Percy Davis to be inducted into Avidity Gospel Music Hall of Fame

By Alice Thomas-Tisdale

JA Publisher Emerita

The Avidity Awards is a major event for independent gospel music. This year’s ceremony will be extra special for fans of Jackson gospel radio personality Percy Davis who will be inducted into 2025 Avidity’s  Independent Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Joining Davis in the Radio category is Pastor Darin Freeman of Nashville, TN. Malaco recording artist Carolyn Traylor will also be inducted. 

Davis, WOAD radio’s top host, is also a nominee for Avidity’s On-Air Personality and Radio Announcer. 

The 10th Annual Avidity Awards  takes place in Dallas, Texas, from October 30 to November 2, 2025. This event includes performances, industry masterclasses, and the main award ceremony on Saturday, November 1st, at Concord Church.

 “For a decade, the Avidity Awards have stood as a powerful tribute to the heartbeat of independent gospel music,” said Derrick Huggins, Founder of the Avidity Awards and CEO of Avidity TV. 

“This platform was built to amplify voices that often go unheard – artists whose music carries not just melodies, but messages of faith, freedom, and resilience. 

“We’re not simply handing out awards; we’re preserving a cultural legacy, honoring our spiritual roots, and creating space for the next generation of gospel storytellers to rise.”

Leading this year’s nominations are award-winning gospel radio executive Destiny Diggs and Avidity Award winners Emcee N.I.C.E. and Kim Person, each earning five nominations across major categories. 

Destiny Diggs received top recognition in standout categories such as On-Air Personality of the Year and Radio Announcer of the Year (Small/Medium Market), underscoring her leadership in gospel broadcasting. 

Emcee N.I.C.E. secured key nominations including CHH Artist of the Year, EP/Album of the Year, and Gospel Hip Hop Album of the Year for his acclaimed release Iron Dove Act III: Kumbaya. 

Kim Person earned notable nods including Female Traditional Artist of the Year and EP/Album of the Year for her inspiring album Speak Life and Live, affirming her continued impact on the genre.

Micah Lee and Rudy Currence each earned four nominations this year, securing recognition in several major categories. Both artists are nominated for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, with Micah Lee receiving a nod for his hit single “Clap My Way” and Rudy Currence recognized for his powerful track “God Don’t Cancel Me.”

Other artists earning multiple Avidity nominations include: Marcus Jordan, La’Kea Stokes, De’lisia James, Suave Colione, Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Frederick J, ABLAZE Youth Choir, Sensere, Men of Prayze, and Zai Lamb.

Adding to the celebration, the 10th Annual Avidity Awards ceremony and television taping will ignite the stage with powerful musical tributes honoring some of Gospel music’s most legendary choirs, groups, and trailblazers. 

Audiences can look forward to soul-stirring performances paying homage to the iconic DFW Mass Legacy Choir (formerly Dallas Fort Worth Mass Choir), The Family (formerly Kirk Franklin and The Family), the groundbreaking Dr. Linda Searight and God’s Property, and the incomparable James Hall.

Tickets for the 10th Annual Avidity Awards taping are available now at AvidityAwards.com.