Happy New Year from The Morning Thing!
As we bring in the new year, we took a moment to look back on 2025 and share our favorite memories from this past year. Thanks for listening and making us a part of your mornings!
Click HERE to hear from the hosts or click the link below.
Today, our Music Director, Traven Griffith, highlighted the top thirty songs of the year in a special show in honor of New Year’s Eve! Check out the full list below!
30. Seph Schlueter – Won’t Start Now | Music Video
29. Cody Carnes – Take You At Your Word | Lyric Video
28. Phil Wickham – The King Is In The Room | Music Video
27. Andrew Ripp – Loves Got A Way | Lyric Video
26. Katy Nichole – When I Fall | Music Video
25. Matthew West – Unashamed | Music Video
24. Jamie MacDonald – Left It In The River | Music Video
23. Jeremy Camp – No Survivors | Music Video
22. Hope Darst – Mighty Name Of Jesus | Music Video
21. ELEVATION RHYTHM – Goodbye Yesterday | Music Video
20. Crowder – STILL | Lyric Video
19. Micah Tyler – God Did It | Music Video
18. Jeremy Camp – Again | Lyric Video
17. Emerson Day – Get Behind Me | Lyric Video
16. Zach Williams – Jesus Loves | Music Video
15. Forrest Frank – Your Way’s Better | Lyric Video
14. Brandon Lake – That’s Who I Praise | Music Video
13. Brandon Lake f/Jelly Roll – Hard Fought Hallelujah | Music Video
12. Megan Woods – The Truth | Music Video
11. Elevation Worship & Brandon Lake – I Know A Name | LIVE Version Performance
10. Colton Dixon – Up + Up | Music Video
09. Leanna Crawford – Still Waters (Psalm 23) | Music Video
08. Josiah Queen & Brandon Lake – Can’t Steal My Joy | Lyric Video
07. TobyMac – a lil Church | Music Video
06. MercyMe – Oh Death | Music Video
05. Seph Schlueter – Running Back To You | Music Video
04. Jamie MacDonald – Desperate | Lyric Video
03. Crowder – Somebody Prayed | Music Video
02. Jon Reddick – No Fear | Music Video
01. Phil Wickham – What An Awesome God | Music Video | Sunset Walk
Thanks for Listening!
-Traven
WNZR’s Holly Jolly 25 kicks off on Monday, 12/1. For our Friday Favorites today, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite Christmas songs.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with four MVNU graduates: Josh Hooper, Class of 2002; Josh Pollock, Class of 2014; Mike Basko, Class of 2024; and Judah Keith, Class of 2025.
They shared about what brought them to MVNU and how they made their way to the WNZR Staff.
We shared memories and lessons learned while being at WNZR and MVNU.
They talked about what it meant to be part of WNZR’s 39-year legacy.
They also gave advice for students what are currently studying in the communication and media field.
All 4 gentlemen are working at The River in Columbus.
Enjoy the Conversation.
Hey WNZR Alumni, we would love to have you join us this Saturday, 11/15 at our Reunion!
Click HERE for all the details and to find an online form. Tell us about your experience with WNZR, when you graduated and if you plan to stop by. We would love to hear from you and see you!
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with two MVNU graduates: Alyssa Sidle, Class of 2021 and Nay Nay Parker, Class of 2020. They shared about what brought them to MVNU and how they made their way to the WNZR Staff. We shared memories and lessons learned while being at WNZR and MVNU. They talked about what it meant to be part of WNZR’s 39 year legacy. They also gave advice for students what are currently studying in the communication and media field. Both Alyssa and Nay Nay are working at Radio U in Columbus.
Enjoy the Conversation.
Hey WNZR Alumni, we would love to have you join us this Saturday, 11/15 at our Reunion!
Click HERE for all the details and to find an online form. Tell us about your experience with WNZR, when you graduated and if you plan to stop by. We would love to hear from you and see you!
This will be an exciting weekend at 800 Martinsburg Road In Mount Vernon.
MVNU hosts Homecoming 2025 with an amazing schedule of events.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Mike Cheek, Executive Director of Alumni & Major Gifts about this year’s schedule.
Click HERE for the full conversation or use the link below.
You can see the full schedule HERE.
MVNU Graduate Brian White joined the conversation to talk about his time at MVNU and WNZR. He shared how God’s leading allowed him to become an award-winning songwriter.
Brian will host a workshop on Saturday 11/15 at 2:30pm in Thorne Performance Hall.
The workshop is titled, “So You Wanna Be A Songwriter: Helpful Hints to Kickstart Your Songwriting Journey”. Click HERE for more information.
Brian also shares about the special event “A NIGHT WITH NASHVILLE BENEFITING COUGAR BASEBALL WITH THE HITS”!
Saturday, Nov. 15 | 8 p.m. | R.R. Hodges Chapel, Thorne Performance Hall
Join MVNU for an unforgettable evening as the hit songwriters behind chart-toppers from Chris Tomlin, Danny Gokey, Consumed by Fire, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Corey Asbury, We Are Messengers, Avalon, Matt Maher, Rodney Atkins, The Martins, 4Him, and more take the stage to share the songs – and the stories behind them. The featured guests will be Brian White (Class of 1979), Karyn Williams, and Jesse Reeves.
Tickets are $30. Reserve your spot today! https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=NiARv3
Enjoy the conversation and join us for MVNU’s Homecoming 2025!
The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Broadcast was shared by Trinity Broadcast Network on Friday, 10/10/25. The night was full of exciting performances including a few surprise guests.
