Hello World,

The highly anticipated Gospel event of the year, the 37th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, is set to air tonight at 8 pm ET / PT, on BET and BET Her. Hosted by recording artists Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard-Kelly, this year’s celebration promises to inspire audiences across the globe with uplifting performances from a variety of new and emerging Gospel artists, as well as standard bearers in the industry. This year’s ceremony will also be syndicated in various local markets across the country between August 13 and September 11, 2022. A full list of stations can be found at www.thestellarawards.com.

The Stellar Awards, which taped live on July 16th at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, will feature many spirited moments that celebrate Gospel music while also spreading the good news. Among them: Marvin Sapp, Koryn Hawthorne, and Brian Courtney Wilson will come together to deliver a powerful tribute to Aaron Lindsey, who will be honored with the Aretha Franklin Icon Award presented by Aflac.

Ricky Dillard, who will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Toyota, will also deliver renditions of “Every Knee Shall Bow,” “There Is No Way,” “More Abundantly,” “Glad To Be In The Service,” and “All Of My Help.”

Tye Tribbett will bring the energy with an electrifying offering of “Get Up,” James Fortune will minister in song with a medley of “I Am” and “Never Let Me Down,” and Wande will join forces with Jor’Dan Armstrong and Erica Campbell to perform “They Didn’t Know” and “Call.”

Additionally, Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin, Le’Andria Johnson, Melvin Crispell III, and Zacardi Cortez will perform “Bless Me,” and will be joined by the Prairie View A&M University Drumline. Doe will perform “Brighter” and “When I Pray,” Rudy Currence and Chrisette Michele will deliver a duet of “No Greater Love,” and Jason Nelson will lift his voice to the sounds of “Residue.”

Travis Greene, Darrel Walls, and Kelontae Gavin will perform “Dependable”, and Travis introduces his new group Forward City with a performance of “Tent Revival.” AT&T Dream in Black Emerging Artists such as Aaron Cole, Erica Mason, and Lamont Sanders will also be spotlighted as up-and coming gospel talent.

The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards is proud to be presented this year by AT&T Dream in Black. This year’s sponsors also include Procter & Gamble (P&G), Walmart, State Farm, Toyota, McDonald’s – Black & Positively Golden, and Aflac. The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards is also proud to partner with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For additional updates, follow The Stellar Awards on social media — @thestellars on Instagram and Twitter, and Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook — and check out the Stellar Awards website. The hashtag for the show is #StellarAwards.

37th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners

CATEGORY #1

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Pastor Mike, Jr.; I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; Black Smoke Music Worldwide/ Rock City Media Group

LeAndria Johnson

CATEGORY #2

SONG OF THE YEAR

– Jireh (Featuring Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine); Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, Steven Furtick & Chris Brown; TRIBL Records

CATEGORY #3

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Pastor Mike, Jr.; I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; Black Smoke Music Worldwide/ Rock City Media Group

CATEGORY #4

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Tamela Mann; Overcomer; Tillymann Music Group

CATEGORY #5

DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

– Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music; Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK 

CATEGORY #6

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– E. Dewey Smith; God Period; Pebble Street Records

CATEGORY #7

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; – Pastor Mike, Jr.; Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group

Kirk and Tammy Franklin

CATEGORY #8

CHOIR OF THE YEAR

– Ricky Dillard; Breakthrough: The Exodus; Motown Gospel

CATEGORY #9

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

– CeCe Winans, Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, Greg Ham, Derek Spirk & Chaz Corzine; Believe For It; Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media

CATEGORY #10

CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

– Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music; Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK

Travis Greene

CATEGORY #11

TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

– Category Omitted

CATEGORY #12

CONTEMPORARY MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Pastor Mike, Jr.; I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; Black Smoke Music Worldwide/Rock

City Media Group

CATEGORY #13

TRADITIONAL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Ricky Dillard; Breakthrough: The Exodus; Motown Gospel

Tamela and David Mann

CATEGORY #14

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Tamela Mann; Overcomer; Tillymann Music Group

CATEGORY #15

TRADITIONAL FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Martha Munizzi; Best Days; Epic Music

CATEGORY #16

CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; – Pastor Mike, Jr.; Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group

Kelontae Gavin.

