PRESS RELEASE
Scores of gospel music lovers and industry professionals, along with many of the most well-known names in Caribbean Gospel Music, convened on the Island of New Providence in the picturesque Nassau, Bahamas, for the staging of the 29th Anniversary of the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards ceremony. The highly anticipated global event, which took place on Sunday, July 27th, 2025, at the Myles E. Munroe Diplomat Center, attracted a diverse mix of Bahamian and Caribbean gospel recording artists and industry professionals representing several countries within the region and around the world. There was a total of fifty-six (56) categories this year, out of which thirty-five (35) were presented during the live televised broadcast.
Trinidad & Tobago singer, songwriter, and producer Joshua Ali emerged as the top winner of the 2025 Marlin Awards with a total of four (4) awards including Outstanding DJ Vocal Collaboration for his dancehall track “Brace Up” featuring XG Rox, Outstanding Praise & Worship Recording Duo or Group for his original worship anthem “Goodness” featuring Jai Symone, and Outstanding Album for his Caribbean-infused sonic offering “Reset.” Joshua also created one of the biggest upsets of the evening when he won the award of Outstanding Producer, officially ending the three consecutive wins by fellow Trinidad native, recording artist and producer Reuel Lynch. However, Lynch did not walk away empty-handed; he won the Marlin Award for Outstanding Dancehall Recording for his track “D.N.A (Do Not Aggravate (Victory)).”
Also winning big was seventeen-year-old female singer, songwriter, and first-time nominee Alyssa Joseph, also from Trinidad & Tobago, who took home two (2) major awards: Outstanding New Artist and one of the newly created categories, Outstanding Afro-Pop Recording Female, for her top single “Kingdom Daughter.” Bahamian gospel soloist and songwriter Cara T. Newton also won big, claiming two awards including Outstanding Junkanoo Rake & Scrape Recording for her major hit single “Move Again” featuring Bishop Simeon Outten and Outstanding Black Gospel Recording Duo or Group for the song “War Cry” by Christopher Roberts featuring Cara T. Newton. Bahamian male vocalist Davian Chase took home his first two Marlin Awards including Outstanding Junkanoo Rake & Scrape Recording Solo for his single “My My My” and Outstanding Black Gospel Recording Male for “Let the Nations Sing.”
Bahamians placed their stamp on the awards by winning all three of the Black Gospel categories, rounding out with female powerhouse Joinae Gibson, who clinched her very first Marlin Award in the Outstanding Black Gospel Recording Female category for her popular single “Arise.” Bahamians also won the Outstanding Choir/Chorale category for the second time in a row; this time Edison Sumner & Voices of Praise secured the award for the Bahamas with their single “Marvelous.”
Bahamian gospel reggae recording artist Akeem Gardiner also won his first two Marlin Awards, one for Outstanding Inspirational Recording Male for his acoustic-driven single “Other Side” and the other for Outstanding Reggae Vocal Performance Duo or Group for the single and title of his latest album Heart’s Song. Akeem shared this award with his wife Michelle Gardiner, who was a guest vocalist on the single.
Caribbean Gospel music veteran Sherwin Gardner picked up two Marlin Awards as a solo artist including one for Outstanding Afro-Pop Recording Male for his global hit “Find Me Here.” Gardner also earned one of the evening’s top awards, Outstanding Song, also for his single “Find Me Here (Blessings Find Me),” considered one of the biggest singles of 2024. Sherwin won a third award for his vocal contribution on the track “Follow,” a single recorded and released by Bahamian newcomer Colyn Kristopher, who won his first Marlin Award for this song in the category of Outstanding Caribbean Pop Recording Duo or Group.
Singer and songwriter John Yarde won two awards for Barbados, his first, including one for Outstanding Contemporary Recording for his single “Friend in Me” and another for Outstanding Seasonal Recording for his yuletide single “Christmas Without You.”
Multiple Marlin Award winner Marc Isaacs from Trinidad & Tobago walked in with three nominations and walked out with two awards including Outstanding Calypso Soca Vocal Performance Duo or Group for the single “Til Morning” featuring Farenite and Outstanding Soca Recording for his international Soca hit single “Open De Gate” featuring Blessed Messenger. Guyanese recording artist Timothy Roberts scored well, winning his first two Marlin Awards for Outstanding Dub Recording and Outstanding Reggae Vocal Performance Male, both for his impressive single “Holy Spirit.” This marks the second consecutive time that Guyana has won the Outstanding Reggae Vocal Performance Male category; fellow countryman Samuel Medas won the same category during the 2022 Marlin Awards.