Brandon Lake took home 5 awards including Song of the Year with “Hard Fought Hallelujah”.
Click HERE to read the Dove Awards Press Release from the Gospel Music Association.
To see the full list of winners, click HERE.
The Dove Awards broadcast will re-air Friday, October 17th, 2025, At 7:30pm and 10:00pm ET on TBN, the TBN+ app, and TBN YouTube.
Here is a highlight of the 2025 Winners. Congratulations to all nominees!
SONG OF THE YEAR –
Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll
Writers: Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown and Benjamin William Hastings
ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Forrest Frank
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Leanna Crawford
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (ARTIST) – Brandon Lake
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (NON-ARTIST) – Mitch Wong
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – Jeff Pardo
POP/CONTEMPORARY SONG OF THE YEAR –
Your Way’s Better by Forrest Frank
Writers: Forrest Frank and Pera
GOSPEL WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
Come Jesus Come by CeCe Winans and Shirley Caesar
Writers: Hank Bentley, Bryan Fowler, Stephen McWhirter and Tara McWhirter
WORSHIP RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
I Know A Name by Elevation Worship, Chris Brown and Brandon Lake
Writers: Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Jacob Sooter and Hank Bentley
INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham
Writers: Phil Wickham and Jonathan Smith
BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS SONG OF THE YEAR –
Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll
Writers: Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown and Benjamin William Hastings
CHRISTMAS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR –
Joy To The World by CeCe Winans
Writers: Traditional
POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
CHILD OF GOD by Forrest Frank
Producers: Forrest Frank, Pera, Noah Conrad, JVKE, Jackson Foote, Johnny Simpson, Zac Lawson and Splash Of Soda
WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
When Wind Meets Fire by Elevation Worship
Producers: Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Josh Holiday and Chandler Moore
ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
Trustfall by Stephen Stanley
Producers: Stephen Stanley, Tedd T. and Jake Halm
CHRISTMAS/SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR –
Hallelujah! It’s Christmas! By Phil Wickham
Producers: Jonathan Smith, Josh Auer, Jerad Atherton, Tyler Halford, Ben Lounsbury and Aaron Robertson
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR –
Heaven On My Mind by TobyMac
Art Directors: Nathan Blaine, Aaron Stearns and Trent Nicholson
Graphic Artists: Nathan Blaine and Aaron Stearns
Photographer – Robby Klein
SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (CONCEPT) –
Can’t Stop Me by TobyMac
Director: Eric Welch
Producer: Scott McDaniel
SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (PERFORMANCE) –
Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll
Directors: Brandon Lake and Jacob Boyles
Producers: Jacob Boyles, Rachel Mulcahy, Sadie Schwanberg and Caleb Cook
LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR –
A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE) by for KING & COUNTRY
Directors: Joel Smallbone and Kadin Tooley
Producers: Joshua Walsh, Stephen Preston and Luke Smallbone
FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR –
The King of Kings
Director: Jang Seong-ho
Producers: Jang Seong-ho and Kim Woo-hyung
TELEVISION SERIES OF THE YEAR –
The Chosen
Director: Dallas Jenkins
Producers: Dallas Jenkins, Chad Gundersen and Chris Juen
We are so excited to get the opportunity to share a conversation with Davide Mutendji, a member of Elevation Rhythm! Davide and his crew will be performing at Sonfest 2025 here at MVNU tomorrow and you are not going to want to miss this extremely powerful event.
Davide shares his background, gives us an insight on the songwriting process, and he talks about big upcoming news for the band!
Ethan and Davide also have a good time playing rapid fire!
For more info on Sonfest 2025 click HERE!
Rock City Worship is coming to Sonfest 2025 at Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday, September 20.
Rock City Worship is the expression of worship at Rock City Church in Columbus, Ohio. With a focus on writing songs that paint a vivid picture of who God reveals Himself to be in His Word, this group of pastors, worship leaders, and songwriters believes that the more clearly we can see God, the more completely we can worship Him.
Their sound blends passionate, modern worship with anthemic melodies and Christ-centered lyrics, aiming to lead people into authentic encounters with Jesus. Rock City Worship’s music has been shared in churches and streaming platforms across the country, encouraging believers everywhere to worship with all their hearts.
Nathan Montgomery of Rock City Worship talks with WNZR about the origin of the church and their worship team. He also talks about their approach to songwriting and creating a worship experience for anyone attending a service or a concert. Rapid Fire reveals his favorite worship songs and that he is a Star Wars fan.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation with WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger.
You can see Rock City Worship at Sonfest at 3:45pm on Saturday.
Click HERE for all the details about Sonfest 2025.
John Mark McMillan is coming to Sonfest 2025 at Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday, September 20.
John Mark McMillan is something of an anomaly: an artist and Platinum-selling songwriter bending genres and defying categorization by carving out his own unique and independent path. With an ear for melody and a poet’s eye for metaphor, no topic has been off-limits. While each of his albums over the past decade have continued to explore new territory, it’s McMillan’s ability to give lyric and language to the human experience that many consider his greatest gift.
John talks with WNZR about his approach to songwriting, his history in music and how God has always part of his journey in life and music. Rapid Fire reveals the first concert he went to and his favorite movie and snack.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation with WNZR’s Ethan Hershberger.
You can see John Mark McMillan at Sonfest at 6:30pm on Saturday.
Click HERE for all the details about Sonfest 2025.
Rise and Shine 