Notching their 19th overall win, for KING + COUNTRY was voted Group of the Year at the 12th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards. This year’s hosts — Matthew West, Jeremy Camp, Bart Millard (MercyMe) and Mac Powell — presented the trophy to the duo’s Joel and Luke Smallbone, who brought their wives up on stage with them to accept the accolade.
“You guys have always been just far too kind to us. The fact that you would think of our songs as your songs — we’re really grateful,” Luke remarked upon taking the mic.
Marveling at the way music has the power to communicate an inner passion for Jesus, he continued, “Sometimes when I’m at home, and I run out of words, I sing.” From there, he began singing the familiar refrain of “Amazing Grace,” imploring the audience to join him. As those gathered inside the Grand Ole Opry House lifted their voices in unison, the brothers and their respective wives quietly exited the stage.
This year’s victory marks for KING + COUNTRY’s seventh Group of the Year honor. They remain the most-awarded artist in K-LOVE Fan Awards history.
In addition to Group of the Year, the Australian-born outfit also earned another nomination for Artist of the Year. Moreover, their blockbuster hit, “Unsung Hero,” was a contender in the Film Impact category. On Friday, during the K-LOVE Fan Awards Weekend, Joel and Luke surprised attendees with a pop-up appearance at the K-LOVE Live stage for a brief interview.
At the top of the year, the brothers reimagined U2’s timeless classic, “40,” for the official soundtrack for Prime Video’s “House of David,” which also received the TV/Streaming Impact award earlier in the evening.
2025 finds for KING + COUNTRY taking a well-deserved hiatus from the road to focus on family and their next studio album, the band’s highly anticipated follow-up to 2022’s “What Are We Waiting For?”
