Singing News Fan Awards (1970 - Present)
The Singing News Fan Awards are annual Southern Gospel awards presented by Singing News magazine. Subscribers of Singing News and SingingNewsTV nominate their favorite artists in various categories. The Top Ten in each category are then presented to subscribers who vote to narrow each category to a Top Five and again to determine the winners. The awards are presented in a ceremony typically held each fall during the National Quartet Convention. (The awards have been presented at another venue occasionally.)
The Fan Awards began in 1970 with eight categories. Many categories have been added, dropped, and renamed over the years.
Favorite Album (1970-1971, 1989-Present)
This category was originally called "Favorite Gospel Album Of The Year."
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1970 This Is My Valley by Rambos |
2001 Are You Ready by Gold City |
2013 Greatest Hits - LIVE by Booth Brothers |
Favorite Alto (1985-Present)
Favorite Artist (2008-Present)
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2008 Booth Brothers |
2014 Booth Brothers |
2020 Triumphant Quartet |
Favorite Band (1977-2006, 2011-Present)
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1977 Dixie Echoes |
1992 Kingsmen Quartet |
2011 Gaither Vocal Band |
Favorite Baritone (1971-Present)
Favorite Bass (1971-Present)
Favorite Black Entertainer Or Group (1981-19??)
This category was originally called "Favorite Black Artist." In 1986, it was renamed "Favorite Black Entertainer Or Group."
Favorite Duet (2021-Present)
Favorite Female Singer (1970-2015)
This category was originally called "Favorite Gospel Female Singer" in 1970. The following year, it was renamed "Miss Gospel Singer." At times, it was also called "Queen Of Gospel Music." In 1986, the category was renamed "Female Gospel Entertainer Of The Year." The category name was later simplified to "Favorite Female Singer."
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1970 Vestal Goodman |
1986 Debra Talley |
2002 Peg McKamey Bean |
Favorite Gospel Television Presentation (1970-1971)
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1970 Gospel Singing Jubilee |
1971 Gospel Singing Jubilee |
Favorite Group (1970-1980, 1982-1996, 2007)
This category was originally known as "Favorite Gospel Singing Group." In 1981, this award was split into two categories Favorite Traditional Male Quartet and Favorite Mixed Quartet. It reverted back to a single group award in 1982 and remained a single award through 1996. From 1997 through 2006 the award was split into three categories: Favorite Traditional Male Quartet, Favorite Mixed Quartet, and Favorite Trio. In 2007, the Singing News again combined the categories into one Favorite Group award. The award was then split into four categories for 2008 bringing back the three that were used before plus Favorite Artist.
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1970 Happy Goodmans |
1979 Hinsons |
1989 Gold City |
Favorite Lead (1971-Present)
This category was initially called "Favorite Second Tenor."
Favorite Male Singer (1970-2015)
This category was originally called "Favorite Gospel Male Singer." In 1971, the early ballots listed the category as "Mr. Gospel Singer," but the magazine also referred to the award as "Mr. Gospel Music" at times. In 1986, the category was renamed "Male Gospel Entertainer Of The Year." The category name was later simplified to "Favorite Male Singer."
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1970 Dale Shelnut |
1986 Wendy Bagwell |
2002 Gerald Wolfe |
Favorite Mixed Group (1981, 1997-2006, 2008-Present)
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1981 Nelons |
2005 Perrys |
2015 Collingsworth Family |
Favorite Musician (1971-1997, 2007-Present)
This category was originally called "Favorite Gospel Musician." In 1986, the category was renamed "Favorite Instrumentalist." Anthony Burger won the category ten consecutive years (1980-1989), so for the next ten years (1990-1999), the category was named the Anthony Burger Award. Burger presented the award during those years. From 1998-2006, Favorite Musician was divided into two categories Favorite Pianist and Favorite Musician (non-pianist). (Those awards are listed separately.) The Favorite Musician category returned in 2007 when the two categories were again combined.
Favorite Musician Non-Pianist (1998-2006)
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1998 Steve Easter |
2001 Mike Hopper - Hoppers |
2004 Tim Surrett Kingsmen Quartet |
Favorite New Artist (1986, 1988-2012, 2016-Present)
In 1986, the Favorite Newcomer category was added. It did not return in 1987, but in 1988, the category returned newly branded as Horizon Group. The Horizon Individual category was also added in 1988 with the stipulation being that the two Horizon categories could only be won one time per group/individual. In 2013, the Horizon Group category was split into four categories: New Traditional Quartet, New Mixed Group, New Trio, and New Soloist. Those categories were merged back to one category in 2016, now branded as Favorite New Artist.
