Artist Interviews
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE 57th ANNUAL GMA DOVE AWARDS ANNOUNCE FIRST ROUND OF PERFORMERS AND PRESENTERS FOR THE FIRST
Nashville, Tenn. (September 9, 2026) – The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is giving fans a first look at the star-studded lineup for the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards, announcing the first round of performers and presenters set to take the stage for Christian and Gospel music’s biggest night. Confirmed Performers include Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tauren Wells, and TobyMac, while industry icons such as Anthony Brown, CeCe Winans, for KING + COUNTRY, Julie Chen Moonves, and Lisa Knowles Smith are among the first presenters announced. Additional performers and presenters will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Additionally, a new honor will be introduced at this year’s GMA Dove Awards: The Community Impact Award for Peace & Purpose, presented by Jesus Calling. Inspired by the heart of Sarah Young, author of the best-selling book, the award recognizes an organization whose work is creating meaningful, faith-driven impact beyond the music industry. God Behind Bars, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the hope of Jesus to incarcerated individuals and their families, will be the inaugural recipient of the award. Through its ministry, God Behind Bars has created access to worship, community and discipleship for thousands of incarcerated people across the country, helping individuals encounter faith and discover a path toward transformation. Julie Chen Moonves, Emmy Award-winning television personality and longtime host of Big Brother, will introduce and present the honor to God Behind Bars.
The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards, presented in partnership with the Cantinas Arts Foundation, will be held October 6th, 2026, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Tickets are currently on sale HERE. While Music City Fan Experiences are now sold out, fans interested in attending in 2027 can join the waiting list now. The broadcast will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ app Friday, October 9th, 2026, at 7:30pm and 10pm ET and will be simulcast on SiriusXM The Message. An encore presentation will air on TBN and the TBN+ app Friday, October 16th, at 7:30pm and 10pm ET.
The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by the Gospel Music Association in partnership with TPR. Jackie Patillo, Justin Fratt and Tauren Wells serve as executive producers, Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returns as director, and Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.
About Gospel Music Association & Foundation:
Since 1964, the Gospel Music Association has existed to expose, promote and celebrate the Gospel through music, believing a song can carry that message as far and as wide as any sermon. The GMA serves the Christian music community by equipping artists and industry professionals at every stage of their calling through education, advocacy and connection. The organization also honors the legacy of those who paved the way while championing the next generation of creators carrying the Gospel forward. Through broadcasts like the GMA Dove Awards, now in its 57th year, the GMA puts that mission on stage, celebrating excellence across the Christian music genre while reaching millions around the world with music that points to Christ.
For more information about the Gospel Music Association, visit www.gospelmusic.org. Join the GMA social communities on Facebook,Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.
About TBN:
TBN is the World's Most Watched Faith Network®, reaching over 175 nations with inspirational programming 24 hours a day in 17 languages and on over 30 global partner networks. TBN continues to lead the way in expanding the impact of faith-based television across the earth through the creation of uplifting content designed to inspire all demographics, including sermons, worship music specials, talk shows, documentaries, and Christian films.
Get Connected with the 2026 GMA Dove Awards:
Watch exclusively on TBN or the TBN+ app starting Friday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET - find out more athttps://www.tbn.org/specials/doveawards.
Media Contact:
Christina Garvin
Sundari PR
805.350.0408
Christina@sundaripr.com
Bill Carpenter
carpenterbill@mac.com
202.441.9870
Daywind Music Publishing Welcomes Autumn Nelon
DMP staff with Autumn (seated)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 1, 2026) --- Daywind Music Publishing is excited to announce the signing of Autumn Nelon Streetman to an exclusive songwriting contract, marking a new creative chapter for the Gospel artist and member of the celebrated Nelon family. The partnership brings together two names rooted in Gospel music history, with Autumn stepping into songwriting as the next expression of a calling she's carried her whole life.
“Signing with Daywind Publishing feels just like home,” says Autumn. “Daywind has always been more than a name in this industry. To me, they’ve been family. They’ve walked alongside me through so many seasons of my life and have always believed in the music, the ministry, and the message God has placed on my heart. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to begin this new chapter with people I already know, love, and trust. I’m excited to see what songs God gives us and how He uses them in the years ahead.”
