The BMI held its annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards on July 21, 2026, in Nashville, where Kierra Sheard received the BMI Impact Award in recognition of her career and influence on contemporary gospel music. Sheard also earned the gospel songwriter of the year title alongside her brother J Drew Sheard II and Kerry Douglas, each credited with writing three of the previous year's most-performed gospel songs. Her work—including chart-topping singles co-written with her brother such as "All Yours" and "RAIN DOWN ON ME"—has established her prominence within the gospel music industry.

The awards ceremony also recognised Capitol CMG Publishing as publisher of the year, whilst "Lead Me On," performed by Chandler Moore, took gospel song of the year honours. The private afternoon event, hosted by BMI executives, featured tribute performances from artists including Tasha Cobb Leonard and Darrel Walls, with Sheard's family members present to celebrate her achievement. In her acceptance speech, Sheard reflected on the value of faithfulness and gratitude, publicly thanking BMI for supporting gospel music as a commercially protected art form.