The focus at the 2023 Dove Awards was on celebrating gospel music in all its forms, but two artists, Lauren Daigle and Tauren Wells used the occasion to address the war between Israel and Hamas, which has been dominating news coverage for the past two weeks.

The Dove Awards were taped on Tuesday Oct. 17, at Allen Arena on the Lipscomb University campus in Nashville.  But the thoughts of many there, and around the world, were on events 6,446 miles away. The current crisis began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants launched a series of surprise attacks on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing defense personnel and civilians and taking hostages.

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“In light of what has happened in Israel this week, our eyes need to be opened to what He might be calling us to,” said Daigle, 32, who won her 12th Dove Award that night for best short-form music video of the year (concept) for “Thank God I Do.”

“We have the hope of eternity and the good news of the Gospel,” she added. “We aren’t bringing in messages that tear and divide, we’re bringing in messages that remind people of their worth, that remind children they are valuable and belong in society and remind people that they have something that only God can fulfill. We get to tell them that He is the Great I Am. That He is above the times. That He is the source of hope compared to nothing else this world has to offer. There is nothing as great. He is the light of the world. He is the light of men. He is the bread of life.”

Wells, 37, a five-time Dove Award winner in years past, was more extensive in his remarks.

“The difficulties that people in Israel and Palestine are experiencing, as believers in this room, we understand the weight and the gravity that comes with this conflict. A conflict that started in the house of Abraham and has existed for 4,000 years. We know that ultimately Jesus is going to get His glory. He is going to redeem His people.

“I was so encouraged by this – when Jesus returns, He is going to descend from which he ascended at the Mount of Olives, and He is going to split the mountain in two. Because the God we serve is powerful. At the same time, He is present. He is present with those who are hurting. He is present with those who are broken. The scripture does a beautiful job of painting the portrait of Jesus as the bright and morning star. He is high and above and away from it all. But it continues to describe Him as the lily of the valley. He’s in the dark places, the quiet places, the places of pain and loss.

“So, I just want to express today on behalf of the artists in this faith community here, that we remember Israel tonight. We stand with the people of God and as scripture instructs us, we pray for peace in Jerusalem. Now here’s the thing – we can’t just pray for peace and not understand and identify the Prince of Peace. This conflict will not end until Jesus is the Lord of Israel and Jesus is the Lord of Palestine and Jesus is the Lord of every nation and every tribe and every tongue. There is a day coming at which every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

“The world could be at war but the church is gonna be in worship. Because we don’t praise God depending upon our circumstances. We praise God depending upon His reputation. And scripture says He is faithful and He is good to every generation. And that means there are generations the world will forget that God will remember. Tonight we celebrate that name of Jesus as we remember the people reeling in pain tonight.”

In addition to hosting, Wells teamed with Davies to perform “Take It All Back” on the show. The two acts recorded the highly commercial, pop-oriented song with We the Kingdom.

Daigle’s 12 Dove Awards include two awards for artist of the year, in 2015 and 2019. Wells’ five include new artist of the year in 2018 – an award Daigle had won in 2015.

Brandon Lake was the top winner at the 54th annual GMA Dove Awards. Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Toby Mac, Blessing Offor and Jeff Pardo each won two awards.

The show was produced by the Gospel Music Association. Jackie Patillo and Justin Fratt served as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returned as director, Michael Nolan as scriptwriter, Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.

The show aired Friday (Oct. 20) on TBN and The TBN App and was also simulcast on SiriusXM The Message. An encore performance will air on TBN and The TBN App on Friday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. To watch the show on demand, go to The TBN App.

Brandon Lake was the top winner at the 54th annual GMA Dove Awards, which aired Friday (Oct. 20) on TBN and The TBN App and was also simulcast on SiriusXM The Message. The show, hosted by Tauren Wells, was taped on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Allen Arena on the Lipscomb University campus in Nashville.

Lake won four awards: artist of the year, songwriter of the year – artist, worship recorded song of the year and rap/hip hop recorded song of the year. “I’m so grateful to be a part of this community,” Lake said in accepting artist of the year. Lake is the first male solo artist to win in that top category since Zach Williams five years ago. This is the second time in three years that Lake has been crowned songwriter of the year – artist.

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Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Toby Mac, Blessing Offor and Jeff Pardo each won two awards.

Cobbs Leonard won gospel worship album of the year for Hymns (Live) and traditional gospel recorded song of the year for “It Is Well.” “This album means a lot to me because I’m a PK [pastor’s kid]; I’m a church girl,” she said. “One of the ways I learned scripture was through song.”