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1986 Mid South Boys
1988 Dixie Melody Boys |
1999 Dove Brothers |
2011 The Ball Brothers |
Favorite New Mixed Group (2013-2015)
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2013 The Taylors |
2014 Mylon Hayes Family |
2015 The Erwins |
Favorite New Soloist (2013-2015)
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2013 Steve Ladd |
2014 Joseph Habedank |
2015 Pat Barker |
Favorite New Traditional Quartet (2013-2015)
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2013 The Old Paths |
2014 Canton Junction |
2015 Carolina Boys/Freedom Quartet (tie) |
Favorite New Trio (2013-2015)
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2013 Red Roots |
2014 The Hyssongs |
2015 Jim Brady Trio |
Favorite Non-Performing Songwriter (2013-2015)
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2013 Dianne Wilkinson |
2014 Dianne Wilkinson |
2015 Dianne Wilkinson |
Favorite Pianist (1998-2006)
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1998 Roger Bennett Cathedral Quartet |
2001 Roger Bennett Legacy Five |
2004 Roger Bennett Legacy Five |
Favorite Quartet (1981, 1997-2006, 2008-Present)
This category was called "Male Group - Traditional" in 1981 and later "Traditional Male Quartet" before being shortened to "Favorite Quartet."
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1981 Kingsmen Quartet |
2006 (Tie) The Inspirations, Ernie Haase And Signature Sound |
2016 Triumphant Quartet |
Favorite Radio Station (1970-????, 2016-Present)
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1970 KSUD (West Memphis, AR) |
2017 WJBZ (Knoxville, TN) |
2019 WJBZ (Knoxville, TN) |
Favorite Soloist (1997-2006, 2008-Present)
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1997 Kirk Talley |
2006 Ivan Parker |
2016 Ivan Parker |
Favorite Song (1970-Present)
This category was originally known as "Top Gospel Song Of The Year." It was later simplified to "Favorite Song."
Favorite Songwriter (1986-Present)
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1986 Squire Parsons |
1999 Rodney Griffin |
2012 Rodney Griffin |
Favorite Soprano (1985-Present)
Favorite Syndicated Program (1991-2005)
Paul Heil Gospel Greats won all fifteen of the awards given in this category.
Favorite Tenor (1971-Present)
This category was initially called "Favorite First Tenor." The "Favorite Second Tenor" category was later renamed "Favorite Lead" and "Favorite First Tenor" was simplified to "Favorite Tenor."
Favorite Trio (1997-2006, 2008-Present)
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1997 Bishops |
2006 Greater Vision |
2016 Booth Brothers |
Favorite Video (1986-1989, 1992-2005)
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1986 Cathedrals In Concert Cathedral Quartet |
1994 Turn Your Radio On - Gaither Homecoming Series |
2000 A Farewell Celebration Cathedral Quartet |
Favorite Young Artist (1988-Present)
For several years, young individuals were allowed to win this category multiple times up to a certain age. The rules were later modified to limit individuals to no more than one win.
Horizon Individual (1988-2012)
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1988 Jeff Stice |
1998 Jon McBroom |
2007 Nick Trammell Perrys |
Paul Heil Award (2022-Present)
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2022 Singing News Radio |
2023 Danny Jones |
2024 Rodney Baucom |
Fan Awards were also given in the following categories:
Favorite DJ (1970-????)
Favorite Large Market Disc Jockey (1988-2006; 2012-2015)
Favorite Medium Market Disc Jockey (1988-2006; 2012-2015)
Favorite Quartet Bus Driver (1971-????)
Favorite Small Market Disc Jockey (1988-2006; 2012-2015)
Super Fan Of The Year (1987-2006)
From time to time over the years, the Singing News has presented additional special awards that were not selected by a fan-vote process. These are listed below.
Dottie Rambo Legacy Award (2020-2021)
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2020 Gerald Wolfe |
Lifetime Achievement Award (2022-)
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2022 Claude Hopper and Connie Hopper |
2024 Ray Dean Reese |
SGPA Promoter Award
2008 Bill Bailey
2012 Ralph Dean
Templeton/Norcross Award (1981-1996, 1998-2005, 2008-2012)
This Award was given to the person, persons, or group who provided distinctive service to Southern Gospel Music. The recipients were selected by the Singing News staff, not the result of a fan vote. From 1981 to 2008, the award was known as the Marvin Norcross Award. In 2009, the award became the Templeton/Norcross Award to honor Maurice Templeton in addition to Marvin Norcross.
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1981 Carroll Stout |
1992 Bob Brumley |
2004 Eddie Crook and Janice Crook |