“Lead Me On” Named Gospel Song of the Year; Kierra Sheard, J Drew Sheard II and Kerry Douglas Tie for Songwriter of the Year
BMI honored Kierra Sheard with the BMI Impact Award during the 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, held July 21 at BMI’s Nashville office.
The award recognized Sheard’s career as an artist and songwriter, as well as her influence on the future of gospel music. Sheard also shared BMI’s Gospel Songwriter of the Year honor with her brother, J Drew Sheard II, and songwriter Kerry Douglas.
“Lead Me On,” co-written by Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore and Jeff Pardo, was named BMI’s Gospel Song of the Year, while Capitol CMG Publishing received the Gospel Publisher of the Year award.
The private ceremony was hosted by BMI CEO Mike O’Neill, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue & Creative Officer Mike Steinberg, and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Creative, Atlanta.
Three-Way Tie for Songwriter of the Year
Kierra Sheard, J Drew Sheard II and Kerry Douglas each received Songwriter of the Year honors after contributing to three of the previous year’s most-performed gospel songs.
Douglas was recognized for “Don’t Give Up,” “Windows” and “Without You.” The honors brought his career total to five BMI Awards.
Kierra and J Drew Sheard II were honored for co-writing “All Yours,” “RAIN DOWN ON ME” and “Send It Down.” The siblings previously shared the Songwriter of the Year title in 2022.
Kierra Sheard Celebrated With Musical Tributes
The presentation of Sheard’s BMI Impact Award included tributes from members of her family and several gospel artists.
Dorinda Clark-Cole, Sheard’s aunt and a 2024 BMI Trailblazer of Gospel Music honoree, appeared in a video tribute. Sheard’s mother, Karen Clark Sheard, also spoke during the ceremony.
Musical performances honoring Sheard included Darrel Walls performing “Indescribable,” DOE performing “This Is Me,” and Tasha Cobbs Leonard performing “Hang On.” Karen Clark Sheard and Tamela Mann also joined in from the audience.
Presenting the Impact Award, Steinberg praised Sheard’s songwriting, artistry and ministry.
Sheard thanked her family, supporters and BMI while reflecting on the importance of persistence and faith throughout her career.
She also emphasized the importance of organizations that support songwriters and protect the value of their work, thanking BMI for its role in advancing gospel music and recognizing songs as intellectual property worthy of protection and compensation.
Sheard closed the ceremony with a performance of “You Are.”
“Lead Me On” Takes Song of the Year
BMI also recognized the 25 most-performed gospel songs of the previous year.
“Lead Me On,” written by Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore and Jeff Pardo, received the Gospel Song of the Year award.
Performed by Moore, the song appeared on his 2024 solo project, Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles. According to BMI, the track became Moore’s first No. 1 as a solo artist and spent 28 weeks on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart.
Capitol CMG Publishing Named Publisher of the Year
Capitol CMG Publishing received BMI’s Gospel Publisher of the Year award after earning the highest publisher share percentage among the 25 honored songs.
Its recognized works included “Lead Me On,” the ceremony’s Gospel Song of the Year.
The event opened with Keyla Richardson performing “I Love the Lord” and also recognized 16 first-time BMI award recipients, including Adia, Jazze Pha, Travis Finley, Dustin “SLATE” Slater and Keran Vega.