TobyMac won pop/contemporary album of the year for the third time with Life After Death. He first won in the category in 2013 with Eye on It (a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200) and again in 2016 with This Is Not a Test.

TobyMac’s acceptance speech constituted one of the show’s most emotional moments. “I made this record in honor of my son Truett, my firstborn who we lost,” he said. “ … I made these songs in the hardest, coldest of valleys and we still don’t know why God would ask this of us, but sometimes we don’t get to ask those questions. He didn’t promise us that we wouldn’t face hard things, that we wouldn’t face loss. He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. If you take the time to look in the hardest deepest valleys, the coldest places in this world, if you take the time to look, He is there. He is true to His word that He will not leave us. I have experienced that.”

TobyMac and Blessing Offor shared the award for short-form music video of the year (performance) for “The Goodness.” Blessing Offor, a Nigerian-born American singer/songwriter, won a second award, pop/contemporary recorded song of the year for “Brighter Days.”

Pardo won producer of the year for the second year in a row and also won songwriter of the year, non-artist, ending a four-year lock on that award by Jason Ingram.

Ingram did, however, win song of the year for “Goodness of God,” which he co-wrote with Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jenn Johnson and Brian Johnson. This marks the third consecutive year that the winning song in that category has been the work of four or more songwriters, which demonstrates that songwriting by collectives of songwriters is a trend in religious music just as it is in secular music.

Elevation Worship won worship album of the year for the second time in three years with LION: Live From the Loft. The band won two years ago for Old Church Basement, a collab with Maverick City Music.

New artist of the year went to Katy Nichole, who was this year’s most-nominated woman with four nods.

Composer, recording artist and choir director Dr. Bobby Jones received the Jackie Patillo Leadership Award. Jones has been a fixture in the gospel music industry since 1976 and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Wells stirred the audience with an extended speech highlighting the current conflict in Israel saying, “We stand with the people of God and as scripture instructs us, we pray for peace in Jerusalem.”

Guest performers included Jordin Sparks singing “Love Me Like I Am” with for KING + COUNTRY; Pastor Mike Jr. bringing out Ricky Dillard for “Impossible”; and Wells teaming with Davies on “Take It All Back.” Take 6 teamed in performance with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. A segment highlighting the impact of hip hop – something we’ve seen at many awards shows this year, amid the genre’s 50th anniversary – featured Hulvey, Social Club Misfit, GRITS and TobyMac. The latter two acts took the audience back to 2002 for GRITS’ hit “Ooh Aah,” which featured TobyMac. 

The 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards were produced by the Gospel Music Association. Jackie Patillo and Justin Fratt served as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returned as director, Michael Nolan as scriptwriter, Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.

An encore performance will air on TBN and The TBN App on Friday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. To watch the show on demand, go to The TBN App.

Here is a partial list of winners. For a complete list of winners in all categories, visit doveawards.com.

Artist of the year

WINNER: Brandon Lake
CeCe Winans
for KING + COUNTRY
Lauren Daigle
Phil Wickham

New artist of the year

Ben Fuller
Hulvey
Jon Reddick
WINNER: Katy Nichole
Naomi Raine

Song of the year

“Build A Boat,” writers: Colton Dixon, Seth Mosley, Johan Lindbrandt, Sandro
Cavazza, Mikey Gormley
“Fear Is Not My Future,” writers: Kirk Franklin, Brandon Lake, Jonathan Jay,
Hannah Shackleford, Nicole Hannel
“God Really Loves Us,” writers: David Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka, Dante
Bowe
WINNER: “Goodness of God,” writers: Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn
Johnson, Brian Johnson
“Gratitude,” writers: Brandon Lake, Ben Hastings, Dante Bowe
“In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” writers: Ethan Hulse, Katy Nichole, David
Andrew Spencer, Jeff Pardo
“Love Me Like I Am,” writers: Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Michael
Pollack, Josh Kerr
 “Perfectly Loved,” writers: Rachael Lampa, Andrew Ripp,
Ethan Hulse
“Same God,” writers: Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Pat Barrett
“Then Christ Came,” writers: Bart Millard, Phil Wickham, Jason Ingram, David
Leonard

Songwriter of the year – artist

WINNER: Brandon Lake
Chris Brown
Dante Bowe
Kirk Franklin
Phil Wickham

Songwriter of the year – non-artist

Ben Glover
Ethan Hulse
Jason Ingram
WINNER: Jeff Pardo
Jonathan Jay

Producer of the year

WINNER: Jeff Pardo
Kenneth Leonard
Samuel ASH
Wayne Haun
Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka

