2021 Dove Award winners: CeCe Winans, worship artists snag top honors

By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Friday, October 22, 2021

Worship group Maverick City Music won “New Artist of the Year,” beating out Hope Darst, CAIN, and others. They also won Worship Album of the Year for “Old Church Music” alongside Elevation Worship.

The collective credited their success to the “honesty” they try to infuse into their music.

“It’s about [God’s] consistency, His goodness, His faithfulness — I think that’s something we can all agree on,” Maverick City Music’s Naomi Raine told CP.

Celebrated worship artist Chris Tomlin applauded the next generation of worship leaders for their willingness to collaborate with one another.

“Especially in worship music, what's happened is really cool to see,” Tomlin told CP. “To see Bethel to Elevation to Maverick City, all these groups — back in the day, it was kind of like, me and [Matt] Redman and some dudes. And now, to see it just expand to these movements is really cool, and I love it. The songs are so fresh and connecting people in such a great way and reaching the heart of where people are right now.”