Brandon Lake, Anne Wilson, for King & Country take home the night's biggest awards
Melonee HurtNashville Tennessean
Christian music fans packed Nashville's Opry House Sunday, May 26, for the filming of the 11th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, which were televised May 31 on TBN.
The night's top award winners were Brandon Lake (Male Artist of the Year and Worship Song of the Year), Anne Wilson (Female Artist of the Year), Elevation Worship (Group of the Year) and for King & Country, who landed the top spot for Artist of the Year for the sixth time since 2015.
This fan-voted award show was hosted by Lake and Sadie Robertson Huff of "Duck Dynasty" fame (who took home her second K-LOVE award for her podcast, "WHOA That's Good") with Lake also performing twice and winning multiple awards. The night was chock full of loving jabs, spoofs, moving live performances, hearty laughs and touching acceptance speeches. We've recapped our top five moments from the show:
1. Brandon Lake and Sadie Robertson Huff's 'Brandie' Awards
Kicking off the night as part of the opening monologue, Huff and Lake opted to hand out a few awards of their own, dubbed the "Brandie" awards — a combination of the names Brandon and Sadie.
"You know, we're gonna go a little bit rogue tonight. You know, your man's wearing leopard print," Lake said of his suit. "So we thought we should take the liberty to start the night out by giving out some of our own awards, if that's cool. Inspired by my favorite TV show and paper company, Sadie, let's give out some Brandie Awards."
Winners of the fictional Brandies were Logan Cain for "ultimate pep," David Crowder for "best beard," Phil Wickham for "whitest sneakers," Annie F. Downs for "confetti queen," Anne Wilson for "gone country" and Katy Nichole for "crazy cat lady."
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2. Lauren Daigle and Ellie Holcomb comfort the room with 'Be Okay'
On the red carpet just before the show, Daigle and Holcomb stopped to tell The Tennessean the story behind the song they were going to perform later that night, "Be Okay."
"It's been about two years ago and Ellie received an email from a little girl who had a terminal illness and she is asking all these questions about death and what's on the other side," Daigle said. "And Ellie with her grace and her kindness offered all of these words of wisdom and comfort."
The little girl's response to the song is what floored both Daigle and Holcomb.
"She was a young girl with an old soul," Holcomb said. "And when we kind of started talking, she ended up saying to me, she said, 'I think maybe I was put here to teach you something about being alive. And I think you were put here to teach me how to die.'"
Daigle and Holcomb shared a moving, simple performance that the two said they feel like was a send-off to the little girl who was the inspiration behind the song.
3. Willie Robertson and Matthew West
Arguably the funniest moment of the night was when "Duck Dynasty's" Willie Robertson and singer Matthew West lost control of a skit (and West's fake beard) while presenting the award for TV/Film Impact.
West joined Robertson at the mic dressed in full camo with a headband and long beard, mustache and his best attempt at a really strong southern accent trying to convince Robertson that he also loves hunting, fishing and guns.
As the two launch into their bit poking fun at Robertson, West's beard and mustache slides down. West can't contain his laughter and botches the lines, saying through laughter, "This is a new low point in my career."
"And now he can't read," Robertson deadpans off script to a crowd roaring with laughter. "You have become one of us."
4. Brandon Lake's acceptance speeches/son's nap
As the night's co-host accepted awards for Worship Song of the Year and Male Artist of the Year his sincere gratitude and appreciation shone through in two eloquent speeches.
The first came when mentor/singer/producer David Leonard presented Lake with the top worship song award and Lake immediately turned the attention to Leonard.
"David, I have looked up to you and continue to look up to you. Bro, I would not be here if it was not for you. Like, seriously, this man heard my very first independent record that I raised money for by tattooing people's legs. I know, I'm crazy. But, it got me here. This man heard this record, didn't know who I was, and he called me... and he has spent countless hours with me investing in me."
After his second win, Lake brought his mom and son Blaze on stage with him and told the crowd that his life was a miracle after his parents suffered six miscarriages. After two or three of them, he said, "God gave you guys — me.
"I wanted to honor my family and say that a lot of these songs are very true. I should not be alive. I am a miracle child. And I know that a lot of people are going through the very same thing. I want to say that I'm a miracle because I am one."
