Kingdom Praise Men Nominees 2024

Johan Glidden is a prolific singer-songwriter living and working in Nashville, Tennessee. His pop anthem, Double Yellow Lines, was featured in American Songwriter’s list of  “Songs that we absolutely love,” and Changin, a co-write and Johan-production with Candace Devine, was featured in Guitar Girl Magazine. He’s also been featured in Bluegrass Today, Voyage Phoenix, and has shared festival stages with Ziggy Marley, Emmylou Harris, Capital Cities, Allison Russell and Sturgill Simpson.
 

Raised in a household full of music, Johan picked up a violin at 5 years old and has been creating ever since, conjuring everything from classical to rock, bluegrass to blues. Among other achievements, Johan was the frontman and a founding member of Sugar & the Mint, the youngest band to ever win the Telluride Bluegrass Band competition (2017). Previous winners include The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) and Greensky Bluegrass.
 

In 2021 he produced and released his debut solo album - Unprepared - a collection of songs weaving through his own faith, fear, triumph and struggle. He has released several singles since, including Double Yellow Lines, a glorious piano-pop song that's equal parts exciting and heartfelt, and First Dance, an instant classic wedding song. He's currently in the process of writing and producing his sophomore record. Leaning more into his acoustic-americana roots, it will tackle themes of ennui, friendship, and the passage of time.
 

Always one for adventure, Johan Glidden is driven daily to follow his God-given desire to create, and to bring Light into the world by sharing his journey as he goes. 

 Two-time Dove Award winner Billy Gaines has inspired audiences worldwide for more than four decades, spreading the gospel in song through television, radio, albums, and live performances, including multiple national Promise Keepers Conferences. A masterful performer, he has a unique vocal style that spans musical genres and has been described as “smooth, captivating, and anointed.” Billy’s most recent accomplishment is his singing/acting role in the new Kathie Lee Gifford movie “The Way” as the character Moses, singing the song “The God of The How and When”.

 I am an international gospel artist who resides in Chicago Illinois. For the last 18 years I lived in Nashville, where I did background vocals for artist, Little Big Town, CeCe Winans, Ricky Skaggs, Pharrell and many others. While living in Nashville, I was part of the Nashville, super choir where I backed up the ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones for six years and was blessed to travel and be part of the Bobby Jones Gospel Show on BET. After that great experience of working with Dr. Jones, I stepped out on faith and recorded my first project, Created to Worship, which did a great Internationally. This project in 2013 open doors for me to travel to Finland & Italy.  Throughout the country I worked with many artists.  March 15, 2024, I released my new single “Yes” produced by Grammy award winner Ron Rawls. Yes, was written by me, Everett W. Miller and Keith Barrett Jr.  This single will bring you back to Sunday morning services back in the day. It’s spirit field and will bless many. 

   Child of God. Husband. Father. I write and sing songs about the God who wrote my story. God has walked me through darkness and seasons of pain. I want my music to empower other believers who are experiencing darkness, trials, tribulation or anything that challenges faith. I want my music to plant hope in the darkest of moments.

 William David McDowell (born August 31, 1976) is an American gospel musician. He started his music career, in 2009, with the release of, As We Worship, by Entertainment One Music. This album would chart on three Billboard charts Gospel Albums, Independent Albums and Heatseekers Albums. His second album, Arise, was released in 2011 with Entertainment One. The album charted three Billboard charts again, this time The Billboard 200, Gospel Albums and Independent Albums. His third album, Withholding Nothing, was released in 2013, with Entertainment One. This album would chart on three charts The Billboard 200, Gospel Albums, and Independent Albums. He was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album, for his third album.