The Christian music industry’s elite gathered at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday evening (June 1) for the inaugural fan-voted K-LOVE Fan Awards. The Ryman Auditorium, which first opened as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1843, proved a fitting setting for the show. TobyMac launched into the high-energy “Me Without You.” The first award of the evening, Male Artist of the Year, went to Chris Tomlin, who accepted via video from Atlanta, where he was participating in a worship conference.

Duck Dynasty‘s Phil and Kay “Miss Kay” Robertson, along with Jase and Missy Robertson, served as hosts for the show. “I play an instrument,” said Jase Robertson, pulling out his signature duck call and squeaking out a few sounds before quoting Psalm 100. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord,” he quipped. The jokes continued throughout the evening, focusing on everything from the benefits of having a beard (“Nobody tries to mug us, we save on shaving, it keeps us warm and it makes good camouflage,” said Jase), to musicians wearing skinny jeans (“I think they just need some good cooking,” said Kay, who is currently working on the release of a cookbook).
Nashville Predators hockey player Mike Fisher took home the Sports Impact award, while Alex Kendrick, director and writer for Sherwood Pictures’ projects Courageous, Flywheel, Fireproof and Facing the Giants, accepted awards for Movie Impact (Courageous) and Book Impact (The Love Dare). He encouraged the crowd to support all the projects and directors that were nominated in the category. “You are affirming so many of us. If you support any of us, you are supporting all of us,” said Kendrick.

More than 20 artists performed during the nearly four-hour show. Big Daddy Weave earned a standing ovation for their stripped down rendition of “Redeemed,” which ultimately earned Song of the Year honors. Big Daddy Weave lead vocalist Mike Weaver gave an emotional acceptance speech regarding his long-time struggle with self-esteem and the healing that writing the song gave hm.
Newcomer act For King and Country likewise got the crowd on their feet with the high-energy rendition of “The Proof of Your Love,” which featured two singers trading lead vocal duties. Laura Story drew a collective coo from the audience as she performed her hit single “Blessings” on a grand piano surrounded by candles, with her six-month-old daughter Josephine cradled in a baby sling while Story performed. Jamie Grace, who was discovered by TobyMac through a video performance Grace posted to YouTube, performed an acoustic version of her hit “Hold Me” and welcomed TobyMac to the stage to guest on the song. NeedtoBreathe had the audience stomping the Ryman’s wooden floorboards to the swampy sounds and four-part harmonies of “Difference Maker.”

Other performances during the evening included Francesca Battistelli (“Strangely Dim”), Newsboys (“God’s Not Dead”), Casting Crowns (“The Well”), Rhett Walker Band (“When Mercy Found Me”), Audio Adrenaline (featuring former DC Talk member Kevin Max), Tenth Avenue North (backed by a choir of fans for the song “Losing”), Citizen Way, Amy Grant (“Don’t Try So Hard”), Steven Curtis Chapman (who debuted a new song on the Ryman stage), Michael W. Smith with Missy Robertson, Natalie Grant and Kari Jobe (“Your Great Name”), Colton Dixon (“You Are”), Matthew West (“Hello My Name Is”) and Building 429 (“Where I Belong”).
Winners:
Male Artist of the Year: Chris Tomlin
Female Artist of the Year: Kari Jobe
Group/Duo of the Year: Casting Crowns
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: For King and Country
Movie Impact: Courageous (represented by Alex Kendrick, director/writer
Sports Impact: Mike Fisher (Nashville Predators)
Book Impact: The Love Dare, written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick (B&H)
Song of the Year: “Redeemed,” performed by Big Daddy Weave; written by Mike Weaver and Benji Cowart
Artist of the Year: TobyMac