Events|June 01, 2015 12:20 EDT
K-LOVE Fan Awards 2015 Winners, Performances, and Play-by-Play; For King & Country Win Big [Full Coverage]
The K-LOVE Fan Awards 2015 were tonight in Nashville, Tennessee and the festivities were as grand as expected with Christian music's best entertainers all in one room together.
The event opened up with a performance by the ever so popular Third Day before giving way to hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Kirk Cameron. The two walked through the audience and asked fans if they wanted to take selfies. Some of the selfies included shots with for King & Country, Matthew West, Crowder, and Third Day.
Cameron busted out a selfie with Michael Tait because he said he is a "big fan."
Then fan favorite Colton Dixon performed hit song "Through All Of It," which was followed by the night's first award - Francesca Battistelli for Female Artist of the Year.
The Tobymac and the Diverse City band hyped the crowd with Capitol Kings. What followed was the next award - Lysa Terkeurst for Book Impact.
Kari Jobe then took the stage to perform, "I Am Not Alone," and then 'Do You Believe?' actor Brian Bosworth briefly testified, about the places God has brought him out of.
The award for Male Artist of the Year was next and it went to Chris Tomlin, who was choked up and extremely grateful.
Tenth Ave North followed up with a performance of "Stars in the Night," and the whole audience lifted up glow sticks as the lead singer ran out into the crowd.
Cameron and Hasslebeck then gave a break to the action by sharing funny parenting stories from their lives.
This gave time for singer Plumb to perform her hit "Exhale." The song featured dancers hanging from the ceiling in a number of acrobatic poses.
NFL star Benjamin Watson then took home the Sports Impact Award and received a standing ovation from the crowd for his bold stance for Christ.
Chris Tomlin once again returned to the stage and performed his song "At the Cross."
A performance by Danny Gokey was next as he added some diversity as he started out in Spanish before breaking into "Hope in Front of Me."
For King & Country then took home the award for Group of the Year, and Luke Smallbone emotionally spoke about the win and revealed he is not 100% better from his recent bout with illness. However, he is standing strong because he knows "the healer."
Crowder then did a unique rendition of "Come as You Are" and "brought" his front porch on stage with him.
Tenth Avenue North's Mike Donehey then hosted the "Not so Newly Wed Game." The panel consisted of Kirk and Chelsea Cameron, Elisabeth her husband Tim, and Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth. The game ended in a tie between the Hasselbeck's and Chapman's.
Side Walk Prophets then debuted new single "Prodigal" with a cool performance that included special effects on the screen.
Benjamin Watson then returned and spoke of Ferguson and racial reconciliation. He encouraged the audience to engage the culture from a Biblical stand point, and said "K-LOVE we need to be the salt."
Lauren Daigle followed with a performance of "How Can it Be," and then Big Daddy Weave was announced as the winner of appearing on a Pepsi can.
Singer/songwriter Matthew West came to the stage to perform "Day One," with all the hosts of the Grand Ole Opry participating. It was truly the best performance of the night.
'A.D. the Bible Continues' then won for Film and Television Impact.
Up next, Hawk Nelson performed "Drops in the Ocean" and everyone in the crowd held up Hawk Nelson glow sticks.
Andrae Crouch and Billy Rae were then honored in a small remembrance break in the night. Steven Curtis Chapman sang "To God be the Glory" and "Soon and Very Soon" in Crouch's memory.
Lauren Daigle was then announced as Worship Song of the Year winner. Battistelli then came back out to perform Holy Spirit" and was joined by worship leaders Bryan and Katie Torwalt.
Sidewalk Prophets singer Dave Frey then did a skit where he lip-sang Lecrae's "Say I Won't" and Hasselbeck did Tobymac's "Me Without You."
Jeremy Camp performed "He Knows," and then for King & Country came up for their second award, this time for Best Live Show. Reach Records rapper KB joined them on stage to perform "Run Wild Live Free Love Strong." They certainly lived up to their title of best live show as the performance was filled with lights, streamers, megaphones, shadows, and sheets. To best describe the performance, "It was nuts!"
The Song of the Year award then went to the Newsboys' "We Believe." Up next, Casting Crowns performed "Broken Together."
Then Kirk and Elisabeth sat down with Casting Crowns' Mark Hall and talked about his cancer battle. He cried and shared openly about his struggles and faith in healing.
Matt Maher lifted the slightly somber mood with an encouraging performance of "Because He Lives (Amen)."
Last but not least, the final big award went to, yet again, for King & Country, for Artist of the Year.
To close out the festivities, Mercy Me ended the show with smash hit "Greater."
Stay tuned to BREATHEcast over the next coming week for more exclusive content, interviews, and video from the K-LOVE Fan Awards 2015.
