Following Seph Schlueter’s win last year for “Counting My Blessings,” the newest class of nominees for Breakout Single of the Year leans heavily on female representation with four out of five contenders being women. Jamie MacDonald, Samantha Ebert, Leanna Crawford and Megan Woods bring the girl power, while Bodie is the lone male frontrunner. With the exception of Crawford, every single one of these new voices has surfaced within the last eight months, allowing this category to harvest talent ripe from the vine. Each of these fresh faces — except for Ebert — will appear at the Emerging Artist Showcase during the 2025 K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend.
Hosted by Matthew West, Jeremy Camp, Bart Millard (MercyMe) and Mac Powell, the 12th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards will air exclusively on TBN Friday, May 30, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. CT / 7:30 p.m. ET.
Cast your vote for Breakout Single of the Year now.
“Desperate,” Jamie MacDonald
Jamie MacDonald wrote her stunning debut single, “Desperate,” in the wake of some unanswered prayers. Delivering an arresting vocal full of raw vulnerability and gritty rasp, the newcomer passionately pleads with heaven to intervene across her first radio offering. Nabbing “most-added” honors at radio upon impact, “Desperate” swiftly broke records as it soared to No. 1 in just 12 weeks.
"Flowers," Samantha Ebert (feat. Seph Schlueter)
“Flowers (feat. Seph Schlueter)” bloomed in the wake of suffering as independent artist Samantha Ebert crafted the transparent ballad while battling Lyme disease. The Canadian singer-songwriter was inspired by the get-well bouquets from friends and family that adorned the nightstand by her bed. Putting pen to paper, the burgeoning artist planted the seeds for what became a viral hit as listeners used the song to soundtrack their real-life moments on TikTok.
“Still Waters (Psalm 23),” Leanna Crawford
Leanna Crawford’s Great Aunt Maurine inspired the Washington state native’s inaugural No. 1, “Still Waters (Psalm 23).” Her great aunt, whom Crawford met for the first time when she was 103, memorized the Bible in its near entirety in her 40s after doctors told her she would eventually go blind. Well into a century of life, Great Aunt Maurine could still quote lengthy passages from God’s Word, including the poetic verses found in Psalm 23; and Crawford used her example to pen a poignant anthem about fighting fear.
“The Truth,” Megan Woods
At only 24 years old, Megan Woods has already made her Grand Ole Opry debut and her national television debut thanks to a recent “FOX & Friends” appearance. Additionally, her lead single, “The Truth,” has landed the budding songstress a No. 1 hit. Drawing on her own struggles with self-esteem, Woods penned “The Truth” with songwriting aces Matthew West and Jeff Pardo. The empowering single has gone on to inspire a perfume fragrance and a coloring book for kids.
“Whisper and the Wind," Bodie
After wowing audiences nationwide with his cover of Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude” on Season 22 of “The Voice,” worship leader Bodie inked a deal with a major Christian label and dropped his debut radio single, “Whisper and the Wind.” The alt-pop gem finds the California native drowning out the noise and intentionally listening for God’s voice in life’s quietest moments. The original appears on 2024’s six-track EP, “Happy To Be Here.”
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