The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song is a category at the annual Grammy Awards. It was first awarded in 2015. It combined two previously separate categories in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music field, Best Contemporary Christian Music Song and Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance. The new category recognizes both songwriters and performers (solo/duos/groups/collaborations/etc.) and is open for singles or tracks only. Songwriters are only awarded a Grammy Award if it is a newly written song. Grammy's for cover versions of previously recorded songs are awarded to the performer(s) only.
Along with the Best Gospel Performance/Song category, these mark the only Grammy categories which honor both performers and songwriters in one category.
These changes were made in June 2014 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences "in the interest of clarifying the criteria, representing the current culture and creative DNA of the gospel and Contemporary Christian Music communities, and better reflecting the diversity and authenticity of today's gospel music industry."[1]
According to the Grammy committee, the move recognizes "the critical contribution of both songwriters and performers by combining songwriters and artists into the Best Gospel Performance/Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song categories."
Gospel performances, which were previously recognized in the Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance category, are included in the Best Gospel Performance/Song category.
Nominees Songwriter(s) mentioned first (if eligible), followed by title and performing artist(s) (Songwriters who are not eligible for an award, are in parenthesis)
Song was written (and previously recorded) by Bryan & Katie Torwalt but as this category only awards newly written songs, the songwriters' Grammy was not awarded.
Ed Cash, David Crowder and Seth Philpott for "Lift Your Head Weary Sinners (Chains)", performed by Crowder
Matt Maher for "Because He Lives (Amen)", performed by Matt Maher
Denisia Andrews, Jones Terrence Antonio, Saint Bodhi, Brittany Coney, Kirk Franklin, Lasanna Harris, Shama Joseph, Stuart Lowery, Lecrae Moore & Nathanael Saint-Fleur for "Sunday Morning", performed by Lecrae featuring Kirk Franklin
Alexandria Dollar, Jordan Dollar, Antonio Gardener, Micheal Girgenti, Lasanna “Ace” Harris, David Hein, Deandre Hunter, Dylan Hyde, Christian Louisana, Patrick Darius Mix Jr., Lecrae Moore, Justin Pelham, Jeffrey Lawrence Shannon, Allen Swoope
Hank Bentley & Blessing Offor for "Believe", performed by Blessing Offor
Austin Armstrong, Chandler Moore, Ella Schnacky, Ilya Toshinskiy, Noah Schnacky, Ran Jackson & Sajan Nauriyal for "In the Name of Jesus", performed by JWLKRS Worship & Maverick City Music ft. Chandler Moore
G. Morris Coleman, Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Naomi Raine for "In The Room", performed by Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks & Jess Russ for "That's My King", performed by CeCe Winans
