Top Five Nominees Announced In The 2026 Singing News Fan Awards

The Singing News Fan Awards, established in 1970, allows Gospel music fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite Southern Gospel artists, musicians, songwriters, songs, albums, radio DJs, and more. Here are the three phases of voting:

March issue – (Nominating ballot)
May issue – (Top 10 ballot)
July issue – (Top 5 ballot)

To be able to vote, you must be a subscriber to either Singing News magazine or SingingNewsTV. If you are not yet a subscriber, you still have time to vote in this final phase of voting. Just go to www.singingnews.com/subscribe or www.singingnewstv.com. The winners in the following 21 categories will be announced at the Singing News Fan Awards, which will take place on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, on the Main Stage of the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Here are the Top Five Nominees for 2026:

Favorite Quartet

Gold City
Guardians
Inspirations
Mark Trammell Qt
Triumphant Qt

Favorite Duet

Austin and Ethan Whisnant
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Jim & Melissa Brady
Josh & Ashley Franks
Reggie & Ladye Love Smith

Favorite Mixed Group

Chuck Wagon Gang
Collingsworth Family
Isaacs
Karen Peck & New River
Mylon Hayes Family

Favorite Soloist

Jonathan Wilburn
Joseph Habedank
Lauren Talley
Michael Booth
Scotty Inman

Favorite Trio

Booth Brothers
Brian Free & Assurance
Greater Vision
Hoppers
Peach Goldman

Favorite Young Artist

Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
Christopher Taylor (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Elisha Moore (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)

Favorite Soprano

Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
Kim Hopper (Hoppers)
Rebekah Shields (Rogers Family)
Sonya Isaacs Yeary (Isaacs)

Favorite Tenor

Brian Free (Brian Free & Assurance)
Chris Allman (Greater Vision)
Chris Jenkins (Gold City)
David Sutton (Triumphant Qt)
Isaac Moore (Inspirations)

Favorite Lead

Bill Shivers (Brian Free & Assurance)
Josh Feemster (Gold City)
Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision)
Roland Kesterson (Inspirations)
Sean Barber (Triumphant Qt)

Favorite Band

Gaither Vocal Band
Isaacs
Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
Joseph Habedank’s band
Kingdom Heirs

Favorite Baritone

Clayton Inman (Triumphant Qt)
Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
Mark Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
Mike LeFevre (LeFevre Qt)

Favorite Songwriter

John Darin Rowsey
Joseph Habedank
Karen Peck Gooch
Rodney Griffin
Ronny Hinson

Favorite Bass

Eric Bennett (Triumphant Qt)
Jeff Chapman (Gold City)
Pat Barker (Guardians)
Will Lane (Mark Trammell Qt)
Wyatt Austin (Inspirations)

Favorite Album

Forever (Tribute Qt)
Go Out To The Program (Greater Vision)
Good Answers (Karen Peck & New River)
Up Above The World So High (Inspirations)
Where Healing Happens (Guardians)

Favorite Alto

Hannah Shields (Rogers Family)
Karlye Hopper (Hoppers)
Libbi Perry Stuffle (Perrys)
Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
Wendy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)

Favorite Song

“I Speak Jesus” — Karen Peck & New River
“Motel Bible” — Scotty Inman
“That Somebody Was Me” — Guardians
“Up Above The World So High” — Inspirations
“When My Feet Touch The Streets Of Gold” — LeFevre Qt

Favorite Musician

Gerald Wolfe (Greater Vision)
Gordon Mote
Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
Kim Collingsworth (Collingsworth Family)
Luke Vaught (Inspirations)

The Paul Heil Award

Bill Gaither’s Enlighten
REAL Southern Gospel Radio
Rodney Baucom
Singing News Radio
The Gospel Greats

Favorite New Artist

Craguns
Peach Goldman
Right Road Qt
Rogers Family
Tate Emmons
The Promise

(Due to a tie in votes, there are six in this category.)

Favorite Artist

Gold City
Greater Vision
Inspirations
Karen Peck & New River
Triumphant Qt

Favorite Radio DJ

Dan Bell — WJBZ
Dave Compton — WPET
Dave Taylor — KWFC
Duane Garren — KKBL
Lottie Squires — WCKB
Tom Rusk — WGOG