While songwriting might be new to Autumn, it is something that is in her blood with her father, Jerry Thompson, and grandfather, Rex Nelon, being established songwriters in their own right.
"We are honored to welcome Autumn Nelon Streetman to the Daywind Music Publishing family. Autumn carries one of Gospel music’s most treasured legacies as the granddaughter of Rex Nelon and a member of the beloved Nelon family, and she is emerging as a gifted songwriter in her own right. Over the past few years, she has walked through unimaginable loss and experienced remarkable grace. Those experiences have given her a story that resonates deeply with people. Through it all, her faith has remained steadfast, and that authenticity shines through in the songs she writes. Autumn is not only preserving a rich heritage, but, also, building on it by writing songs that bring hope, encouragement, and healing to others. We believe some of her most impactful writing lies ahead, and we are thrilled to partner with her as she continues to share her story through music,” shares Rick Shelton, Vice President of Daywind Music Publishing.
Autumn’s latest song, “I’ll Find You”, was released July 24, 2026, and was co-written with Joseph Habedank and Kenna Turner West. The track finds Autumn longing for heaven to find her family after their tragic passing in July of 2024.
Look for more new music coming soon from Autumn later this fall.
Daywind Music Publishing is home to an award-winning roster of songwriters including Lee Black, Adina Bowman, Jim Brady, Melissa Brady, Clint Brown, Riley Harrison Clark, Jason Cox, Adam Crabb, Natalie Cromwell, Marty Funderburk, Joseph Habedank, Mike Harland, Wayne Haun, Matthew Lawson, Tim Lovelace, Devin McGlamery, Karen Peck Gooch, John Darin Rowsey, Belinda Smith, Jonathan C. Smith, Sue C. Smith, and Barry Weeks.
Media Contact
Kyle Johnson
Daywind Music Group
publicity@daywind.com
KIRK FRANKLIN STOPS JOHN P.KEE FROM LEAVING STELLAR
THE EXCHANGE IS REPLICATED
ON NEW RELEASE, STELLAR MEDLEY (Featuring Zacardi Cortez)
HITTING ALL DIGITAL MUSIC PLATFORMS ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
The gospel music legend John P. Kee closed the 41st anniversary Stellar Gospel Music Awards program (which aired on the BET cable TV network from Charlotte, NC’s Spectrum Center) with an emotional, soul-stirring medley of some of his biggest, most iconic church classics such as “Show Up,” “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” “Clap Your Hands” and “Oh How Wonderous.” On the finale, Kee traded vocals with his raspy-voiced mentee Zacardi Cortez. The audience was standing on its collective feet and cheering like they were at a football team. As Kee was preparing to leave the stage, show host Kirk Franklin ran over to him and whispered that Kee couldn’t leave the stage without performing his biggest hit of all, “Jesus is Real.”
Kee laughed and quickly called out to the show’s music director Daniel Moore and asked if the seasoned house band (who have worked with a who’s who such as Mariah Carey and CeCe Winans) knew the song. They did indeed, so on that cue, Kee leaned into his keyboard and extended the medley with a joyous exhalation of “Jesus is Real.” The performance went over so well that Kee has recreated that special moment with “Stellar Medley (Featuring Zacardi Cortez)” (Kee Music Group / Tyscot Records) which is now available for pre-order and will officially release on all digital music platforms on September 18, 2026.
Pre-Order Link: https://jpkstellar.lnk.to/T0JZk7
The track will anchor the gold-selling, Grammy® award nominated crown prince of gospel music’s forthcoming album, Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee, Pt. 2 (Kee Music Group / Tyscot Records), the final and second half of Kee’s live concert retrospective of his greatest hits, Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee, Pt. 1 (Kee Music Group / Tyscot Records). The latter earned Kee seven Stellar Award nominations. The projected earned two of them in the categories of Traditional Male Artist of the Year and Traditional Choir of the Year. Kee recently earned his first Mediabase Gospel Airplay chart No. 1 single in years for his festive track, “Church Medley.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Carpenter
(202) 441-9870 / carpenterbill@me.com
Higher Rock Music
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