Matthew West
For the Top Christian Artist award, Chris Tomlin beat out Mandisa, Matthew West, Skillet and tobyMac. Tomlin's last Billboard win was in 2011, when he took home two awards: Top Christian Artist and Song ("Our God").
For the Top Christian Album award, Alan Jackson's Precious Memories: Volume II took home the honor over Chris Tomlin's Burning Lights, Skillet's Rise, Third Day's Miracle and WOW Hits 2014. When Jackson talked about the decision to record a second album of hymns in a press release, he said, "We had so many songs, of course, that we didn’t get to do on the first one. We tried to go in and do it like the first one – just heartfelt and simple. It’s just overwhelming how many people have enjoyed these albums – it means a lot." More than a year after its release, Precious Memories: Volume II is still in the Top 50 on Billboard’s weekly Top Country Albums chart, where it has been since its release. Jackson’s original Precious Memories collection is close to hitting double-platinum status, having sold nearly two-million copies.
The Top Christian Song of the night was Matthew West's "Hello, My Name Is" which beat out Building 429's "We Won't Be Shaken," Chris Tomlin's "Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)," Mandisa's "Overcomer" and Sidewalk Prophets' "Help Me Find It."
West's Billboard win comes on the heels of him being named ASCAP's Christian Music Songwriter of the Year as well as an American Music Award win in November. In a press release, he shared his excitement, saying, "Thanks to Billboard for this award! It's been an incredible year and I'm just blown away by the recognition. But more important than an award is what awards like this signify; that a song connected with people. That is the true honor, to write a song in the hopes that it touches a heart and impacts a life."
