BMI celebrated the best in gospel music on Tuesday (July 21) at the 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards held at BMI’s Nashville office, where Kierra Sheard received the BMI Impact Award in recognition of her career and impact on the future of gospel music. Sheard was also honored as BMI’s gospel songwriter of the year in a three-way tie with her brother, J Drew Sheard II, and Kerry Douglas.
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BMI’s gospel song of the year went to “Lead Me On,” co-written by Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore and Jeff Pardo. Performed by Moore, the song was a single from his 2024 solo album, Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles. The song brought Moore his first solo No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart.
BMI’s gospel publisher of the year went to Capitol CMG Publishing for having the highest publisher share percentage of the top 25 songs, including BMI’s gospel song of the year, “Lead Me On.”
The 25 most-performed gospel songs of the previous year were also announced at the private afternoon ceremony hosted by BMI’s CEO, Mike O’Neill; executive vp and chief revenue & creative officer Mike Steinberg; and vp of creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.
Douglas and siblings Kierra Sheard and J Drew Sheard II received songwriter of the year for each writing three of the most performed gospel songs of the previous year. Douglas was honored for “Don’t Give Up,” “Windows” and “Without You,” bringing his total number of BMI Awards to five. J Drew and Kierra Sheard were recognized for co-writing their hits “All Yours,” “RAIN DOWN ON ME” and “Send It Down,” marking the second time the duo has been honored with this title, after their first win in 2022.
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The BMI Impact Award tributes kicked off with a video message from Sheard’s aunt and 2024 BMI Trailblazer of Gospel Music honoree Dorinda Clark-Cole. Sheard’s mother, Karen Clark Sheard, also gave a speech congratulating her daughter for the “well-deserved honor.”
To pay homage to Sheard’s career, tribute performances kicked off with Darrel Walls on “Indescribable,” joined by DOE, who gave a soulful rendition of “This Is Me.” Tasha Cobbs Leonard ended the tributes with an uplifting performance of “Hang On,” with Karen Clark Sheard and Tamela Mann singing along from the audience.
Upon presenting Sheard with the BMI Impact Award, Steinberg said, “Today, we celebrate you for inspiring us through all your endeavors: your innovative songwriting, your powerful artistry and your ministry that touches hearts around the world.”
Sheard thanked her family and members of the audience, sharing, “God has a way to reward faithfulness before He rewards popularity… and [it] is a reminder that if you keep saying yes, He knows exactly where to find you.” She added her appreciation to BMI, saying, “I want to thank you for pushing gospel music forward. You make this industry worth staying in.What matters is what you represent, that someone still believes in a song that is worth protecting and paying for.” The ceremony concluded with Sheard singing her hit song “You Are.”
The ceremony, which kicked off with a performance of “I Love the Lord” sung by Keyla Richardson, highlighted 16 first-time winners, including Adia, Jazze Pha, Travis Finley, Dustin “SLATE” Slater and Keran Vega.
Visit the BMI site to see a full list of BMI’s Trailblazers of Gospel Music Award honorees. (The link should be live by 11 p.m. ET.)
