Gospel singer Kirk Franklin won his 20th Grammy award for his performance and songwriting on ‘All Things’ in the best gospel performance/song category.
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain
(RNS) — Grammy favorites added to their previous wins in the gospel & contemporary Christian music category at the annual awards on Sunday (Feb. 4), with top honors going to Kirk Franklin, Lecrae, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tye Tribbett and Blind Boys of Alabama.
Gospel singer Franklin won his 20th Grammy for his performance and songwriting on “All Things” in the best gospel performance/song category. Franklin, who won the only category he was nominated in, said in an Instagram video before the ceremony that he gets nervous and has “a lot of anxiety about award shows.”
The Grammy winner added that he does not like to compete against his friends, with a nod to a category that included a number of nominees Franklin has collaborated with in the past, including Marvin Winans, Hezekiah Walker, and Karen Clark Sheard.
Clark Sheard won her own award with The Clark Sisters, an American gospel vocal group of five sisters, who received the lifetime achievement award, which was announced in advance of the ceremonies. The Clark Sisters have won two Grammys as a group, and they are the highest-selling female gospel group in history.
Lecrae received his third and fourth Grammy Sunday night, taking home best contemporary Christian music album for “Church Clothes 4″ and sharing an award with Tasha Cobbs Leonard for their performance of “Your Power” in the best contemporary Christian performance/song category.
The father of three took his daughter to the awards as his date. “I just wanted to be the father I never had and give my kids experiences. God is beyond kind,” Lecrae wrote on Instagram after his win.
“Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this song an amazing tool for the kingdom!” Cobbs Leonard, one of the few women to take home a Grammy in the gospel and contemporary Christian music categories, wrote on Instagram.
Winning songwriters for “Your Power” included Alexandria Dollar, Jordan Dollar, Antonio Gardener, Micheal Girgenti, Lasanna “Ace” Harris, David Hein, Deandre Hunter, Dylan Hyde, Christian Louisana, Patrick Darius Mix Jr., Lecrae Moore, Justin Pelham, Jeffrey Lawrence Shannon, and Allen Swoope.
Tribbett, who copastors LiVe Church in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Shanté Tribbett, won his third Grammy, taking home best gospel album for “All Things New: Live in Orlando.”
The Blind Boys of Alabama won their sixth Grammy honoring the album “Echoes of the South” in the best roots gospel album category. The group, which was founded in 1939, was also nominated for best Americana performance and best American roots performance.
“Echoes of the South” is expected to be the last album from the longtime leader of the Blind Boys of Alabama, Jimmy Carter, who retired at the age of 91 after singing with the group for 41 years.
“We’re grateful for what Jimmy has done, but we are going to do great things through God that has made us,” said Ricky McKinnie, a member of the group, at a press conference after their win. “We thank God for Jimmy Carter and all of the guys that have been before him.”
BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG
“Positive,” Erica Campbell; Erica Campbell, Warryn Campbell, and Juan Winans, songwriters
“When I Pray,” Doe; Dominique Jones & Dewitt Jones, songwriters
“Kingdom,” Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore & Jacob Poole, songwriters (Winners)
“The Better Benediction,” PJ Morton featuring Zacardi Cortez, Gene Moore, Samoht, Tim Rogers and Darrel Walls; PJ Morton, songwriter
“Get Up,” Tye Tribbett; Brandon Jones, Christopher Michael Stevens, Thaddaeus Tribbett and Tye Tribbett, songwriters
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG
“God Really Loves Us (Radio Version),” Crowder featuring Dante Bowe and Maverick City Music; Dante Bowe, David Crowder, Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka, songwriters
“So Good,” Doe; Chuck Butler, Dominique Jones & Ethan Hulse, songwriters
“For God Is With Us,” For King & Country and Hillary Scott; Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone, songwriters
“Fear Is Not My Future,” Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Nicole Hannel, Jonathan Jay, Brandon Lake and Hannah Shackelford, songwriters (Winners)
“Holy Forever,” Chris Tomlin; Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Chris Tomlin & Phil Wickham, songwriters
“Hymn of Heaven (Radio Version),” Phil Wickham; Chris Davenport, Bill Johnson, Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham, songwriters
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
“Die to Live,” Maranda Curtis
“Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live),” Ricky Dillard
“Clarity,” Doe
“Kingdom Book One Deluxe,” Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin (Winners)
“All Things New,” Tye Tribbett
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
“Lion,” Elevation Worship
“Breathe,” Maverick City Music (Winners)
“Life After Death,” TobyMac
“Always,” Chris Tomlin
“My Jesus,” Anne Wilson
BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM
Tennessee State University – The Urban Hymnal (Winners)
Gaither Vocal Band – Let’s Just Praise the Lord
Karen Peck & New River – 2:22
Keith & Kristyn Getty – Confessio – Irish American Roots
Willie Nelson – The Willie Nelson Family
First published Feb. 5, 2024
