Forrest Frank's Bold "No" to the Dove Awards: Conviction Over Crowns, and Un Corazón's Golden Redemption with Kintsugi

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Beto & Mili | Christian Podcastᵀᴹ

Hey, friends! If you've been tuning into our latest episode on the Christian Podcastᵀᴹ channel, you know Mili and I just had one of those raw, heart-stirring conversations that left us both a little misty-eyed. We're talking about the 2025 Dove Awards—specifically, Forrest Frank's powerful decision to skip the ceremony despite sweeping wins, and Un Corazón's stunning victory for their album Kintsugi. It's a beautiful tension: one artist turning down the spotlight to keep it on Jesus, and another embracing recognition as a launchpad for God's glory. As we dissected in the pod, it's not about who's "right"—it's about unique convictions in a shared faith journey. Grab your coffee (or your favorite worship playlist), and let's dive deeper. We'll weave in highlights from our chat, because if you haven't watched yet, pause this and go do it—then come back!

The Buzz Around the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards

First off, a quick rewind: The 56th GMA Dove Awards went down on October 10, 2025, at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena— the first time the event called this iconic venue home. Hosted by Tauren Wells, it was a night of electric collaborations, like Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll's roof-raising performance of "Hard Fought Hallelujah," which snagged Song of the Year, Bluegrass/Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year, and Short Form Music Video. Lake himself dominated with five awards total, including Worship Recorded Song for "I Know a Name" (with Elevation Worship and Chris Brown) and his fourth Songwriter of the Year-Artist nod in five years.

Other heavy-hitters like CeCe Winans and Leanna Crawford walked away with well-deserved hardware, reminding us why these awards, started back in 1969, still matter—they celebrate the heartbeat of Christian and gospel music in a world that needs it more than ever.

But amid the glamour and gospel choirs, two stories stole the show for us: one of absence that spoke volumes, and one of presence that shone like gold.

Forrest Frank: "The True Trophy Is Salvation"

Enter Forrest Frank, the lo-fi pop sensation who's been inescapable this year. With hits like "Good Day" and "Your Way's Better" racking up streams (he's one of the most-played independent voices in Christian pop right now), Frank didn't just show up—he dominated. He took home Artist of the Year (the night's biggest honor), Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Child of God, and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "Your Way's Better."

 That's three major wins, folks. Yet, when the envelopes opened, Frank was nowhere to be found. No red carpet strut, no acceptance speech—just a pre-recorded statement that hit like a mic drop.In a video that went viral (and which we played clips of in our episode), Frank got real: "As Christians, it's sometimes hard to know what's of the world and what's not, because we're in the world. But I don't want to receive a trophy for something that comes from Jesus and is for Jesus." He shared how attending last year felt "weird," even as he glorified God in the moment. This year? Conviction won out. "My stance is: You know what? I'm not participating in this." And then, the gut-punch line that had Mili and me fighting back tears: "The trophy is salvation. The trophy is that my name is written in the Book of Life. Every name will pass, but there's one name that won't—Jesus."

We couldn't agree more. Beto nailed it in the pod: I've followed Christian music for years—heck, I was a musician myself—and groups fade, songs get forgotten, trends shift. Remember that band you obsessed over in the '90s? Poof, gone. Frank's not naive to the five-year fame cycle; he's calling it out as a teachable moment for the next gen. "The glory is for Jesus," he says. "That's what I want to pass on to young people: Jesus is the only name that lasts, and we've already received the ultimate trophy—our salvation." It's a mic-drop reminder from 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: We run for an imperishable crown.

Frank's stance sparked debate—some call it controversy, others conviction.

 But as Mili put it, "We respect his conviction. It's beautiful." No judgment here; just inspiration to check our own hearts. Does the applause ever drown out the altar?

Un Corazón: Turning Broken Pieces into Golden Worship

Flip the script to pure celebration: Un Corazón, the Mexican worship collective that's been lighting up the Latin Christian scene, won Spanish Language Album of the Year for Kintsugi—their third Dove in this category, and fresh off a Latin Grammy for the same.

 (Shoutout to our friends at Allegro Noticias for the exclusive pics from the ceremony—those smiles on the red carpet? Priceless!)

What's Kintsugi all about? It's not just an album; it's a manifesto. Drawing from the Japanese art of kintsugi—repairing shattered pottery with gold to make it more beautiful than before—the project screams redemption. Those golden cracks on the cover? They're a visual of the Gospel: God doesn't discard our brokenness; He mends it into something radiant. Tracks like those weave stories of healing, faith, and divine artistry, proving worship can be as creative as it is confessional.

In our episode, we geeked out over this. "It's the idea of creating art from broken pieces," Beto said. "God takes our pain—the lowest points—and redeems it for His glory." Mili added the personal touch: Even starting this podcast came from tough family seasons, but look what God's doing! Pastors often say, "God never wastes an experience"—and Kintsugi embodies that. Since the Doves kicked off in 1969, Spanish-language categories were a long time coming. Wins like this? They're milestones for Latino voices in Christian music, showing growth and God opening doors.

We don't know Un Corazón's full backstory—the late nights, the doubts, the grind of making music a ministry. But seeing them joyful on that stage? It's incentive to keep creating. "God bless them," Mili wrapped up. "May He take them far, because in their hearts, they know the real prize awaits."

Balancing Conviction and Celebration

So, how do we hold these stories together? Forrest's "no" feels like a holy boundary—protecting his heart from the seduction of spotlights, teaching humility to a generation chasing likes. Un Corazón's "yes" is a joyful yes to stewardship—using awards as fuel to amplify the message, especially for underrepresented voices. As we hashed out in the pod: It's personal. God deals with each of us uniquely. No cookie-cutter Christianity here—what works for one artist's journey might trip up another. But both point to the same truth: Everything's for Jesus. No fame-fixing our fractures; only His gold can do that.

This duality is why we love these conversations on Christian Podcastᵀᴹ. Music isn't just notes; it's ministry, mess, and miracles. And hey, Latinos killing it at the Doves? That's progress we cheer—proof faith has no borders.

What's Your Take? Join the Conversation

We ended our episode with a call: What do you think? Does Forrest's stance challenge you? Does Kintsugi's metaphor hit home? Or how about the rise of Latin Christian albums—exciting or overdue? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, or hit us up on socials. And if this stirred your soul, subscribe to our YouTube channel for more episodes like this one—raw chats on faith, culture, and the songs that sustain us. Like, share, and beat the algorithm so others can join. Blessings

Beto & Mili

Hosts, Christian Podcastᵀᴹ

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