Lainey Wilson Opens Up About Her 'Authentic Relationship with Jesus Christ' at Dove Awards
Country music hitmaker Lainey Wilson told Christian music fans last week that her relationship with Christ has grown as she’s come to understand the grace and mercy of Jesus rather than the fear-driven image of God she was taught about as a child.
Wilson, one of country music’s most popular female artists, made the remarks on stage after she and Brandon Lake won a Dove Award for their collaboration on "The Jesus I Know Now," which portrays Jesus as a “friend who hangs with the misfits; listens, forgives, then forgives again.” The song won Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year. They also performed it.
She is a Grammy winner and four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year.
“I feel like I've learned so much from the people that I get to sit in a writer's room with and write songs with,” she said, referencing her co-writers on the song: Lake, Emily Weisband and Luke Laird.
“And I remember that day I walked in, and immediately we were just talking about our relationship with Jesus. And I said, ‘I feel like the Jesus that I knew now is not the one that I grew up knowing’ —the one that was shaking His fist, and the one I was, like, scared of. And it's because of folks like that who have continued to pour into me that I feel like I am finally starting to have an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Wilson quoted a line from the song: “He says who I am, and it ain't what I do.”
“We are supposed to be loving on people and lifting them up,” she said.
Lake won in the same category last year for "Hard Fought Hallelujah," a collaboration with another country music singer, Jelly Roll.
“I'm in this crazy season [where] God opens another door, and I’m walking through it, and just trying to give Him glory in every single room,” Lake told the audience. “... It's just cool to see people connecting with this song, especially for those that had church hurt or maybe had this wrong picture of who Jesus is.”
Lake also answered critics of the song who argue that its focus could give people an excuse to sin.
“I know there's some trolls on the Internet that were hating at this whole, like, grace, grace, grace thing — but what I love about grace is that it's not an excuse to sin. It's what makes us want to be more like Him when you experience grace.”
Following is the full list of winners:
- SONG OF THE YEAR
“Dusty Bibles,” Josiah Queen
- SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (ARTIST)
Brandon Lake
- SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (NON-ARTIST)
Jacob Sooter
- ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Phil Wickham
- NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jamie MacDonald
- PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Smith
- RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“ROB HELL,” indie tribe, nobigdyl., Torey D'Shaun (ft. Jon Keith)
- ROCK/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“No Survivors,” Jeremy Camp (ft. Skillet)
- POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Dusty Bibles,” Josiah Queen
- INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Blessing,” Andrea Bocelli, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe
- SOUTHERN GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“No Rock,” Jeff & Sheri Easter
- COUNTRY/ROOTS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“The Jesus I Know Now,” Brandon Lake, Lainey Wilson
- BLUEGRASS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Broken Angels,” The Grascals, Dolly Parton
- CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Still (Live),” Jonathan McReynolds, Jamal Roberts
- TRADITIONAL GOSPEL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Church,” Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John Legend
- GOSPEL WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“More Than This [Radio Edit],” CeCe Winans (ft. Todd Dulaney)
- SPANISH LANGUAGE RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Tu Voz,” Sarai Rivera
- SPANISH LANGUAGE WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Solo Hay Uno,” Joel Rocco, Enoc Parra
- WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“God, I'm Just Grateful,” Elevation Worship, Chandler Moore
- CHILDREN’S RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“Follow The Light,” Brandon Engman, Phil Wickham, Angel
- CHRISTMAS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
“We Three Kings,” We Are Messengers
- RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“COULD BE TONIGHT,” Hulvey
- ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Plastic Wine,” Strings & Heart
- POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“King Of Hearts,” Brandon Lake
- SOUTHERN GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Good Answers,” Karen Peck & New River
- BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“American Morning: Side A” - EP, Chosen Road
- CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“TASHA,” Tasha Cobbs Leonard
- TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Revival: Live in Dallas,” Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers
- GOSPEL WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Live at Redemption Church,” Red Worship
- SPANISH LANGUAGE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Lamento en Baile,” Daddy Yankee
- WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Song Of The Saints,” Phil Wickham
- CHRISTMAS/SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“DAVID” (Soundtrack from the Angel Original Film), Various Artists
- MUSICAL/CHORAL COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
“We Shall Behold Him: A Tribute to Dottie Rambo.”
- RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Mt. Zion
- SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (CONCEPT)
“World On Fire” for KING & COUNTRY, Taylor Hill
- SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (PERFORMANCE)
“Have Your Way,” Katy Nichole
- LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“The Resurrection Of A King,” Tommee Profitt
- FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
“DAVID”
- TELEVISION SERIES OF THE YEAR
“The Chosen”
Photo Credit: ©DoveAwards
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published October 12, 2026.