Pop/contemporary recorded song of the year

WINNER: “Brighter Days” – Blessing Offor
“I’m So Blessed (Best Day Remix)” – CAIN
“Love Me Like I Am” – for KING + COUNTRY ft. Jordin Sparks
 “God Is in This Story” – Katy Nichole ft. Big Daddy Weave
 “Thank God I Do” – Lauren Daigle

Worship recorded song of the year

WINNER: “Gratitude (Radio Version)” – Brandon Lake
“Honey in the Rock” – Brooke Ligertwood, Brandon Lake
“Holy Forever” – Chris Tomlin
“Fear Is Not My Future (Radio Version)” – Maverick City Music ft. Brandon
Lake, Chandler Moore
“This Is Our God” – Phil Wickham

Bluegrass/country/roots recorded song of the year

“Jordan” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge, ft. Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney, Mark Fain
WINNER: “Good Morning Mercy” – Jason Crabb, Dylan Scott
“Matchless” – Tiffany Coburn, ft. Point of Grace
“Way of the Triune God (Hallelujah Version)” – Tyler Childers
“Jesus’ Fault” – Zach Williams, ft. Walker Hayes

Spanish language recorded song of the year

“Guarda Tu Corazón” – Alex Zurdo
“So Good (Cuán Bueno)” – DOE, ft. Lilly Goodman
“Nubes” – Indiomar, ft. Blanca
WINNER: “Coritos (En Vivo)” – Miel San Marcos, Daniel Calveti, Marcos Witt, Ingrid
Rosario
“Suelto” – Sarai Rivera

Gospel worship recorded song of the year

“One Name (Jesus) [Live]” – Naomi Raine
WINNER: “Impossible” – Pastor Mike Jr., ft. Jame Fortune
“I Still Have You” – Smokie Norful
“The Moment (Live)” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
 “You’ve Been Good to Me” – Zacardi Cortez

Contemporary gospel recorded song of the year

“New Day” – Blanca, ft. Jekalyn Carr
WINNER: “Your World” – Jonathan McReynolds
“Miracles” – Kierra Sheard, ft. Pastor Mike Jr.
“Bless Me” – Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin
“Get Up” – Tye Tribbett

Pop/contemporary album of the year

My Tribe – Blessing Offor
Jesus Changed My Life – Katy Nichole
Always Only Jesus – MercyMe
WINNER: Life After Death – TobyMac
A Hundred Highways – Zach Williams

Worship album of the year

Come Up Here – Bethel Music
Honest Offering (Live) – CAIN
God Is Good! (Live) – Cody Carnes
WINNER: LION: Live From the Loft – Elevation Worship
Lamb of God – Matt Redman

Southern gospel album of the year

Think About There – Greater Vision
Come on In – Guardians Quartet
John 3:16 – Perrys
WINNER: Believe – The Hoppers
Hymns & Worship – Triumphant Quartet

Contemporary gospel album of the year

My Truth – Jonathan McReynolds
WINNER: Kingdom Book One (Deluxe) – Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin
Impossible – Pastor Mike Jr.
Overcomer (Deluxe) – Tamela Mann
All Things New – Tye Tribbett

Rap/hip hop album of the year

WINNER: Church Clothes 4 – Lecrae
Sunday in Lagos – Limoblaze
Everyone Loves a Comeback Story – Social Club Misfits
Tree – Steven Malcolm
NEW HOLLYWOOD – WHATUPRG

Gospel Worship Album of the Year

Tent Revival – Forward City/Travis Greene
Closer Than You Think – Jonathan Traylor
Encounter – Todd Galberth
Imprint -Zacardi Cortez?
WINNER: Hymns (Live) – Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Feature film of the year

Big George Foreman
Family Camp
I Heard the Bells
WINNER: Jesus Revolution (Directors) Jon Erwin, Brent McCorkle, (Producers) Kevin Downes, Andrew Erwin, Daryl Lefever, Josh Walsh
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story

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A real-life prison break is the focus of Lifetime’s latest “ripped from the headlines” movie, Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story, premiering on Saturday (Oct. 21).

The movie shares the story of Vicky White, a 56-year-old Alabama former corrections officer who fell for a then-38-year-old inmate, helped him escape from prison and led police on a nearly two-week chase that ended in her death.

