On Monday, Oct. 6, the Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced that “Son of a Sinner” singer Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, will perform at the 56th Annual Dove Awards on Tuesday (Oct. 7) night in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jelly Roll has been nominated for three Dove Awards this year, including Song of the Year for his collaboration with Brandon Lake on Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
The annual award show will take place at Bridgestone Arena and will exclusively air on TBN and the TBN+ app on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. EST. In addition to TBN’s broadcast, SiriusXM The Message will simulcast the awards show.
In addition to Jelly Roll and Lake’s performance, the Dove Awards will feature Lady A, CeCe Winans, Vince Gill, Steven Curtis Chapman, for KING + COUNTRY, Gaither Vocal Band, Lauren Daigle, Lecrae, Tauren Wells, Fred Hammond feat. The Choir Room, Leanna Crawford, and more.
Presenters include Candace Cameron Bure, Chris Tomlin, John Crist, Milo Ventimiglia, Naomi Raine, Pastor Mike Jr., Patricia Heaton, Joel Courtney, Crowder, Jackie Hill Perry, and Jason Crabb.
Earlier this year, Jelly Roll and Lake won Song of the Year for “Hard Fought Hallelujah” at the 2025 K-LOVE Fan Awards. Last month, “Hard Fought Hallelujah” was nominated for a Country Music Association (CMA) Award.
Lake defended his collaboration with Jelly Roll during an interview with K-LOVE Morning Show’s Carlos in February. “I don’t know what Bible somebody’s reading that would hate on a collaboration like this,” he said.
Lake continued, “If you look at Jesus’ life, look who he spent time with. Even the 12 he called were jacked up—you know.”
“My favorite thing I hear is when people go, ‘But then he told them to go and sin no more.’ And I’m like, just like, you quit sinning, Susan,” Jelly Roll chimed in. “When he told you to quit—so you’ve never sinned again, Susan?”
