Chris Tomlin is quite used to performing in front of large crowds, but hosting is an entirely different ballgame. The Christian singer was joined by Erica Campbell, one-half of the gospel duo Mary Mary, in hosting the 53rd annual GMA Dove Awards, which airs on Friday night (October 21) on TBN. Although comfortable on stage, Tomlin admits that hosting an awards show that is being televised is more than a little nerve-wracking for him.
“It’s a whole different thing,” Tomlin tells Everything Nash. “I’m actually looking forward to it and excited about it , and I’m just trying not to mess the thing up. Hopefully, everybody is gonna have an enjoyable time and we can get this thing going and set a good tone.”
Tomlin has sold-out arenas all over the country, but he admits he always has a bit of anxiety before he takes the stage, even after more than 20 years of making music.
“I get nervous every time,” Tomlin acknowledges. “I think singing to me is so much more than just if they’re just having a good time.”
Tomlin’s songs have been sung, quite literally, across the globe. The Texas native has penned some of the most popular praise and worship songs sung in congregations week after week, including “How Great Is Our God,” “Indescribable,” “Our God” and more. For Tomlin, who studied psychology in college, the idea of writing songs the whole world would sing is a far, far cry from where he thought his life would be.
“I’ve always just had this idea to write,” Tomlin explains, “Even young, I just loved what people would sing. I didn’t even know what the term ‘worship leader’ was or what worship music was. I just loved when I played at church, and people would sing, and so I started trying to write songs that way. And then God just did it all. This was long before there was a publisher, or record companies started using these songs. The songs started being sung around, and I’m just so grateful.”
Tomlin has been nominated for an impressive 13 Grammys, winning one. For all of his success and accolades, his career highlight has been, and always will be, how much his music has meant to other people.
“It’s the blessing of my life,” Tomlin says. “And what I consider the biggest privilege is when people come to me and say, ‘We sing your songs at my church.’ ‘Cause that’s way bigger than singing it at my concert. When somebody else’s church sings one of my songs, that’s pretty special.”
Tomlin is spending much of the remainder of 2022 on the road. He is currently headlining his own tour with UNITED, and will then join MercyMe for their joint A Winter Tour, kicking off on December 1. Find music and tour dates at ChrisTomlin.com.
The Dove Awards will air on Friday, October 21st at 8:00 PM ET and 10:00 PM ET on TBN, with an encore presentation on October 28th, 2022 at 8:00 PM ET and 10:00 PM ET. The show will also be simulcast on SiriusXM‘s The Message.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the media collective / Robby Kline
