Award shows are full of memorable moments, but few stand out quite like when a celebrity uses the spotlight to thank God. Whether it’s a quiet mention or a passionate declaration of faith, these moments remind us that behind the glitz and glamour, many stars credit a higher power for their success.
From Grammys to Oscars to MTV stages, faith has shown up in some of the biggest acceptance speeches in entertainment history. Get ready to meet the celebrities who made their beliefs impossible to ignore.
1. Denzel Washington
Few stars wear their faith as openly as Denzel Washington. Throughout his legendary acting career, he has made it a habit to credit God first and foremost whenever he steps up to accept an award.
His speeches often carry a powerful, preacher-like energy that leaves audiences moved and inspired.
Denzel has spoken publicly about how his Christian faith has been the foundation of everything he has built. He once said, “Put God first in everything you do.” That message has stuck with fans for years.
2. Matthew McConaughey
At the 2014 Academy Awards, Matthew McConaughey took home the Best Actor trophy for “Dallas Buyers Club” and delivered one of the most talked-about speeches of the night. He began by thanking three things: God, his family, and himself from ten years in the future.
The God part got people talking for weeks.
His heartfelt declaration showed that his faith was not just a formality. McConaughey called God his “ultimate” inspiration, making the moment feel deeply personal and genuine.
3. Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt never shies away from his Christian faith, especially on stage. At the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards, he told the entire audience, “God is real.
God loves you. God wants the best for you.
Believe that.” The crowd went wild, and the clip spread like wildfire across social media.
He also thanked his “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” at the Teen Choice Awards. Pratt treats every platform as a chance to share his beliefs without apology, making him one of Hollywood’s most vocal faith figures.
4. Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart brings the same big energy to his faith as he does to his comedy. Whenever he wins an award, he makes sure God is the first name out of his mouth.
He has spoken openly about how his belief system carried him through personal scandals and career setbacks that would have broken most people.
Hart credits divine guidance for helping him rebuild and come back stronger each time. His thankfulness feels real and rooted, not scripted, which is exactly why fans connect with it so deeply.
5. Missy Elliott
When Missy Elliott took the stage at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards to accept the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, her very first words were, “I always gotta start out by thanking God.” The audience erupted with cheers, clearly moved by her sincerity and humility in that massive moment.
Missy has also publicly credited God for her recovery from Graves’ disease, a serious condition that threatened her career. Her faith, she says, kept her going when doctors and circumstances said otherwise.
That story alone gives her speech-opening words a whole new layer of meaning.
6. Lauren Daigle
Lauren Daigle turned heads at the 2019 Grammy Awards when she accepted her award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance and said, “I just want to thank Jesus for letting me be a part of this, that he’s put a voice in my throat.” Her words were raw, emotional, and completely unscripted-sounding.
As one of the most successful Christian artists of her generation, Daigle has always kept her faith at the center of her music and her public life. Her Grammy moment was a perfect reflection of who she truly is as an artist and a believer.
7. Lecrae
Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae made a bold statement at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards when he credited “the Lord Jesus for just being my all in all in everything.” It was a striking moment on one of music’s biggest secular stages, and it caught a lot of people off guard in the best way.
Lecrae has always been fearless about mixing faith and mainstream music. His willingness to thank Jesus at the VMAs reinforced his reputation as an artist who refuses to water down his beliefs, no matter how big or mixed the audience might be.
8. Lenny Kravitz
Rock legend Lenny Kravitz brought a spiritual vibe to the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards when he won Best Rock Song. He thanked his “Creator” and gave specific praise to “Jesus for life” during his acceptance speech.
Coming from a rock icon of his caliber, the declaration felt both surprising and refreshing.
Kravitz has long been known for weaving spirituality into his music and personal philosophy. His VMAs moment reminded fans that faith does not belong to one genre or one style – it can show up anywhere, even on rock’s biggest stage.
9. Justin Bieber
Back in 2011, a teenage Justin Bieber took the VMAs stage and thanked “God but to Jesus” in his acceptance speech. For a pop star at the peak of his early fame, it was a bold move that showed his faith ran deeper than the glossy teen idol image the media often pushed on him.
Bieber has continued to be open about his Christian faith throughout his adult life, especially after publicly rededicated his life to God. That early VMAs shout-out was just the beginning of a very public spiritual journey that fans have watched unfold over many years.
10. Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson’s 2007 Oscar win for “Dreamgirls” produced one of the most joyful God-thank-you moments in Academy Awards history. She exclaimed from the stage, “Look what God can do!” before adding, “Definitely have to thank God, I guess, again.” The crowd loved every second of her genuine, unfiltered excitement.
Hudson had survived a brutal personal tragedy before this win, making her faith all the more meaningful. Her speech was not just a thank-you; it was a testimony.
She showed the world that gratitude and belief can coexist with heartbreak and still produce something beautiful.
11. Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, delivered one of the most emotionally charged acceptance speeches at the 67th Grammy Awards in 2026. He thanked Jesus directly and proclaimed to the entire room, “Jesus is for everybody.” For a man who spent years in and out of trouble before finding faith, those words carried enormous weight.
His journey from jail cells to Grammy stages is one of the most remarkable comeback stories in modern music. Jelly Roll’s raw honesty about his past and his gratitude to God made his speech feel less like a celebrity moment and more like a real-life miracle on display.
12. Brandon Lake
Brandon Lake brought tears to many eyes when he accepted the Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music. He told the audience that the winning song was a “testimony of what Jesus has done in my life,” turning his acceptance speech into something that felt more like a worship moment than an awards ceremony appearance.
Lake is widely respected in the Christian music world for keeping his faith at the center of everything he creates. His Grammy speech was a reminder that for some artists, awards are not the goal – they are simply a byproduct of doing what God called them to do.
13. Kanye West
Kanye West’s relationship with God has been one of the most public and complicated stories in music. After releasing his gospel album “Jesus Is King” in 2019, he won a Grammy and credited God with every element of the project.
His acceptance speeches during that era were filled with references to divine purpose and calling.
Love him or not, Kanye’s faith declarations have been hard to ignore. His pivot toward gospel music brought conversations about Christianity to audiences that might never have engaged with it otherwise, making his God-thanking moments culturally significant beyond just the awards circuit.
14. Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood has never been shy about her Christian faith, and her acceptance speeches reflect that beautifully. Whether collecting country music trophies or Grammy Awards, she consistently includes a heartfelt thank-you to God among her first words.
Her sincerity makes those moments feel warm rather than rehearsed.
Underwood has released gospel-inspired music and spoken openly about how faith shapes her daily life. Fans who have followed her since her “American Idol” days know that her belief in God is not a phase or a PR move – it has always been the real deal.
15. Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper made Grammy history in 2017 as the first artist to win with a streaming-only album, and he made sure God got the credit. His acceptance speech was bursting with joy and gratitude as he thanked Jesus and his family in one breath.
The energy was contagious and completely authentic.
Chance has always been vocal about how his Christian faith influences his music and his decisions. His album “Coloring Book” is filled with gospel themes, so when he praised God at the Grammys, it felt like a natural extension of everything he had already been saying through his art.
16. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is as famous for her big heart and faith as she is for her music. Over her decades-long career, she has routinely thanked God during her many award wins, always doing so with the kind of folksy warmth that makes you feel like she means every single word.
Her spiritual references never feel forced.
Beyond the speeches, Dolly has spoken extensively about how prayer and faith have guided her through the highs and the harder times of her extraordinary life. She is living proof that you can be wildly successful and still stay genuinely, humbly grateful to a power greater than yourself.