Lecrae & Elevation Rhythm to Perform at Dove Awards

“Lecrae and Elevation Rhythm Headline 2025 Dove Awards Performers Lineup”

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has unveiled a second wave of performers for the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards, set to take place on October 7, 2025, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Among this vibrant roster, LF radio artists Lecrae and Elevation Rhythm emerge as shining highlights, poised to deliver two very different, yet equally powerful, musical moments this year.

Lecrae: Defying Genre and Elevating the Night

Lecrae, acclaimed for revolutionizing Christian rap, returns to the spotlight as the event’s sole representative of the genre, providing a fresh and compelling edge to the evening’s worship experience. With a legacy of chart topping releases and Grammy winning records, his presence promises to blend raw lyrical storytelling with spiritual depth, reminding audiences why he remains a defining voice in Christian music.

Lecrae also has a distinguished record at the GMA Dove Awards, serving as both a celebrated winner and occasional stage presence.

  • 2011: Awarded Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year for Rehab: The Overdose and Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year for “Hallelujah.”

  • 2013: Gravity earned Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year and "Tell the World" won Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year.

  • 2015: At the 46th GMA Dove Awards, Lecrae made history, becoming the first hip-hop artist to win Artist of the Year. He also took home Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year (Anomaly) and Rap/Hip Hip-Hop Song of the Year (“All I Need is You”)

  • 2021 & beyond: His song “Deep End” won Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year at the 2021 Dove Awards, and the album No Church in a While (with 1K Phew) won Best Rap/Hip Hop Album at the 2023 Dove Awards.

These accolades affirm Lecrae’s enduring influence and repeated recognition as an innovator in Christian music.

Elevation Rhythm: A Collective Set to Raise the Roof

Also among the newly announced performers is Elevation Rhythm, an energetic Christian music collective that you hear on LF Radio rooted in Charlotte, North Carolina, and affiliated with Elevation Church. Their recent album, Victory Lap, has not only resonated with fans but climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, a clear indicator that their mix of pop, rap, and worship is both meaningful and mainstream ready.

Though less documented in performance highlights, Elevation Rhythm’s recognition within the Dove Awards ecosystem is clear:

  • 2024 (55th Dove Awards): Nominated for the Christmas Recorded Song of the Year with their rendition of “JOY!”

  • 2025 (56th Dove Awards): Garnered multiple nominations across top songwriting and recording categories, including Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year, Worship Recorded Song of the Year, and Worship Album of the Year.

This recognition underscores Elevation Rhythm’s growing prominence within the Dove Awards narrative, particularly as part of Elevation Worship Records’ broader success.

A Night of Diversity and Purposeful Worship

Lecrae and Elevation Rhythm join other luminaries in a lineup that spans several styles and generations of gospel and Christian music. The first wave of performers already included celebrated names such as Lauren Daigle, Fred Hammond featuring The Choir Room, Gaither Vocal Band, and Josiah Queen. Now, adding gospel legend CeCe Winans, Elevation Worship, Israel & New Breed, and Unified Sound rounds out an evening built on musical variety and spiritual unity.

When and How to Watch

The ceremony will premiere on TBN and the TBN+ app on Friday, October 10, 2025, with broadcast times scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET. For fans looking to catch every detail, a special encore presentation is slated for the following week, on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the same times. Leading into the main event, red carpet coverage hosted by Kristin Adams will be available through TBN+ and TBN’s YouTube channel.

Setting the Stage for a Memorable Evening

This year’s Dove Awards, titled under the theme “Creation Sings”, promise to be a celebration of worship in its many forms, uniting rap, gospel, worship, and contemporary pop under one roof. Lecrae’s commanding presence and Elevation Rhythm’s contagious energy are set to reflect the broader narrative of faith through diverse musical expression.