Another Lake highlight passed quickly and if you weren't paying attention, you might have missed his other son stretched out on the front-row pew — sound asleep. Lake would later say on Instagram that only one son joined him on stage because the other "slept through the entire show."
5. Matt Maher and Jonathan Roumie trade insults
Singer Matt Maher and actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in "The Chosen," presented an award, but not before having a little fun at each other's expense. Maher suggested the two take turns hurling a few insults at each other just for kicks. Maher teased Roumie about not spoiling the next season of "The Chosen" even though we know how the story ends.
Roumie fires back with, "Yeah, there's a book about it. You know, the same one you stole all your song ideas from."
Maher's turn. "What's it like to know you've already peaked as an actor?" Which he followed quickly with "I'm sorry!"
Roumie: "Heaven called. Kenny Rogers wants his look back."
The two got to laughing so hard they could hardly continue to presenting the award for Artist of the Year to for King & Country.
All in all, the show was full of touching moments, powerful performances and shared camaraderie sprinkled with a lot of fun and well-intended humor.
Here is a list of all the nominees and the winners in each category:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Anne Wilson
- Brandon Lake
- Casting Crowns
- for King & Country
- Lauren Daigle
- Matthew West
- Phil Wickham
- TobyMac
SONG OF THE YEAR
- “Come Jesus Come” - Stephen McWhirter
- “Don’t Stop Praying” - Matthew West
- “Faithfully” - TobyMac
- “I Thank God” - Housefires f/JWLKRS & Ryan Ellis
- “Praise” - Elevation Worship
- “Praise You Anywhere” - Brandon Lake
- “Somebody To You” - Rachael Lampa f/Andrew Ripp
- “Strong” - Anne Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Brandon Lake
- Chris Tomlin
- Crowder
- Jeremy Camp
- Matthew West
- Phil Wickham
- Tauren Wells
- TobyMac
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Anne Wilson
- CeCe Winans
- Katy Nichole
- Lauren Daigle
- Natalie Grant
- Rachael Lampa
- Tasha Layton
- Terrian
WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
- “Fear is Not My Future” - Maverick City Music
- “Firm Foundation” - Cody Carnes
- “Holy Forever” - Chris Tomlin
- “I Believe” - Phil Wickham
- “I Thank God” - Housefires f/JWLKRS & Ryan Ellis
- “Praise” - Elevation Worship
- “Praise You Anywhere” - Brandon Lake
BREAKOUT SINGLE
- “Big God”- Terrian
- “Come Jesus Come” - Stephen McWhirter
- “Counting My Blessings” - Seph Schlueter
- “Good Day” - Forrest Frank
- “Hallelujah Feeling” - Caleb & John
- “The Prodigal” - Josiah Queen
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- CAIN
- Casting Crowns
- Big Daddy Weave
- Elevation Worship
- Maverick City Music
- MercyMe
- We Are Messengers
- We The Kingdom
FILM IMPACT
- "Sound of Freedom"
- "The Shift"
- "After Death"
- "The Chosen" Season 4 (Theatrical Release)
- "Big George Foreman"
- "The Blind"
- "Journey to Bethlehem"
- "Ordinary Angels"
TV/STREAMING IMPACT
- "Jonathan & Jesus"
- "Chasing CAIN"
- "Eleanor’s Bench"
- "Going Home" (Season 2)
- "The Wingfeather Saga"
BOOK IMPACT
- "Mostly What God Does" - Savannah Guthrie
- "Like A River" - Granger Smith
- "Untangle Your Emotions" - Jennie Allen
- "Practicing the Way" - John Mark Comer
- "Rescue Story" - Zach Williams
- "The Digital Fast" - Dr. Darren Whitehead
- "Upon Waking" - Jackie Hill Perry
- "The Awe of God" - John Bevere
PODCAST IMPACT
- "Cooper Stuff" - John Cooper
- "WHOA That’s Good" - Sadie Robertson Huff
- "That Sounds Fun" - Annie F. Downs
- "Made for This" - Jennie Allen
- "The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast" - Candace Cameron Bure
- "Back Porch Theology" - Lisa Harper
