A Night of Gospel Glory: Kierra Sheard Receives BMI Impact Award, “Lead Me On” Named Song of the Year

Nashville, TN — The 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards turned into a celebration of legacy and excellence as multiple award-winning artist and songwriter Kierra Sheard was honored with the prestigious BMI Impact Award, recognizing her profound influence on the future of gospel music. The private ceremony, held at BMI’s Nashville office, saw Sheard also share the Gospel Songwriter of the Year title in a three-way tie with her brother J Drew Sheard II and acclaimed songwriter Kerry Douglas . In a moving moment, Sheard reflected on the divine nature of the honor, sharing, “God has a way to reward faithfulness before He rewards popularity… and tonight is a reminder that if you keep saying yes, He knows exactly where to find you” . The evening was further elevated by heartfelt tribute performances from Darrel Walls, DOE, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, who brought Sheard’s iconic hits to life, with her mother Karen Clark Sheard and aunt Dorinda Clark-Cole offering emotional words of encouragement.

The ceremony also celebrated the year’s most impactful songs, with “Lead Me On,” co-written by Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore, and Jeff Pardo, taking home the BMI Gospel Song of the Year award . Performed by Chandler Moore, the song marked his first solo No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart and spent an impressive 28 weeks on the charts . Capitol CMG Publishing was honored as Publisher of the Year for having the highest publisher share among the top 25 songs . The event also highlighted 16 first-time winners, including Adia, Jazze Pha, and Travis Finley, showcasing the genre’s vibrant future . As Sheard concluded the ceremony by bringing the audience to their feet with her hit “You Are,” the night stood as a powerful testament to the enduring power of gospel music—a genre BMI continues to champion by ensuring that “someone still believes in a song that is worth protecting and paying for.”