The K-LOVE Fan Awards are less than a week away, with an impressive list of artists slated to take the stage to perform, including Walker Hayes and Anne Wilson. The two will be joined by numerous other acts, including CAIN, Chris Tomlin, Elevation Worship, for KING & COUNTRY, Katy Nichole, Matthew West, Phil Wickham, Tauren Wells, and TobyMac. West and Wells will also serve as the evening’s co-hosts.
Collaborations for the night will include Blanca with Dante Bowe, CeCe Winans with Lauren Daigle, Jonathan Traylor with Jordan Feliz, Kirk Franklin with Maverick City Music, and Riley Clemmons, who will perform with Hayes.
The “Fancy Like” singer won’t be the only country artist attending the K-LOVE Fan Awards. Jimmie Allen is slated to present a trophy, along with Danny Gokey, Mac Powell, Matt Maher, Mike Weaver, Sadie Robertson Huff, The Skit Guys, and Rebecca St. James with her mother Helen Smallbone.
Wilson, Casting Crowns, for KING & COUNTRY, Nichole, Maverick City Music, TobyMac and Zach Williams all lead the nominations with three each. CAIN, Crowder, Brandon Lake & Jenn Johnson, Tasha Layton and Williams followed with two each.
It’s fitting that Hayes is attending the Christian music industry event, since he says his faith is the most important thing to him, far more than any success he might have in country music, thanks in large part to his friend, Craig Cooper. It was Cooper who inspired Hayes to write the song, “Craig,” included on his latest Country Stuff the Album record.
“It’s all about Jesus, honestly now, which it wasn’t at all,” Hayes said on the Today Show. “When I wrote this song for Craig, I was very intentional in not saying Jesus’ name. I didn’t want to say His name; I didn’t believe in Him. But I said ‘Man, this dude might actually know Him.’ That’s what the song says. And that was kind of my rebuttal to their unconditional love, the gift of the car. And now I know the Lord.”
The K-LOVE Fan Awards will take place on Sunday, May 29 at the Grand Ole Opry. The show will air on TBN on June 3, at both 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. More information can be found at KLoveFanAwards.com. Check local TBN listings here.