Wendy McLendon-Covey stars as White in the Lifetime movie. Rossif Sutherland plays Casey White, the prisoner she falls for after he gets transferred to the prison where she works to serve out a 75-year sentence (the two were not related despite sharing the same last name).

Vicky and Casey went on the run on April 29, 2022, and were captured 11 days later.

Read on for ways to watch and stream the movie from anywhere.

How to Watch Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story on Lifetime

Lifetime’s Bad Romance premieres at 8 p.m. ET/PT. If you have access to cable channels, be sure to check your local listing for channel information. The movie will stream on Lifetime.com on Sunday.

To watch without cable, subscribe to a streaming platform that offers live channels such as Philo, DirecTV or Frndly. You can also watch Lifetime on Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling.

Philo is free for the first week and $25/month after the trial period. You can stream 70+ live channels including Lifetime, LMN (Lifetime Movie Network), BET, MTV, OWN, WEtv, HGTV, AMC, A&E, Nickelodeon and VH1.

DirecTV’s streaming packages start at $65/month (free trial included) for 75+ channels and free access to Max, Starz and more when you subscribe to certain plans. (Use ExpressVPN to stream internationally.)

Frndly starts at $6.99/month after a free trial for seven days. The streaming platform offers 40+ live and on-demand channels including A&E, Lifetime and LMN, all three Hallmark Channels, History, fyi, Ion, UpTV, Vice, QVC, The Weather Channel and more. Frndly also offers unlimited DVR, 72-hour playback and you can stream from multiple screens.

Watch the trailer for Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story below.

Although Marshmello has proven his cross-genre appeal by topping the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Pop Airplay charts over the course of his career, the producer scored a long-awaited first in 2023: a No. 1 single on the Latin Airplay chart for his unexpected hit with Manuel Turizo, “El Merengue.” The tropical single was the first new endeavor in a year full of them for the veteran producer, who on Nov. 3 will release Sugar Papi, his first Latin album and first full-length that features an artist on every song.

“I’ve always been eager to make a body of work [but] wasn’t sure when the right time was,” he tells Billboard News. “Sony Latin reached out to me and was like, ‘Hey, would you like to do a Latin album?’ I’d always wanted to tap into Latin music and it just seemed like a perfect time for us to knock out the album I’ve always wanted to do…It was a no brainer.”

Sugar Papi is filled with Latin music legends and rising stars, from Nicky Jam and Anuel AA to Young Miko and Tiago PZK. And while most songs are rooted in Latin rap, trap and reggaeton, nothing was off-limits in the studio, with Marshmello setting up sessions in Miami to meet with each artist. “I showed up in Miami to write this album and was like, ‘I don’t have anything prepared,’” he recalls with a laugh. “Part of my job, my main job, is on the spot creation.” That quick-thinking helped him and his collaborators finish the entire album in less than two weeks.

“I wasn’t just going to go and make this huge ‘every big artist in the world’ [project], I was just going to work with the artists that I vibed with,” he says, noting he was particularly fond of his sessions with Young Miko. “She just showed up and was so nice and humble, killing everything I’m showing her. In the vault, there’s two other songs that we did and it’s straight rave music, old ’90s like Eiffel 65…Crazy crazy vibes. There’s a lot of songs in the vault that could pop up. “

That wasn’t all that Marshmello had to say about what’s ahead, teasing more on the way. “I don’t know if I’ve said it publicly but I’ve been in the studio this whole summer writing a new album, kind of redefining what Marshmello is,” he says. “I just had some sessions recently where I had some Latin touches…I could definitely see a lot of elements that I’m learning [returning].”

Watch the full interview above.

Chart-topping DJ, producer and songwriter Marshmello talks about diving into Latin music; the process of creating his first Latin album, Sugar Papi; working with Young Miko; the success of his track “El Merengue” with Manuel Turizo and more!

Marshmello:
It was interesting. I kind of showed up to Miami to write this album and I was like, “I don’t really have anything prepared.” Part of my job, my main job, is on-the-spot creation.

Lyndsey Havens:
Yeah.

Marshmello:
Just making it, you know what I mean? Making it work. Yo, what’s up? It’s Marshmello and this is Billboard News.

Lyndsey Havens:
Hey, I’m Lyndsey Havens for Billboard News, and I’m here with the chart-topping, DJ, producer and songwriter Marshmello!

Marshmello:
What’s going on?

Lyndsey Havens:
What’s up, man?

Marshmello:
Chilling.

