TobyMac earned the fourth K-LOVE Fan Award of his career and his first Song of the Year win after his latest No. 1 single, “Faithfully,” rose to the top of this year’s stack of nominees at the 11th annual fan-voted event.
The husband and father of five wrote the song in the wake of his son, Truett’s, tragic death in 2019. “Faithfully” appears on the hitmaker’s most recent aptly-titled studio album, “Life After Death.”
Toby’s son, Judah, was graduating from high school on the same night the K-LOVE Fan Awards were held, so he was unable to attend this year. However, his presence was felt via video as his face lit up the screens in Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House to thank fans for the Song of the Year honor.
He acknowledged that the anthems from each of his fellow nominees in this category were songs that had played in the halls of his home, blessing his family, over the course of the past year. Other 2024 Song of the Year contenders included Stephen McWhirter’s “Come Jesus Come,” Matthew West’s “Don’t Stop Praying,” Housefires’ “I Thank God (feat. JWLKRS Worship & Ryan Ellis),” Elevation Worship’s “Praise,” Brandon Lake’s “Praise You Anywhere,” Rachael Lampa’s “Somebody To You (feat. Andrew Ripp)” and Anne Wilson’s “Strong.”
Telling the story behind “Faithfully,” he added, “God didn’t promise us we wouldn’t experience hard things. What He promised is He’ll never leave us.”
The chart-topping artist could also be heard earlier in the evening when his good friends, Mandisa and Gabe Patillo, were honored with a video tribute. His unreleased song, “Goodbye” — written especially for the pair, who passed away within a week of one another — soundtracked the emotional visual that shared images of the two gifted musicians.
After wrapping another successful “Hits Deep” run this spring, the decorated artist is poised to headline the one-night-only “K-LOVE Live in Honolulu” concert set for June 22, 2024. This fall, he’ll reunite with fellow K-LOVE Fan Award winners MercyMe and Zach Williams for a second installment of the trio’s Christian music super-tour, visiting a dozen markets throughout November.
