14 Celebrities Known For Thanking God On Stage

Award shows are full of glitter, glamour, and unforgettable moments, yet some of the most powerful speeches have nothing to do with fashion or fame. Every year, stars step up to the microphone and, before anything else, look skyward and say thank you.

The words may sound simple, but for millions of fans watching at home, hearing a favorite celebrity give credit to God feels deeply personal and unexpectedly moving. Some speeches spread across the internet overnight, while others quietly stay in people’s memories for years.

Moments like these stand out because they reveal gratitude in a setting usually focused on trophies and applause. Faith appearing on one of entertainment’s biggest stages reminds audiences that behind the spotlight stand real people, humbled by success and aware of something greater than themselves.

Curious which celebrities have made faith part of their biggest speeches? A few of these stories may surprise even longtime fans.

1. Matthew McConaughey At The 2014 Oscars

Before mentioning family or co-stars, Matthew McConaughey opened his Best Actor Oscar speech by looking up and saying, “First off, I want to thank God, because that is who I look up to.” The crowd at the Dolby Theatre went quiet for a moment, then erupted. McConaughey won for his incredible performance in Dallas Buyers Club, a role that required serious physical transformation.

Can you imagine that his speech became one of the most-quoted in Oscar history? Rolling down a list of life heroes, he named his future self as someone he chases every single day.

Honest, bold, and deeply personal, few speeches have landed quite like his.

2. Nicole Scherzinger At The 2024 Tony Awards

Winning a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for Sunset Boulevard is already a jaw-dropping achievement. Nicole Scherzinger made it even more unforgettable by giving all the credit to God, saying, “I just have to thank God for carrying me every step of the way.

I give Him all the glory.” Tears streamed down her face as the audience applauded.

Known best as a pop star, Scherzinger proved Broadway was always in her future. Her gratitude felt completely genuine and deeply moving.

3. Justin Bieber At The 2011 MTV VMAs

Winning Best Male Video at the MTV VMAs is cool. Starting your speech by thanking both God and Jesus?

Even cooler, at least if you are Justin Bieber. At just 17 years old, Bieber stepped up to the microphone and said, “I just want to say thank you so much, not only to God but to Jesus.” The crowd roared.

His faith has always been a public part of his identity, long before his Pastor Carl Lentz era. Even as a teenager dominating pop charts, Bieber made it clear that his success was not something he planned alone.

That kind of conviction at 17 is honestly remarkable.

4. Kanye West At The 2011 MTV VMAs

Long before Sunday Service became a cultural phenomenon, Kanye West was already thanking God on award stages. At the 2011 MTV VMAs, West accepted an award and simply said, “Thank you to God.” Short, direct, and completely on-brand for an artist who has never been shy about expressing big beliefs in small spaces.

Kanye’s relationship with faith has grown loudly over the years, eventually leading to gospel albums and outdoor worship concerts. However, even back in 2011, the acknowledgment felt sincere.

Kanye has always operated like he has a higher co-writer. Whether fans agree or disagree, few can deny his faith runs deep.

5. Katy Perry At The 2011 MTV VMAs

Right after Kanye West said “Thank you to God” at the 2011 MTV VMAs, Katy Perry jumped in with a spontaneous and enthusiastic “Yes, God!” The crowd laughed and cheered. Perry, raised in a Christian household with pastor parents, has never tried to hide where her roots come from, even during her most outrageously colorful pop era.

Her music often walks a fascinating line between spiritual and fun. Songs like “Ur So Gay” and “Teenage Dream” live alongside deeper reflections on identity and belief.

Perry’s quick shoutout that night felt less rehearsed and more like a genuine reflex. Sometimes the most authentic moments are the unscripted ones.

6. Thomas Rhett At The 2020 ACM Awards

Sharing the Co-Entertainer of the Year title with Carrie Underwood at the 2020 ACM Awards was already a wild plot twist for country music fans. Thomas Rhett made his speech memorable by leading with, “I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.” No hesitation, no preamble, just straight to the point.

Country music has always had a close relationship with faith, but Rhett’s directness still stood out. He went on to thank his family and fans, but the opening set the entire speech apart.

Raised in a deeply religious household and married to his childhood sweetheart, Rhett’s public gratitude to God fits perfectly into his story.

7. Selena Gomez At The 2014 American Music Awards

No microphone needed for Selena Gomez’s most talked-about faith moment. After finishing an emotional performance of The Heart Wants What It Wants at the 2014 AMAs, cameras caught her mouthing the words “Thank you Jesus” as the music faded.

Soft, private, and completely unscripted, the moment felt incredibly raw.

Gomez has spoken openly about her Christian faith in numerous interviews over the years. For her, spirituality is not a stage prop but a genuine anchor during difficult seasons of life.

