Brandon Lake Wins Big at 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards; CeCe Winans & MercyMe Also Honored

Brandon Lake was a double winner at the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards, which premiered on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and the TBN+ app on Friday (May 29). (An encore showing is scheduled for Friday June 5).

Lake, 35, won both artist of the year and male artist of the year. Gospel legend CeCe Winans , 61, took the award for female artist of the year.

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MercyMe , which formed 32 years ago, won group of the year.

The K-LOVE Fan Awards, now in their 13th year, honors artists, songs and performances in Christian music, as well as recognizing achievements in television, film, books, sports and digital media. This year’s show was taped at Nashville’s Opry House on May 24. It was co-hosted by Sadie Robertson Huff and Lauren Daigle . Robertson won the podcast impact award for Whoa That’s Good . Daigle was shut out despite three nominations.

Other artists who received three nominations but didn’t win this year were Jeremy Camp , Josiah Queen and Elevation Worship .

Jamie MacDonald won song of the year for “Left It in the River,” which reached No. 5 on Billboard ’s Hot Christian Songs chart. Phil Wickham won worship song for “Homesick for Heaven,” which reached No. 8 on that chart.

Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards, with winners marked.

Artist of the year

WINNER: Brandon Lake CeCe Winans Elevation Worship Jamie MacDonald Jeremy Camp Josiah Queen Lauren Daigle MercyMe Phil Wickham TobyMac

Male artist of the year

Ben Fuller WINNER: Brandon Lake Chris Tomlin Jeremy Camp Jon Reddick Josiah Queen Matthew West Phil Wickham Seph Schlueter Tauren Wells

Female artist of the year

Anne Wilson Blanca WINNER: CeCe Winans Emerson Day Hope Darst Jamie MacDonald Katy Nichole Lauren Daigle Leanna Crawford Terrian

Group of the year

CAIN Caleb & John Elevation Rhythm Elevation Worship for King & Country WINNER: MercyMe Passion We the Kingdom

Song of the year

“Can’t Steal My Joy”– Josiah Queen/Brandon Lake “Get Behind Me”– Emerson Day “Heaven On My Mind”– TobyMac WINNER: “Left It In the River”– Jamie MacDonald “Let It Be a Hallelujah”– Lauren Daigle “Make It Well”– MercyMe “No Fear”– Jon Reddick “No Survivors”– Jeremy Camp “The Love I Have For You” – Colton Dixon “Wait For Me” – Zach Williams “What an Awesome God”– Phil Wickham “Won’t Start Now”– Seph Schlueter

Worship song

“Alleluia”– Elevation Worship WINNER: “Homesick for Heaven”– Phil Wickham “How Good It Is”– Chris Tomlin “Mighty Name of Jesus”– Hope Darst & Josh Baldwin “The Lord Will Provide”– Passion “Washed”– Elevation Rhythm

Breakout single

“All Joy”– Natalie Layne WINNER: “Get Behind Me”– Emerson Day “I Need You”– Jet Trouble “Somebody’s Praying”– Bay Turner “Stay”– Zahriya Zachary “Where Would I Be”– Peter Burton “Why Should I Worry”– Carly Anne Taylor

Film impact

David WINNER: I Can Only Imagine 2 Light of the World Sarah’s Oil Soul on Fire The King of Kings The Last Rodeo Truth & Treason

TV/Streaming impact

Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain’s Journey WINNER: House of David: Season 2 Miracle Testament The Chosen Adventures The Promised Land Virgin Birth

Podcast impact

Back Porch Theology – Lisa Harper Girls Gone Bible – Angela Halili & Arielle Reitsma Hey! It’s the Lusko’s – Levi & Jennie Lusko Livin’ the Bream – Shannon Bream The Bible Recap –Tara-Leigh Cobble The Bryce Crawford Podcast – Bryce Crawford There Is More Podcast – Karen McAdams & Rachel Faulkner Brown WINNER: Whoa That’s Good – Sadie Robertson Huff

Book impact

And She Got Up – Courtney Pray Duke Beloved – Francis Chan Blessed Are the Spiraling – Levi Lusko WINNER: Hey Girl – Anne Wilson Jesus Shaped Life – Lisa Harper Joy Bomb – Tauren Wells Tame Your Thoughts – Max Lucado We’re So Blessed – CAIN

Sports impact

WINNER: Robert Anthony Cruz “Coach RAC”- Savannah Bananas

_Originally reported by [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/brandon-lake-2026-k-love-fan-awards-full-winners-list-1236260775/)._