2026 GRAMMY Award Nominations for Gospel/Christian Categories - See the full list and highlights here

The wait is over; the 2026 GRAMMY nominations are here!

The Recording Academy has officially announced the nominees for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, set to take place on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony will air on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+, celebrating another year of outstanding artistry across 95 categories.

In the Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music field, this year’s nominees reflect a powerful mix of worship, creativity, and collaboration. Industry favorites like CeCe Winans, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds, Brandon Lake, Lecrae, Forrest Frank, and Darrel Walls lead the charge with standout songs and albums that continue to shape the sound of faith-based music today.

From heartfelt ballads like Come Jesus Come (CeCe Winans ft. Shirley Caesar) to bold collaborations such as Hard Fought Hallelujah (Brandon Lake with Jelly Roll), and Lecrae’s Headphones featuring Killer Mike and T.I., the 2026 GRAMMYs showcase the genre’s evolving reach and creative depth.

See the full list of nominees in the Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music categories below.

Gospel & Contemporary Christian Music

Best Gospel Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best traditional Christian, roots gospel or contemporary gospel single or track.

• Do It Again — Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, songwriter

• Church — Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John Legend; Anthony S. Brown, Brunes Charles, Annatoria Chitapa, Kenneth Leonard, Jr., Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Jonas Myrin, songwriters

• Still Live — Jonathan McReynolds & Jamal Roberts; Britney Delagraentiss, Jonathan McReynolds, David Lamar Outing III, Orlando Joel Palmer & Terrell Demetrius Wilson, songwriters

• Amen — Pastor Mike Jr.; Adia Andrews, Michael McClure Jr., David Lamar Outing II & Terrell Anthony Pettus, songwriters

• Come Jesus Come — Cece Winans Featuring Shirley Caesar

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best contemporary Christian music single or track, (including pop, rap/hip-hop, Latin, or rock.)

• I Know A Name — Elevation Worship, Chris Brown, Brandon Lake; Hank Bentley, Steven Furtick, Brandon Lake & Jacob Sooter, songwriters

• YOUR WAY'S BETTER — Forrest Frank; Forrest Frank & Pera, songwriters

• Hard Fought Hallelujah — Brandon Lake With Jelly Roll; Chris Brown, Jason Bradley Deford, Steven Furtick, Benjamin William Hastings & Brandon Lake, songwriters

• Headphones — Lecrae, Killer Mike, T.I.; Bongo ByTheWay, Clifford Harris, William Roderick Miller, Lecrae Moore, Michael Render & Tyshane Thompson, songwriters

• Amazing — Darrel Walls, PJ Morton; PJ Morton & Darrel Walls,songwriters

  
  

Best Gospel Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional or contemporary/R&B gospel music recordings.

• Sunny Days — Yolanda Adams

• Tasha — Tasha Cobbs Leonard

• Live Breathe Fight — Tamela Mann

• Only On The Road Live — Tye Tribbett

• Heart Of Mine — Darrel Walls, PJ Morton

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, contemporary Christian music, including pop, rap/hip hop, Latin, or rock recordings.

• CHILD OF GOD II — Forrest Frank

• Coritos Vol. 1 — Israel & New Breed

• King Of Hearts — Brandon Lake

• Reconstruction — Lecrae

• Let The Church Sing — Tauren Wells

Best Roots Gospel Album

For albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional/roots gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.

• I Will Not Be Moved (Live) — The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

• Then Came The Morning — Gaither Vocal Band

• Praise & Worship: More Than A Hollow Hallelujah — The Isaacs

• Good Answers — Karen Peck & New River

• Back To My Roots — Candi Staton

The 2026 GRAMMY nominations in the Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music categories showcase a healthy blend of established icons and rising innovators.

Brandon Lake leads the field with three nominations, underscoring his continued influence across both worship and contemporary Christian music. Brandon Lake has released his fifth studio album King of Hearts, which debuted in June 2025 and marked his first Top‑10 entry on the Billboard 200 chart. He’s also out on a major tour supporting the project, covering 48 cities across 2025–2026.

Darrel Walls, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Lecrae each earned two GRAMMY nominations, highlighting their influence across Gospel and Contemporary Christian music.

Walls was recognized for “Amazing” with PJ Morton (Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song) and their album Heart of Mine (Best Gospel Album), showcasing his blend of traditional gospel and contemporary sounds alongside his ministry and community engagement.

Cobbs Leonard received nods for her album TASHA (July 2025) and the collaboration “Church” with John Legend, a project praised for its intimate, worship-focused aesthetic and personal depth.

Lecrae’s nominations include his album Reconstruction (August 2025), noted for its introspective and challenging tone; part confession, part rebuke, and part invitation; reflecting his role in pushing the boundaries of contemporary Christian music.

Interestingly, Forrest Frank, who earned two nominations this year (YOUR WAY’S BETTER and CHILD OF GOD II), had earlier shared that he wouldn’t be attending any award shows going forward. His decision, rooted in a desire to stay grounded in purpose and faith rather than industry validation, adds a poignant note to his GRAMMY recognition. It’s a reminder that for many artists in the Christian space, success isn’t defined by trophies or stages, but by the impact their music leaves on hearts and lives.

Overall, this year’s lineup paints a vivid picture of the genre’s evolution; one where tradition meets experimentation, and artists continue to find new ways to express timeless faith through modern soundscapes.

Congratulations to all the nominees!