The fact that she did not announce it to the crowd made it even more powerful. Sometimes the quietest moments speak the loudest on the biggest stages.

8. Lauren Daigle At The 2019 Grammy Awards

Few artists blur the line between mainstream pop and Contemporary Christian Music quite like Lauren Daigle. At the 2019 Grammy Awards, she won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance and used her speech to thank Jesus for the chance to spread love through music.

Her joy was completely contagious and the room felt it instantly.

Daigle rose to fame slowly but powerfully, spending years building a fanbase on raw vocals and deeply personal lyrics. Songs like You Say became anthems for people walking through hard times.

Her Grammy moment felt like a victory lap for an artist who never compromised her message for commercial shortcuts. Authentic and inspiring all at once.

9. Chris Pratt At The 2018 Teen Choice Awards

An acceptance speech once turned into something closer to a life lesson, and the crowd loved every second of it. During a Teen Choice Award appearance, Chris Pratt stood in front of a sea of young fans and made sure to give thanks to God before anything else.

He told the audience he always does that when speaking on a big stage, then surprised everyone by sharing nine rules for life, including simple reminders like “God is real” and “God loves you.” Pratt has spoken openly about Christian faith for years and regularly attends Zoe Church in Los Angeles.

The moment felt warm, funny, and unexpectedly thoughtful for an event better known for surfboard trophies than personal advice. Instead of just another quick thank-you speech, the message left many young viewers with something meaningful to think about long after the lights and cameras were gone.

10. Nicki Minaj At The 2011 MTV VMAs

Nicki Minaj joined the faith-forward group at the 2011 MTV VMAs when she publicly thanked God during her acceptance speech. Known for bold fashion choices and even bolder lyrics, her acknowledgment of a higher power surprised some fans and resonated deeply with others.

Minaj has Trinidad roots and grew up in a household where faith played a real role.

Over the years, references to prayer and God have appeared in her interviews and social media posts. Her VMA moment added a layer of depth to a public persona often reduced to shock value alone.

Behind the wigs and platinum records sits someone who credits more than just talent for the journey. That honesty matters.

11. Thandie Newton At The 2018 Emmy Awards

Humor and humility collided beautifully when Thandie Newton won Outstanding Supporting Actress at the 2018 Emmy Awards for Westworld. Standing at the podium, she admitted, “I don’t believe in God, but I am going to thank her tonight.” The room burst into laughter and applause simultaneously.

It was one of the most unexpectedly charming moments in recent Emmy history.

Newton used female pronouns for God, adding another layer of conversation to an already memorable line. Her speech was honest in a way rarely seen on award stages.

Rather than offering a rehearsed list of thank-yous, she gave the audience something to chew on. Brilliant performances deserve equally brilliant speeches, and Newton delivered both.

12. Carrie Underwood At Multiple Country Awards Shows

Faith and gratitude often take center stage during award speeches, turning quick thank-you moments into heartfelt reflections. Since winning American Idol in 2005, Carrie Underwood has made a habit of giving credit to God whenever she steps up to the microphone.

Throughout CMA wins, ACM Awards victories, and many other appearances, her words regularly point back to the beliefs that guide her life. The hit song Jesus Take the Wheel felt less like a single and more like a personal statement about the way she approaches both career and public image.

Underwood has spoken many times about prayer shaping daily decisions, even in the middle of a demanding schedule.

Acceptance speeches become more than industry tradition, serving as sincere expressions of gratitude. Fans who share similar values often feel a strong connection during those moments, seeing faith represented on one of the biggest stages in entertainment.

13. Chance The Rapper At The 2017 Grammy Awards

Winning three Grammys in a single night is the kind of thing that makes most artists speechless. Chance the Rapper responded by thanking God repeatedly and passionately throughout the evening.

His album Coloring Book made history as the first streaming-only album to win a Grammy, and Chance made sure everyone knew who he credited for the breakthrough.

His faith is woven directly into his music, full of gospel choirs, biblical references, and joyful praise. Chance grew up in Chicago and has spoken about how church shaped his entire artistic vision.

Seeing someone so young win so big while keeping God at the center of the speech felt genuinely refreshing in a room full of industry veterans.

14. Viola Davis At The 2017 Academy Awards

Viola Davis has a gift for turning award speeches into full emotional experiences, and her 2017 Oscar win for Fences was no exception. Among the many heartfelt acknowledgments, she thanked God for the gift of storytelling, framing her entire career as a calling rather than a coincidence.

The speech moved Hollywood veterans to tears in real time.

Davis grew up in poverty in Central Falls, Rhode Island, and has spoken about how faith sustained her family through genuinely hard years. Her Oscar speech reflected a woman who never forgot where she started.

Watching someone stand at the top of the industry and still point upward is a powerful reminder of what gratitude looks like when it is absolutely real.