The gospel music community is rejoicing as the Recording Academy announced nominations for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, with dozens of beloved artists receiving recognition across multiple gospel categories. From chart-topping singles to powerful live albums, the 2026 nominations showcase the incredible breadth and depth of contemporary gospel music.

Pastor Mike Jr. Makes Grammy History

Multi-Stellar Award-winning gospel artist Pastor Mike Jr. is celebrating a major career milestone—his very first Grammy nomination! The dynamic worship leader received a nod in the Best Gospel Performance/Song category for his chart-topping hit “Amen” .

Released in January 2025, “Amen” is a raw and uplifting anthem of faith, breakthrough, and perseverance that resonates deeply with Pastor Mike Jr.’s signature style . The song has achieved tremendous success, soaring to No. 1 on both the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart and Billboard’s National Gospel Airplay chart .

“We’re incredibly grateful,” said Pastor Mike Jr. “This nomination is a testament to everyone who’s walked through this journey; from my church family to the fans who let this song live in their hearts. God is moving, and he’s the reason for this moment” .

Best Gospel Performance/Song – The Nominees

This category celebrates the best vocal or instrumental gospel performances and songwriting. The 2026 nominees represent gospel royalty :

1. “Do It Again” – Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
2. “Church” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John Legend; Anthony S. Brown, Brunes Charles, Annatoria Chitapa, Kenneth Leonard, Jr., Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Jonas Myrin, songwriters
3. “Still (Live)” – Jonathan McReynolds & Jamal Roberts; Britney Delagraentiss, Jonathan McReynolds, David Lamar Outing II, Orlando Joel Palmer & Terrell Demetrius Wilson, songwriters
4. “Amen” – Pastor Mike Jr.; Adia Andrews, Michael McClure Jr., David Lamar Outing II & Terrell Anthony Pettus, songwriters
5. “Come Jesus Come” – CeCe Winans Featuring Shirley Caesar 

Best Gospel Album – A Powerhouse Lineup

This category honors albums containing greater than 75% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional or contemporary/R&B gospel music. The 2026 nominees are :

1. Sunny Days – Yolanda Adams The legendary Yolanda Adams returns with a fresh collection showcasing her signature vocal power and inspirational messaging.
2. Tasha – Tasha Cobbs Leonard The self-titled project from one of gospel’s most dominant voices, featuring powerful worship anthems.
3. Live Breathe Fight – Tamela Mann The Grammy-nominated album from the beloved actress and singer, celebrating resilience and faith. This project has already earned Mann significant acclaim and was featured in our previous coverage of her upcoming 2026 tour with husband David Mann.
4. Only On The Road (Live) – Tye Tribbett Captured in the energetic atmosphere of live worship, Tribbett delivers his trademark high-energy praise.
5. Heart Of Mine – Darrel Walls, PJ Morton A collaboration bringing together Walls’ pastoral heart and Morton’s musical genius .

Best Roots Gospel Album – Honoring Tradition

This category celebrates traditional gospel music at its finest :

1. I Will Not Be Moved (Live) – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir The renowned choir delivers a powerful live recording of traditional gospel favorites.
2. Then Came The Morning – Gaither Vocal Band The legendary vocal group continues their tradition of excellence with this latest offering.

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

While technically a CCM category, several gospel-adjacent artists received nominations :

• “I Know a Name” – Elevation Worship, Chris Brown, Brandon Lake
• “Your Way’s Better” – Forrest Frank
• “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake With Jelly Roll
• “Headphones” – Lecrae, Killer Mike, T.I.; featuring hip-hop elements with gospel messaging
• “Amazing” – Darrel Walls, PJ Morton (also nominated in gospel categories)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

The CCM album category features :

1. Child of God II – Forrest Frank
2. Coritos Vol. 1 – Israel & New Breed
3. King Of Hearts – Brandon Lake
4. Reconstruction – Lecrae
5. Let The Church Sing – Tauren Wells

Celebrating Gospel Excellence

These nominations represent the incredible diversity within gospel music—from traditional choir anthems to contemporary worship experiences, from established legends to breakthrough artists. Several artists received multiple nominations across categories:

• Tasha Cobbs Leonard: Nominated for both Best Gospel Performance/Song (“Church”) and Best Gospel Album (Tasha)
• Darrel Walls & PJ Morton: Nominated for Best Gospel Album (Heart Of Mine), Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song (“Amazing”), and Best Roots Gospel Album consideration
• Lecrae: Bridging gospel and CCM with nominations in Contemporary Christian categories

Notable Moments

First-Time Nominees:

• Pastor Mike Jr. celebrates his first Grammy nomination with “Amen”

Legendary Collaborations:

• CeCe Winans teams with gospel icon Shirley Caesar on “Come Jesus Come”
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard joins forces with John Legend on “Church”
• Brandon Lake collaborates with Jelly Roll on “Hard Fought Hallelujah”

Live Album Recognition:

• Multiple live albums showcase the power of gospel in worship settings, including Tye Tribbett’s Only On The Road (Live), Jonathan McReynolds & Jamal Roberts’ “Still (Live),” and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir’s I Will Not Be Moved (Live)

The Big Picture

What’s clear from this year’s nominations is the beautiful evolution of gospel music. From the traditional sounds of the Gaither Vocal Band to the contemporary worship of Elevation Worship, from the hip-hop influenced work of Lecrae to the classic gospel stylings of Yolanda Adams, the genre continues to expand while staying rooted in its mission to inspire faith and worship.

These nominations also highlight gospel music’s increasing crossover appeal, with collaborations featuring mainstream artists like John Legend and Jelly Roll, and the genre’s influence on contemporary Christian music continuing to grow.

Mark Your Calendars

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 1, 2026 . The ceremony will broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ .

A Unified Celebration

These nominations represent more than individual achievements—they’re a celebration of gospel music’s continued power to inspire, uplift, and transform lives. From first-time nominees to gospel legends, from traditional choirs to contemporary innovators, the 2026 Grammy nominations showcase that gospel music remains as vital and relevant as ever.

As we await the February 1st ceremony, we encourage the iPraise Radio family to celebrate ALL these nominees and continue supporting gospel music that glorifies God and ministers to hearts around the world.

Congratulations to all the 2026 Grammy nominees across all gospel categories! We’re praying for you and celebrating these incredible achievements that honor both artistic excellence and faithful ministry.

Stay tuned to iPraiseRadio.com for complete coverage of the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026, including live updates, winner announcements, and post-show interviews.

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Complete List of 2026 Gospel Grammy Nominees:

Best Gospel Performance/Song:

• Kirk Franklin – “Do It Again”
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard & John Legend – “Church”
• Jonathan McReynolds & Jamal Roberts – “Still (Live)”
• Pastor Mike Jr. – “Amen”
• CeCe Winans ft. Shirley Caesar – “Come Jesus Come”

Best Gospel Album:

• Yolanda Adams – Sunny Days
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Tasha
• Tamela Mann – Live Breathe Fight
• Tye Tribbett – Only On The Road (Live)
• Darrel Walls, PJ Morton – Heart Of Mine

Best Roots Gospel Album:

• The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir – I Will Not Be Moved (Live)
• Gaither Vocal Band – Then Came The Morning