LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 20: Hosts Sherri Shepherd and Rickey Smiley speak onstage at the 2016 Stellar Gospel Awards-Orleans Arena. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm)
The 31st Annual 2016 Stellar Awards, the Grammy’s of gospel music, premieres Sunday March 6 on TV One. It is that rare awards show where gospel artists, gospel music industry professionals and fans come together to celebrate the very best in gospel music performances, send up powerful praises, honor gospel icons and share the night in the spirit with Hollywood stars.
Actor/Comedian Rickey Smiley (Rickey Smiley For Real, Dish Nation) and actress/comedienne Sherri Shepherd(Ride Along 2, The View) served as co-hosts of Don Jackson’s Chicago based Central City Productions regal event. The hilarious pair kept everybody laughing during gospel’s most prestigious awards show, which was taped before a live audience on February 20 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Sherri Shepherd had me nearly laughing to tears when she refused to give up her “host” sash.
Anthony Brown and group theRApy accept award at 2016 Stellar Awards.
(Insert – photo #2: Caption: Anthony Brown & group therAPy performing single “Worth” at Stellar Awards 2016.Photo credit: Earl Gibson III/CCP/Front Page Firm.)
However, the night ultimately belonged to the Gospel music artists. This was evident from the powerful opening performance by chart topping Anthony Brown & group therAPy through the end. Anthony Brown & group therApy also had numerous reasons to shout. They swept the Stellars with a record breaking ten nominations and Stellar Awards, beating Bishop Marvin Sapp’s record of seven nominations and seven wins.
Anthony Brown & group therApy’s awards include song of the year “Worth” from their chart-topping album Everyday Jesus, artist of the year, producer of the year and group/duo of the year. Teary-eyed singer/songwriter group leader, Anthony Brown was so overwhelmed that he shared his story of five years ago when he attended the Stellars, sat in the back row and was in awe of everybody. Fast forward 2016, he’s breaking Stellar records.
Pastor Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago perform at 2016 Stellar Awards. Photo Credit – Earl Gibson III-courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm
Other multiple Stellars Award winners included Pastor Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago who nabbed four awards for their album Any Given Sunday, and Tasha Cobbs, who received three Stellars for her album One Place Live. Tina Campbell (half of Platinum selling gospel duo MaryMary) also walked away with two awards for her solo album It’s Personal. Additionally, Tina debuted her new video “Speak The Word,” featuring her husband Teddy Campbell Stellar Awards weekend.
Kirk Franklin performs at the 2016 Stellar Awards. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm
Other artist performances you will see include Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, Casey J, Donald Lawrence, Bishop Marvin Sapp, Travis Greene, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Donnie McClurkin, Karen Clark Sheard and Yolanda Adams.
(Insert photo#8: Stellar Honors icons: Caption: Stellar Honors icons sharing a “Stellar moment.” Left to right, Jonathan Slocumb, Yolanda Adams, Tramaine Hawkins, Marvin Sapp, and CCP’s CEO-Don Jackson.)
Special Honors awards were bestowed upon gospel industry icons Dr. Bobby Jones, Bishop Marvin Sapp, the late Olanda Draper, Tramaine Hawkins, Dr. Marabeth Gentry (National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses), comedian Jonathan Slocumb and Yolanda Adams.
Stellar Honors 2016 honorees, Jonathan Slocumb, Yolanda Adams, Tramaine Hawkins, Marvin Sapp and CCP CEO Don Jackson.
All in all, the Stellar Awards, the Pre-Show, the Stellar Gospel Announcers Awards and other events that took place Stellar Week, All White Party, Virtue’s packed listening party and the Morning Glory ASCAP/Motown Gospel Breakfast, made for a rich family entertainment experience. The Stellar Awards airs Sunday, March 6 at 6p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on TV One with encore air times 8p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET. Tune in and get inspired.
Here is the complete list of 2016 Stellar Awards winners and honorees.
Tina and Erica Campbell (Mary Mary) enjoying the show at 2016 Stellar Awards.Photo courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus, (Key of A/Tyscot)
SONG OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown, “Worth” – Everyday Jesus – Anthony Brown & group therapy – (Key of A/Tyscot)
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown, Everyday Jesus, (Key of A/Tyscot)
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Tasha Cobb, One Place Live, (Motown Gospel)
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus (Key of A/Tyscot)
Casey J, New Artist of the Year – 2016 Stellar Awards. Photo courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Casey J., The Truth, Marcus Boone/Tyscot
CD OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus, (Key of A/Tyscot)
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago, Any Given Sunday, (Inspired People LLC/Motown Gospel)
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown & Justin Savage, Everyday Jesus (Anthony Brown & group therAPy), (Key of A/Tyscot)
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus (Key of A/Tyscot)
Rance Allen accepts award at 2016 Stellar Awards.
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
The Rance Allen Group, Celebrate (Tyscot)
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus, (Key of A/Tyscot)
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins, Any Given Sunday (Inspired People LLC/Motown Gospel)
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live (Motown Gospel)
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Tina Campbell, It’s Personal (Gee Tree Creative)
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus, (Key of A/Tyscot)
Teddy and Tina Campbell on the Red Carpet at 2016 Stellar Awards. Photo by Earl Gibson III/CCP The FrontPage Firm
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
Tina Campbell, It’s Personal (Gee Tree Creative)
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Kirk Franklin, “Wanna Be Happy?”(Single), Fo Yo Soul Recordings/RCA Inspiration
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins & The Spin Singers, #WAR – Any Given Sunday (Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago) (Inspired People, LLC/Motown Gospel)
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago, Any Given Sunday (Inspired People, LLC/Motown Gospel)
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, I See Victory (Light Records/eOne Music)
INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR
Ben Tankard, Full Tank 2.0 (Benjamin Universal Music)
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
Various Artists, WOW GOSPEL 2015 (RCA Inspiration)
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
Derek Minor, EMPIRE (Reflection Music Group/eOne Music)
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
God’s Gift and Soldiers Youth Choir, Through The Fire and Flood, (DIR/Motor City Praise Records)
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
The Rance Allen Group, Celebrate (Tyscot)
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Denise Trotman & Conni Treantefeles, Everyday Jesus, (Anthony Brown & group therapy), (Key of A/Tyscot)
Anthony Brown and group therApy accept award at 2016 Stellar Awards. Photo by Earl Gibson III/courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live, (Motown Gospel)
JAMES CLEVELAND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
O’Landa Draper (Posthumously)
AMBASSADOR DR. BOBBY JONES LEGEND AWARD
Willie Joe Ligon
THOMAS A. DORSEY MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dr. Marabeth accepts award at 2016 Stellar Awards Pre Show. Photo by Earl Gibson III/courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm
Dr. Marabeth Gentry & The Thomas A. Dorsey Foundation
STELLAR HONORS
Tramaine Hawkins
Yolanda Adams
Marvin Sapp
Jonathan Slocumb
GOSPEL RADIO STATIONS OF THE YEAR
MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR
Praise 104.1 WPRS, Washington, DC, Ron Thompson
LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR
Heaven 600 – WCAO – AM, Baltimore, MD, Lee Michaels
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR
Praise 104.7 FM WPZZ 104.7, Richmond, VA, Reginald Baker
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR
WIMG 1300 AM, Trenton, NJ, Ed Long
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
All Nations Radio, Allnationsradio.net, Bishop Samuel McGill III
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR
Tracy Bethea Boddie, WHAL – Memphis, TN
***All Photos must have photo credit: Photos by Earl Gibson III – Courtesy CCP/The FrontPage Firm, except where noted.