night with a little ditty they penned especially for the marquee event’s 10th anniversary. Commemorating a decade of the K-LOVE Fan Awards, the family band donned hats — and even wigs, at one point — alongside a series of subtly choreographed moves to take audience members on a trip down memory lane starting with the 1st annual K-LOVE Fan Awards back in 2013. From there, they executed a script they helped write — their hard work and preparation evident from the first minute of dialogue.
“I can’t say enough about the K-LOVE team,” Logan told K-LOVE DJ Lauree on the red carpet just minutes before the rookie hosts were scheduled to take the stage. “They have absolutely put us in a position to succeed because they’ve been working for months and months and allowing us to be involved in the creative process.”
Later on in the show, the Alabama natives revealed that 2023 coincidentally marks their 10th year in Nashville. After encouraging those sitting in the audience to never give up on their dreams, they introduced a hilarious video that recapped their initial move to Music City, complete with their version of carpool karaoke. All first-time parents, the siblings also checked in via baby-cam on their children, who had some special sitters backstage that included K-LOVE morning show DJs Skip and Amy keeping an eye on Taylor’s Stevie Jhett; Jeremy Camp bulking up Madison’s Calloway; and Brandon Lake, Rachael Lampa and Katy Nichole entertaining Logan’s River with an enthusiastic version of “The Wheels On The Bus.” Both clips were cut from the telecast due to time constraints but received a hearty response from in-person attendees.
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CAIN, of course, added their own signature flair to their first-time hosting duties by leaving no hue of the rainbow unworn. Throughout the two-hour-plus show, the trio tallied no less than six costume changes. The sisters and brother pre-gamed in a colorful floral ensemble as they posed for selfies with fans and chatted with media on the red carpet. They opened the show in blue before reemerging later in matching lemon-lime. Next up, a mashup of red and orange was followed by a pastel tie-dye aesthetic. Their final look featured an assortment of denim adorned with neon, custom-made crocheted patches, which they wore as they closed out the night with a friendly version of “I’m So Blessed,” complete with a backflip from Logan.
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In addition to hosting the 2023 K-LOVE Fan Awards, the trio received three nominations this year in the categories of Artist of the Year, Group of the Year and Song of the Year for “I’m So Blessed.” Moreover, after the cameras stopped rolling at the Opry House, CAIN didn’t remove their hosting hats quite yet. Instead, they hopped aboard the General Jackson Showboat to host the official fan after party where they performed a full slate of original songs, including their brand new single, “Any More,” which served as their gift to fans when it released on the Friday preceding this year’s Fan Awards.
In 10 years, CAIN has transformed from an unknown country trio into a chart-topping, K-LOVE Fan Award-winning band capable of hosting a nationally televised broadcast. Meanwhile, in the same amount of time, the K-LOVE Fan Awards has grown from an audacious idea that slowly blossomed into a night at the Ryman Auditorium to a full-fledged annual three-day event culminating in Christian music’s biggest night.
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“It really is so cool to see there’s an army of believers out there, and I think that’s what unifies,” shares Taylor, reflecting on the evening. “It’s more than just an award show. I think it’s awesome to bring everybody together and say, ‘When you listen to Christian music, when you support other Christians and art…we can actually make an impact on the world.’”
