BMI will once again celebrate the songwriters and publishers behind the year’s most impactful Gospel music at the 2025 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards. The prestigious event, set for Thursday, April 3, at Flourish Atlanta, will bring together industry leaders and artists for an afternoon dedicated to recognizing the best in Gospel music.

BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton will host the private ceremony, where John P. Kee will be honored as a Trailblazer of Gospel for his lasting influence on the genre.

“John P. Kee’s music has made a profound impact on Gospel for more than four decades, and his contributions continue to resonate with audiences worldwide,” said Brewton. “This event is an opportunity to recognize his artistry and dedication, while also celebrating the songwriters and publishers whose work has shaped the Gospel music landscape over the past year.”

In addition to Kee’s recognition, BMI will highlight the songwriters, producers, and music publishers behind the 25 most-performed Gospel songs in the United States. The ceremony will also reveal the winners of BMI Gospel Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year, acknowledging the creatives who have defined Gospel music over the past year.

Known as the “Prince of Gospel Music,” John P. Kee has been a driving force in contemporary Gospel for decades. His musical journey began early—by the age of eight, he was playing piano and writing songs, inspired by the music he heard in church. In the mid-1980s, he formed a community choir in Charlotte, which evolved into the renowned New Life Community Choir (NLCC), a pivotal part of his career.

Over nearly four decades, Kee has collaborated with some of Gospel’s most celebrated artists, including The Hawkins Family, Daryl Coley, Billy Preston, Dorinda Clark Cole, Rev. James Cleveland, Bishop Rance Allen, Florida Mass Choir, Mississippi Mass Choir, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and many others. His music has been featured in film, television, commercials, and even an appearance on Saturday Night Live.

His career is marked by an impressive 37 GMWA Excellence Awards, 27 Stellar Awards, three BMI Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and eight GRAMMY nominations. Among his many accolades, he was previously honored at the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards in 2001 and 2005, received a Trailblazer Award from former President Bill Clinton, and was inducted into the International Gospel Hall of Fame in 2005.

Beyond his musical accomplishments, Pastor Kee has been deeply committed to ministry. Since 1995, he has served as the full-time pastor of New Life Fellowship Center in Charlotte, NC. Through a non-traditional approach to outreach, his leadership has fostered a thriving congregation, extending his influence beyond the world of music.

As BMI prepares to honor this Gospel icon, the 2025 Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards promises to be an inspiring event filled with recognition, celebration, and powerful performances.

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