The nominees were announced this week for Central City Productions’ 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, aka “The Stellar Awards,” Gospel’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards, by Gospel Superstar Kirk Franklin via the web. Mary Mary led the way with most nominations for a total of nine. Newcomer Charles Jenkins followed with eight nods. Other artists receiving multiple nominations include Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond with six each and Gospel pioneer Andrae Crouch and Isaac Carree (former member of Men of Standard who can often be seen backing up Kirk Franklin) both garnered five nods each.
Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary will serve as co-hosts. And the performances are going will be delivered by some of the best talent this side of heaven – no lip synching here folks – including Tamela Mann, Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago, Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett and Le’Andria Johnson and more.
Special Awards will be given to Bishop TD Jakes (Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award), Kurt Carr (The James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award) and Inez Andrews (the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award).
The Stellar Awards will also honor Gospel radio by presenting awards in five special categories to top Gospel music radio stations, among terrestrial radio, internet, syndicated and satellite programs that broadcast Gospel music. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite station on line from November 1-25 at www.thestellarawards.com
The Stellar Awards will tape before a live audience in Nashville, TN at the Grand Ole Opry House, Saturday, January 19, 2013. The show will air in broadcast syndication on 150 stations in over 125 markets around the country and on the GMC TV network from January 19 to March 3, 2013.
Click here to see Kirk Franklin announce the nominees: http://www.thestellarawards.com/
You can also check out the list below.
Stay Inspired!
Category #1
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
- MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
Category #2
SONG OF THE YEAR
- ANDRAE CROUCH, LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN – THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
- CHARLES JENKINS, AWESOME – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- MARVIN SAPP & AARON LINDSEY, MY TESTIMONY – I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- TINA CAMPBELL, ERICA CAMPBELL & WARRYN CAMPBELL, GO GET IT – GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
Category #3
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- DEITRICK HADDON, A BEAUTIFUL SOUL, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
- FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- JASON NELSON, SHIFTING THE ATMOSPHERE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
CATEGORY #4
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- DORINDA CLARK COLE, I SURVIVED, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
- KIERRA SHEARD, FREE, KAREW RECORDS
- LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, THE AWAKENING OF LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
- MAURETTE BROWN CLARK, THE SOUND OF VICTORY, AIR INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
Caytegory #5
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
- FOREVER JONES, MUSICAL REVIVAL, EMI GOSPEL
- JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, IDENTITY, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
- MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
Category #6
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- CHENETA JONES, TRANSFORMED, REAL TALENT MEDIA GROUP
- ISAAC CARREE, UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
- LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, THE AWAKENING OF LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
Category #7
CD OF THE YEAR
- ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
Category #8
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- JAMES HALL WORSHIP & PRAISE, TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE, MUSIC BLEND, INC.
- JJ HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE, AFTER THIS, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
- RICHARD SMALLWOOD WITH VISION, PROMISES, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
CATEGORY #9
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- DONALD LAWRENCE, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
- FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- ISAAC CARREE, ERIC DAWKINS, WARRYN CAMPBELL, GERALD HADDON, & RICK ROBINSON, UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
- WARRYN CAMPBELL, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
Category #10
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
- FOREVER JONES, MUSICAL REVIVAL, EMI GOSPEL
- JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, IDENTITY, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
- MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
Category #11
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- ANGELA SPIVEY & GREATER BLESSINGS PRAISE TEAM, HE KEEPS HIS PROMISE, INNOVATIVE RECORDS
- LUTHER BARNES & THE SUNSET JUBILAIRES, ANOTHER LEVEL, AIR INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
- THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS, LIVE AT THE HARD ROCK – PART 1, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
- TIM ROGERS & THE FELLAS, REAL, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
Category #12
CONTEMPORARY MALE OF THE YEAR
- FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- ISAAC CARREE, UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
- SMOKIE NORFUL, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, EMI GOSPEL
- ZACARDI CORTEZ, ZACARDI CORTEZ: THE INTRODUCTION, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
Category #13
TRADITIONAL MALE OF THE YEAR
- ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
- JASON NELSON, SHIFTING THE ATMOSPHERE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- WILLIAM MCDOWELL, ARISE, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
Category #14
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- ANITA WILSON, WORSHIP SOUL, EMI GOSPEL
- DORINDA CLARK COLE, I SURVIVED, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
- KIERRA SHEARD, FREE, KAREW RECORDS
- LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, THE AWAKENING OF LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
Category #15
TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- ANGELA SPIVEY, HE KEEPS HIS PROMISE, INNOVATIVE RECORDS
- DOROTHY NORWOOD, GOD’S BEEN JUST THAT GOOD, MALACO RECORDS
- SHIRLEY MURDOCK, LIVE: THE JOURNEY, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
- VANESSA BELL ARMSTRONG, TIMELESS, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
Category #16
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
- DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
- DORINDA CLARK COLE, I SURVIVED, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
- FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
Category #17
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
- ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
- BYRON CAGE, MEMOIRS OF A WORSHIPPER, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
Category #18
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- ANITA WILSON, SPEECHLESS – WORSHIP SOUL, EMI GOSPEL
- FRED HAMMOND, I FEEL GOOD – GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- ISAAC CARREE, IN THE MIDDLE – UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
- MARY MARY, GO GET IT – GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
Category #19A
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – SHORT FORMAT
- DARREN GRANT, GO GET IT – GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
- DAVEN BAPTISTE, IN THE MIDDLE – UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
- JAMAAL BANKS, LEAD US TO TRUTH – THE NEXT DIMENSION, BGA MUSIC GROUP
- STEVE HUFFMAN, I’M AT PEACE – I’M AT PEACE, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT CORP
Category #20
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- BILL WINSTON & LIVING WORD, BILL WINSTON PRESENTS LIVING WORD “RELEASED”, SOURCE MEDIA
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BESTOF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- JAMES HALL WORSHIP & PRAISE, TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE, MUSIC BLEND, INC.
- RICHARD SMALLWOOD WITH VISION, PROMISES, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
Category #23
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
- DEITRICK HADDON, ANTHOLOGY: THE WRITER & HIS MUSIC, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
- JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, THE JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
- SMOKIE NORFUL, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, EMI GOSPEL
Category #24
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- DA T.R.U.T.H., THE WHOLE TRUTH, XIST MUSIC/BLACK FUEL ENTERTAINMENT
- FLAME, THE 6TH, CLEAR SIGHT MUSIC
- JSON, GROWING PAINS, LAMP MODE RECORDINGS
- TRIP LEE, THE GOOD LIFE, REACH RECORDS
Category #25
CHILDRENS PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- ANOINTED BY GOD, ANOINTED BY GOD, ONE VOICE MEDIA
- KINGDOM KIDS WORLDWIDE, KINGDOM KIDS WORLDWIDE – AFTER SCHOOL PARTY, HEADSTRATE ENTERTAINMENT
- NYASIA, TAKE OFF, INDEPENDENT
- PURE-N-HEART KIDS, PURE-N-HEART KIDS: LIVE PRAISE AND WORSHIP EXPERIENCE, MUSIC2CHANGEU RECORDS
Category #26
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- LUTHER BARNES & THE SUNSET JUBILAIRES, ANOTHER LEVEL, AIR INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
- THE CLARK BROTHERS, IT’S IN YOUR HANDS, CE RECORDS
- THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS, LIVE AT THE HARD ROCK – PART 1, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
- TIM ROGERS & THE FELLAS, REAL, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
Category #27
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES JENKINS, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
- DANIEL JOEL ORTIZ, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
- DENISE TROTMAN, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- FUSAKO CHUBACHI, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
Category #28
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
- ANITA WILSON, WORSHIP SOUL, EMI GOSPEL
- BYRON CAGE, MEMOIRS OF A WORSHIPPER, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- JASON NELSON, SHIFTING THE ATMOSPHERE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- WILLIAM MCDOWELL, ARISE, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC