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 the next two phases of voting. Just go to www.singingnews.com/subscribe. The winners in 21 categories will be announced at the Singing News Fan Awards presentation, held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, on the Main Stage of the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.   Here are the Top 10 Nominees for 2026:   Favorite Quartet
  1. Anthem Edition
  2. Down East Boys
  3. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
  4. Gold City
  5. Guardians
  6. Inspirations
  7. LeFevre Qt
  8. Mark Trammell Qt
  9. Tribute Qt
  10. Triumphant Qt
  Favorite Duet
  1. Austin and Ethan Whisnant
  2. Blake & Jenna Bolerjack
  3. Bryan & Yvonne Hutson
  4. Chronicle
  5. Duncans
  6. Jeff & Sheri Easter
  7. Jim & Melissa Brady
  8. Josh & Ashley Franks
  9. Reggie & Ladye Love Smith
  10. Zane & Donna King
  Favorite Mixed Group
  1. Chuck Wagon Gang
  2. Collingsworth Family
  3. Craguns
  4. Endless Highway
  5. Erwins
  6. Isaacs
  7. Karen Peck & New River
  8. Mylon Hayes Family
  9. Perrys
  10. Whisnants
  Favorite Soloist
  1. Adam Crabb
  2. Billy Walker
  3. Ivan Parker
  4. Jonathan Wilburn
  5. Joseph Habedank
  6. Lauren Talley
  7. Lynda Randle
  8. Michael Booth
  9. Scotty Inman
  10. Steve Ladd
  Favorite Trio
  1. 11th Hour
  2. Booth Brothers
  3. Brian Free & Assurance
  4. Greater Vision
  5. Hoppers
  6. Hyssongs
  7. Peach Goldman
  8. Sound Street
  9. Southbound
  10. The Sound
  Favorite Young Artist
  1. Brady Jones             (Kingsmen)
  2. Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
  3. Christopher Taylor (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
  4. Elena Dubbeld (Mark Dubbeld Family)
  5. Elisha Moore (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
  6. Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
  7. Jaylie Vanderslice (Sound Street)
  8. Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
  9. Makayla Hyssong (Hyssongs)
  10. Priscilla Franks (Josh & Ashley Franks)
  11. Tate Emmons
(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)   Favorite Soprano
  1. Amber Eppinette Saunders (11th Hour)
  2. Brooklyn Blair (Collingsworth Family)
  3. Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
  4. Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
  5. Kim Hopper             (Hoppers)
  6. Melissa Brady (Jim & Melissa Brady)
  7. Melissa Kemper (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  8. Rachel Kramer (Kramers)
  9. Rebekah Shields (Rogers Family)
  10. Sonya Isaacs Yeary (Isaacs)
  Favorite Tenor
  1. Brian Free (Brian Free & Assurance)
  2. Cameron Edens (Anthem Edition)
  3. Chris Allman (Greater Vision)
  4. Chris Jenkins (Gold City)
  5. David Sutton (Triumphant Qt)
  6. Doug Pittman (Down East Boys)
  7. Ernie Haase             (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
  8. Gus Gaches             (Tribute Qt)
  9. Isaac Moore             (Inspirations)
  10. Paul Lancaster (Guardians)
  Favorite Lead
  1. Aaron Hise (Whisnants)
  2. Bill Shivers             (Brian Free & Assurance)
  3. Chris Bryant             (Kingdom Heirs)
  4. Gary Casto             (Tribute Qt)
  5. Josh Feemster (Gold City)
  6. Nick Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
  7. Ricky Carden (Down East Boys)
  8. Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision)
  9. Roland Kesterson (Inspirations)
  10. Sean Barber (Triumphant Qt)
  11. Tim Rackley (Anthem Edition)
(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)   Favorite Band
  1. Carolina The Band
  2. Chosen Road
  3. Chuck Wagon Gang
  4. Endless Highway
  5. Gaither Vocal Band
  6. High Road
  7. Isaacs
  8. Jeff & Sheri Easter
  9. Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
  10. Joseph Habedank’s band
  11. Kingdom Heirs
(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)   Favorite Baritone
  1. Alan Kendall (Kingsmen)
  2. Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
  3. Clayton Inman (Triumphant Qt)
  4. Daniel Riley (Gold City)
  5. Doug Roark (Anthem Edition)
  6. Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
  7. Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
  8. Mark Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
  9. Mike LeFevre (LeFevre Qt)
  10. Scott Mullins (Greater Vision)
  Favorite Songwriter
  1. Dennis Murphy
  2. Jim Brady
  3. John Darin Rowsey
  4. Joseph Habedank
  5. Karen Peck Gooch
  6. Kenna Turner West
  7. Lee Black
  8. Rodney Griffin
  9. Ronny Hinson
  10. Scotty Inman
  Favorite Bass
  1. Andrew Utech (Anthem Edition)
  2. Brad Smith (Kingdom Heirs)
  3. Brandon Barry (Down East Boys)
  4. Daniel Ashmore (LeFevre Qt)
  5. Eric Bennett (Triumphant Qt)
  6. Ian Owens (Tribute Qt)
  7. Jeff Chapman (Gold City)
  8. Pat Barker (Guardians)
  9. Will Lane (Mark Trammell Qt)
  10. Wyatt Austin (Inspirations)
  Favorite Album
  1. 40th Anniversary (Kingdom Heirs)
  2. An Irish Christmas (Down East Boys)
  3. Forever (Tribute Qt)
  4. Go Out To The Program (Greater Vision)
  5. Good Answers (Karen Peck & New River)
  6. Here To Stay (LeFevre Qt)
  7. Jesus Can (Jonathan Wilburn)
  8. Made To Live Forever (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  9. Up Above The World So High (Inspirations)
  10. Where Healing Happens (Guardians)
  Favorite Alto
  1. Courtney Metz (Collingsworth Family)
  2. Hannah Shields (Rogers Family)
  3. Kari Gooch Baucom (Karen Peck & New River)
  4. Karlye Hopper (Hoppers)
  5. Libbi Perry Stuffle (Perrys)
  6. Shaye Smith (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  7. Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
  8. Susan Peck Jackson (Karen Peck & New River)
  9. Susan Whisnant (Whisnants)
  10. Wendy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
  Favorite Song
  1. “Every Promise Made Is A Promise Kept” Anthem Edition
  2. “I Just Stopped By On My Way Home” Kingsmen
  3. “I Speak Jesus” Karen Peck & New River
  4. “Mercy River” Down East Boys
  5. “Motel Bible” Scotty Inman
  6. “Pray” Mark Trammell Qt
  7. “That Somebody Was Me” Guardians
  8. “The Church” Joseph Habedank
  9. “Up Above The World So High” Inspirations
  10. “When My Feet Touch The Streets Of Gold” LeFevre Qt
  Favorite Musician
  1. Gerald Wolfe (Greater Vision)
  2. Gordon Mote
  3. Jeff Tolbert (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
  4. Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
  5. Kevin Davis (Anthem Edition)
  6. Kim Collingsworth (Collingsworth Family)
  7. Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
  8. Matthew Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
  9. Richard Hyssong (Hyssongs)
  10. Trevor Conkle (Mark Trammell Qt)
  The Paul Heil Award
  1. Bill Gaither’s Enlighten
  2. Danny Jones (The 4th Page Playlist)
  3. Greg Goodman
  4. Joseph Reed
  5. Les Butler
  6. REAL Southern Gospel Radio
  7. Rodney Baucom
  8. Singing News Radio
  9. The Gospel Greats
  10. Troy Peach
  Favorite New Artist
  1. Craguns
  2. Divinity
  3. Joy Holden
  4. Lawsons
  5. Peach Goldman
  6. Phillips & Banks
  7. Right Road Qt
  8. Rogers Family
  9. Tate Emmons
  10. The Promise
  Favorite Artist
  1. Down East Boys
  2. Gold City
  3. Greater Vision
  4. Guardians
  5. Inspirations
  6. Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
  7. Joseph Habedank
  8. Karen Peck & New River
  9. Tribute Qt
  10. Triumphant Qt
  Favorite Radio DJ
  1. Dan Bell WJBZ
  2. Dave Compton WPET
  3. Dave Taylor KWFC
  4. Duane Garren KKBL
  5. John Wishon WWWC
  6. Ken Hicks WUSY
  7. Lottie Squires WCKB
  8. Randall Hamm WFLQ
  9. Scott Peek KNMG
  10. Tom Rusk WGOG

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Creative Director/Online Editor/IT Manager - Sea Walker Media

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