Lyndsey Havens:
You’re no stranger to our charts. We have a lot of firsts to talk about with you right now. You have a major label debut album coming out: Sugar Papi, first Latin album, first proper album, new artists on every song.

Marshmello:
First album, yeah, a major label album.

Lyndsey Havens:
Tell us a bit about how and when the idea for this album even came about.

Marshmello:
I’ve always been eager to kind of make a body of work. I wasn’t sure when the right time was. Sony Latin reached out to me and was like, “Hey, would you like to do a Latin album?” And I’d always wanted to tap into Latin music and it just seemed like a perfect time to first knock out the album that I’ve always wanted to do and Latin and everybody was so cool and so nice. It was a no-brainer.

Lyndsey Havens:
Did you ever think that Latin would be your first album?

Marshmello:
Even though I wasn’t putting out Latin songs, over the years, I just befriended so many people, so many Latin artists. I knew it would happen, I just wasn’t sure when and it was just kind of sent by the universe.

Lyndsey Havens:
Yeah. I mean, what conversations did you have with Sony Latin about the appetite for this right now?

Marshmello:
I wasn’t just gonna go and make this like, huge, every biggest artist in the world on a Latin album, like, I’m just gonna work with artists that I vibe with, and that I just like, genuinely like their music, you know? And so I think, like, you’ll see, like, on the tracklist and who I worked with, you’d be like, OK, like, just, like, a good vibe.

Watch the full video above!

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Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour is heading to Argentina! After releasing the Eras Tour movie in theaters last week, and finishing up shows in Mexico City last month, Swift will resume the Latin American leg of her heavily anticipated tour in Argentina next month (and her new flame, Travis Kelce, might be paying her a visit).

Apart from South America, Swift’s international run will make stops in Asia and Australia and will extend into August 2024.

The first show will be held at El Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aries, Argentina, on Nov. 9.

The “Anti-Hero” singer will return to the States for another round of shows in the U.S. and Canada, including New Orleans, Toronto and Miami, beginning in fall 2024. Swifties got a chance to score presale tickets through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program in early August.

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The Eras Tour, Swift’s first tour in five years, was announced last November. Presale tickets to the tour went on sale via Ticketsmarter that month.

For the first round of the tour, Swift partnered with Capital One on exclusive tickets available for Capital One cardholders. As can be expected, passes to see Swift live remain one of the hottest concert tickets on the market, so we’re breaking down what you need to know so you can secure a seat.

See below for information on how to get last-minute tickets to Argentina, Brazil and other international stops on Swift’s Eras Tour. Check out the new list of tour dates here.

How Much Do Last-Minute Eras Tour Tickets Cost?

Resale tickets for The Eras Tour are currently available online for concerts in Argentina, Brazil and Japan.

How much are last-minute tickets? There’s more than one way to score Eras Tour tickets, but expect to spend a few hundred bucks on a ticket, depending on the seats and date of the show.

Fans can find last-minute tickets to The Eras Tour at StubHub and Viagogo. Prices range from approximately $60-$115 for her shows dated Nov. 9-11.

Swift will perform in Buenos Aries from Nov. 9-11 and Brazil starting on Nov. 17. Tickets are selling fast — especially in the last hour (over 5,000 people were looking at tickets when we checked). The Eras Tour makes its way overseas next year to Japan, Australia, Singapore and more before circling back to the U.S.

Tickets for next year’s North American leg are currently available at StubHub, Vivid Seats and Seat Geek, although pricing can range anywhere from $500 to more than $900. (Save $10 off at Seat Geek. Offer applies to eligible purchases of $250+ with code BILLBOARD10. Valid on first purchases only.)

Looking for the cheapest tickets? Searching different sites will give you a better chance of landing tickets at a lower price point, but we did some of the digging for you.

At press time, tickets for the earliest dates start at around $115 on StubHub, which is around the same prices that you might find on sites such as Ticketsmarter.

The Eras Tour is a celebration of all 10 of the studio albums Swift has released since 2006. Last year, the singer shared a poster advertising the tour’s initial 27-date U.S. leg on Instagram featuring a collage of photos of herself through the years, from the time of her self-titled debut to Midnights, which dropped less than two weeks prior to the tour news.

“I wanted to tell you something that I’ve been so excited about for a really long time. I’ve been planning for ages and I finally get to tell you: I’m going back on tour,” Swift said on GMA, announcing the news. “The tour is called the Eras tour and it’s a journey through all of the musical eras of my career.”