Kierra Sheard to Receive BMI Impact Award at 2026 Gospel Music Ceremony in Nashville
Gospel artist Kierra Sheard will receive the BMI Impact Award at the 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards on July 21 in Nashville. The ceremony will also honor the songwriters and publishers behind the year''s 25 most-performed gospel songs.
Gospel recording artist Kierra Sheard will receive the BMI Impact Award at the 2026 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, scheduled for July 21 at BMI''s Nashville office.
BMI announced the honor on June 16, citing Sheard''s career achievements and her influence on the future of gospel music. The ceremony will also name the BMI Gospel Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year, and recognize the creators behind the 25 most-performed gospel songs in the United States over the past year.
Sheard is the daughter of Grammy Award-winning singer and pastor Karen Clark Sheard and Bishop J. Drew Sheard Sr. She released her solo debut in 2004 and has since placed five albums at number one on Billboard''s Top Gospel Albums chart. She has earned four Grammy nominations, seven Stellar Awards, three Dove Awards, and four BMI Awards, including BMI Gospel Songwriter of the Year in 2022.
Catherine Brewton, BMI''s Vice President of Creative in Atlanta, said Sheard is one of the most influential voices in gospel music today. "Through her exceptional talents and commitment to inspiring others, Kierra continues to shape the genre and impact audiences around the world," Brewton said.
The private event will be hosted by BMI CEO Mike O''Neill and Brewton. It follows the broader BMI Trailblazers series, which has recognized gospel music''s top creators for decades.
Sheard''s music blends traditional gospel with contemporary R&B, a combination that has helped her reach audiences beyond the church. Her 2020 album KIERRA received critical praise and solidified her standing as one of the genre''s leading voices.
The BMI Christian Awards, a separate ceremony recognizing Christian music''s top songwriters and publishers, is scheduled for July 22, the day after the gospel ceremony.
