The Gaither Music Group family proudly celebrates Gospel music legends Bill and Gloria Gaither, who were honored with the prestigious Jackie Patillo Leadership Award at the 2024 GMA DOVE Awards, recognizing their lasting contributions to the Gospel music community. The Jackie Patillo Leadership Award is given annually to recognize an individual or an organization that has demonstrated outstanding, sustained, and substantive contributions to the Christian and Gospel music industry.
The honor was presented to the Gaithers in acknowledgment of their decades of leadership and the deep impact of their songwriting, which has uplifted countless audiences worldwide with beloved songs like “Because He Lives,” “He Touched Me,” “It Is Finished,” “Something Beautiful,” and “There’s Something About That Name.”
As their names were announced, the audience leapt to its feet in recognition of the Gaithers’ profound legacy. Accepting the award, Bill Gaither shared a heartfelt message: “I want to encourage all you young songwriters to keep writing your songs. There’s a hole in the heart of this country. There’s a whole lot of empty going on. Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost our song. There’s a hole in the heart of America that only God can fill.”
“I was so privileged and delighted to award Gospel music legends Bill and Gloria Gaither with the Jackie Patillo Leadership Award,” said Roy Morgan, Chairman of the Board, Gospel Music Association. “True leaders in our industry, their timeless songs and immeasurable impact have been an integral part of shaping Christian music across the decades. I can’t think of two people more deserving of this honor.”
“We were overwhelmed by both receiving the Jackie Patillo Leadership Award and the way the audience at the Dove Awards honored us by their love,” said Bill and Gloria Gaither. “What a family this is—the Family of God! We are so glad to be a part of this Family.”
This award reflects the Gaithers’ long history of excellence in Gospel music. Over the years, Bill and Gloria have penned more than 700 songs together, garnered eight GRAMMY® Awards and more than a dozen nominations, and earned over 40 Gospel Music Association (GMA) DOVE Awards, with Songwriter of the Year titles to their credit eight times. The couple is also honored members of both the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
The Gaithers’ legacy continues to flourish. They recently hosted and filmed a Gaither Homecoming Hymns Singalong, set to release digitally and physically and scheduled to air on TV in January, which features performances by over 200 artists. In addition, their fall concert tour is currently underway, bringing timeless messages of hope and faith to audiences across the country.
Their highly anticipated Christmas tour will kick off in December, featuring shows in cities such as Tulsa, OK; Paducah, KY; Grand Rapids, MI; and more. (See below for tour dates.)
“We are so looking forward to the Homecoming Christmas Tour!” said Bill Gaither. “It is the one time in the year that no matter our musical preferences, we can come together around the event that split history in two—the birth of the Messiah. The body of songs that have celebrated this birth continues to unite us. Come join us! Bring the whole family and make a new memory this Christmas season.”
Stay tuned for more details on the Gaithers’ upcoming projects. To find a complete list of tour dates, visit gaither.com.
Gaither Vocal Band Tour Dates
October 11: New Bern, NC — Temple Church
October 12: Lexington, SC — Northside Baptist
October 13: Savannah, GA — Johnny Mercer Theatre
October 14: Lenoir City, TN — First Baptist Lenoir (SOLD OUT)
October 15: Pigeon Forge, TN — LeConte Center
November 7: Texarkana, TX — First Baptist Church
November 8: Flint, TX — Flint Baptist (SOLD OUT)
November 23: Decatur, IL — Tabernacle Baptist Church (Christmas Concert, SOLD OUT)
November 24: Sterling Heights, MI — Bethesda Christian Church
Christmas Concerts
December 5: Benton, LA — Cypress Baptist Church
December 6: Tulsa, OK — Mabee Center
December 7: Paducah, KY — Heartland Church
December 8: Concord, NC — Cabarrus Arena
December 11: Louisville, KY — Southeast Christian Church
December 12: Troy, OH — Hobart Arena
December 13: Grand Rapids, MI — Central Wesleyan
December 14: Shipshewana, IN — Blue Gate Performing Arts Center (1:00pm & 7:00pm)
About Gaither Music Group:
One of the largest independent Christian music companies in the world and a household name for millions of fans, Gaither Music Group (part of Sun Label Group, which encompasses Gaither Music, Sun Records, Green Hill, emeraldwave by Green Hill and Rural Rhythm), in partnership with Primary Wave Music Publishing, is known worldwide for its award-winning and top-selling recordings including the Gaither Gospel Series, of which 133 products have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum.
These recordings, which encompass more than 200 video copyrights, showcase Gospel music pioneers; many of the finest performers in the Gospel and country genres; up-and-coming acts; and country artists including The Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Fortune, Joey+Rory, Alabama, Alan Jackson, The Statler Brothers, George Jones, Vince Gill, Josh Turner, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Isaacs and others.
The Gaither Music Group brand has partnered with established artists including The Estate of Whitney E. Houston, Sandi Patty, Gloria Gaynor, Steven Curtis Chapman and a host of acclaimed talent from various fields of music. Gaither Music Group has garnered sales of more than 40 million DVDs and CDs, including such PBS stalwarts as Billy Graham: God’s Ambassador, the only authorized video autobiography of Reverend Billy Graham; The Gospel Music of Johnny Cash; and three Elvis Presley projects, including He Touched Me and The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley, in conjunction with the Elvis Presley Estate.
Gaither Music Group developed a strategic partnership with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® in 2008; and its alliances with Capitol Christian Music Group, Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, Universal Music Group and Time Life Music remain bedrocks for the company. Most recently, the Gaither Music TV YouTube channel crossed the 3.5 billion life-to-date streaming benchmark and hosts more than 3.5 million subscribers.