Several artists made history this year including St. Lucian gospel songbird Nigela, who won the Outstanding Calypso Soca Vocal Performance Female category for her single “Follow,” making her only the second female gospel artist from St. Lucia to win a Marlin Award. Also making history was Kiokaya Cruickshank, the first-ever Marlin Award winner from St. Vincent & The Grenadines, who took home the award for Outstanding Traditional Recording Female for her single “A Little More Fiya.”
Veteran gospel reggae recording artist Carlene Davis added to her impressive collection by capturing the Outstanding Reggae Recording of the Year award for Jamaica with her single “No Regrets.” This is the first win in this category for Jamaica in over ten years. Gospel reggae and Soca recording artist Positive had previously dominated this category, winning consecutively in 2014, 2017, and 2022 for Trinidad & Tobago. Positive also added another Marlin Award to his already crowded mantle with his victory in the Caribbean Pop Recording Male category for his global anthem “Company.”
Bahamian male vocalist Adrian Edgecombe won his seventh career Marlin Award along with his aunt and local cultural icon Sweet Emily for Outstanding Junkanoo Rake & Scrape Vocal Performance Duo or Group for their single “Worthy.” Bahamian female vocalist Alia Coley and worship leader Oslien Jadorte also earned awards, winning Outstanding Afro-Pop Recording Duo or Group for their radio and video hit single “Mash Down.” Minister Tracy Knowles, former lead vocalist for The Gospel Impressions, won his first individual Marlin Award for Outstanding Praise & Worship Recording Male for his song “One Sound.” New recording artist Brendira Braynen also claimed her first Marlin Award for Outstanding Jazz Recording for her single “Running Back to You.”
Bahamians dominated the Hip-Hop categories with EMAN winning Outstanding Hip-Hop Recording Duo or Group for his single “Grateful” featuring Shavonne Green, female recording artist NISH winning Outstanding Hip-Hop Recording Female for her single “High and Mighty,” and the group Chosen Soldiers taking Outstanding Hip-Hop Recording for their single “Purpose” featuring Najie Dunn.
Other first-time winners included Bj’orn Pierre (Trinidad & Tobago) for Outstanding Calypso Vocal Performance Male with “It’s Already Done,” Bahamian vocal ensemble Antonia N. Wilson and the Legato Vocal Ensemble for “Bahamian Wake Medley” featuring Marguerite Brennen Samuel, and Joshua Kesler (United Kingdom) for Outstanding Adapted Recording Male with his remake of the Helen Baylor classic “Oasis.” Female songwriter and worship leader Nataki Lendor won two awards: Outstanding Calypso Recording (Good Good) and Outstanding Contemporary Vocal Performance Female (Safe Haven). K-Anthony, a contemporary artist from Jamaica, also picked up his first Marlin Award for Outstanding Pop Recording Male for “Miracles.”
Other notable repeat winners included NISA (Trinidad & Tobago), Pastor Michael Daley (Jamaica), Dwayne Fyah (Guyana), Lili Forbes (St. Maarten), Ayiesha (Bermuda), LA RED (Puerto Rico), Neesha Woodz (Barbados), Kevin Downswell (Jamaica), and Chevelle Franklyn (Jamaica).
One of the major highlights of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Bahamian gospel ensemble Edison Sumner and Voices of Praise in recognition of their thirty-plus years of music and ministry.
In total, Trinidad & Tobago won nineteen (19) Marlin Awards, the Bahamas won seventeen (17), and Jamaica won nine (9).
The 2025 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards was broadcast live on the Caribbean Gospel Television Network (CGTV) in fourteen (14) countries including the Bahamas, as well as on the Marlin Awards social media pages. Super Club Breezes Bahamas served as the Title Sponsor and official resort for the event.
The Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards was launched twenty-nine years ago on Sunday, March 16th, 1996, by music and media executive Kevin Harris in Nassau, Bahamas. The Marlin Awards are produced by Oracle Media Consultants, a division of Harris Media Group. For additional information, contact themarlinawards@gmail.com or 242-826-8052. For the official list of all 2025 winners, visit www.marlinawards.com.