Kierra Sheard Honored with BMI Impact Award at 2026 Gospel Music Awards
Singer and songwriter Kierra Sheard received the BMI Impact Award at the 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, held July 21 in Nashville. She also shared the BMI Gospel Songwriter of the Year title with her brother J Drew Sheard II and Kerry Douglas. Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Darrel Walls, and DOE performed tributes during the private ceremony at BMI's Nashville office.
Kierra Sheard received the BMI Impact Award at the 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards on July 21 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The private ceremony, held at BMI's Nashville office, recognized Sheard for her career contributions and her influence on the future of gospel music. She also shared the BMI Gospel Songwriter of the Year title in a three-way tie with her brother J Drew Sheard II and songwriter Kerry Douglas. It was the second time the siblings had won the title together, after their first win in 2022.
The siblings were recognized for co-writing "All Yours," "RAIN DOWN ON ME," and "Send It Down." Douglas received the honor for "Don't Give Up," "Windows," and "Without You," bringing his total BMI Awards to five.
Tribute performances included Darrel Walls singing "Indescribable" and DOE performing "This Is Me." Tasha Cobbs Leonard closed the tributes with "Hang On," with Karen Clark Sheard and Tamela Mann singing along from the audience.
Sheard's mother, Karen Clark Sheard, gave a speech calling the honor "well-deserved." Her aunt, Dorinda Clark-Cole, the 2024 BMI Trailblazer honoree, sent a video message.
"God has a way to reward faithfulness before He rewards popularity," Sheard said in accepting the award. "If you keep saying yes, He knows exactly where to find you."
BMI's Gospel Song of the Year went to "Lead Me On," co-written by Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore, and Jeff Pardo. The song spent 28 weeks on Billboard's Gospel Airplay charts and was Moore's first number one as a solo artist.
Capitol CMG Publishing won BMI Gospel Publisher of the Year. The ceremony highlighted 16 first-time BMI award winners, including Adia, Jazze Pha, Travis Finley, and Dustin "SLATE" Slater.