CATEGORY #17

TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The N.O.W. Experience; Kelontae Gavin; RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #18

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

  – Amazing; Pastor Mike, Jr.; Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group

CATEGORY #19

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

– Help Me; David Mann Jr.; Tillymann Music Group

CATEGORY #20

TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR

– Ricky Dillard; Breakthrough: The Exodus; Motown Gospel

CATEGORY #21

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR

– Category Omitted

CATEGORY #22

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– The Good News (Instrumental); Charles Butler & Trinity; Impact One Music / Red Alliance Media / Fair Trade Services

CATEGORY #23

SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music; Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK 

CATEGORY #24

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– No Church In A While; 1K Phew & Lecrae; Reach Records

CATEGORY #25

YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR

– Janessa Smith; Finish This Race; Inspired Recording

CATEGORY #26

QUARTET OF THE YEAR

– The Brown Boyz; The Reintroduction; SIX19 Music

CATEGORY #27

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR

– Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Tyler Simien; Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK

CATEGORY #28

PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– Believe For It; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media

CATEGORY #29

PRAISE AND WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR

– Believe For It; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media

CATEGORY #30

RAP/HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR

– Redeemed ft. Mali Music; Amethyst; Independent

JAMES CLEVELAND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

– Ricky Dillard

ARETHA FRANKLIN ICON AWARD

– Aaron Lindsey

AMBASSADOR DR. BOBBY JONES LEGENDS AWARD

– Candi Staton

STELLAR HONORS HALL OF FAME

– Conference of National Black Churches

• Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman
• Senior Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, African Methodist Episcopal Church o Senior Bishop Kenneth Monroe, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church o Senior Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church o Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle John Drew Sheard, Church of God in Christ o Dr. Jerry Young, President, National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.
•  Dr. David Peoples, President, Progressive National Baptist Convention – Rev. Anthony Evans, President, National Black Church Initiative

GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR WINNERS

MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR

– WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta

LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR

– WJYD JOY 107.1, Columbus

MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR

– WNZN 89.1, Lorain

SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR

– WYPZ – FM 99.5, Macon

INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR

– WVTC Gospel Radio Network, http://www.wvtcradio.com

GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR

– Melissa Wade, WNNL – The Light 103.9, Raleigh, NC

Will you be watching tonight?

Any thoughts?

The post Watch the 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards TONIGHT on BET at 8PM ET! appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Hello World,

Central City Productions has announced the nominees for the 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards, the annual celebration honoring excellence in Gospel music. The Stellar Awards will return to Atlanta for the live-taped ceremony on Saturday, July 16, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, as part of an illustrious weekend of events that will include a special announcement about the upcoming launch of the Stellar TV Network. Stellar Award-winning artists Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard-Kelly will co-host this year’s event, which will air on BET, BET HER, and BET International in August, and will be syndicated in various local markets across the country between August 13 and September 11.

The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards will feature performances by Tye Tribbett, Marvin Sapp, Maranda Curtis, Ricky Dillard, Kelontae Gavin, Rudy Currence, Chrisette Michele, DOE, James Fortune, Jason Nelson, Travis Greene, Darrel Walls, and Jor’Dan Armstrong.

Leading this year’s nominations is Gospel music legend CeCe Winans, widely considered the best-selling female Gospel artist of all time. Winans has 9 total nominations including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, all stemming from her critically acclaimed album, “Believe For It.”

Pastor Mike, Jr., the 2021 Stellar Award winner for Artist of the Year, received 8 total nominations, including Producer of the Year, Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year, tied to “I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1.” 2018 James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Tamela Mann, Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, and Todd Dulaney all received 6 nominations, with Mali Music receiving an additional nomination for a feature on a separate project. Kelontae Gavin received 5 nominations. Other artists with several nominations for this year’s Stellar Awards include Maverick City Music, Israel Houghton, Ricky Dillard, E. Dewey Smith, and Jason Clayborn, all of whom received 4 nominations each.

“Gospel music has encouraged millions of people through more than two unrelenting years of the pandemic, and the Stellar Awards will, again, deliver in bringing the praise and recognizing the artists who bless us with their inspirational sounds,” said Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions, which established the Stellar Awards. “Those who love Black, faith, and family-centric programs can look forward to both the Stellar Awards and to all that our Stellar TV Network has to offer when it premieres in September.”

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards also bestows special honors to industry titans who continue creating a legacy of excellence that reaches and influences the masses, both within and outside of the Gospel genre. Six-time Grammy Award-winning hitmaker and producer Aaron Lindsey will receive the Aretha Franklin Icon Award presented by Aflac, and renowned choir leader and recording artist Ricky Dillard will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Toyota. The Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award is presented to Candi Staton, a music pioneer who, for nearly seven decades, has been a captivating Gospel music artist.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards is proud to be presented this year by AT&T Dream in Black. This year’s sponsors also include Proctor & Gamble (P&G), Walmart, State Farm, Toyota, McDonald’s – Black & Positively Golden, and Aflac. The Stellar Gospel Music Awards are also proud to partner with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Spotify.

For a full list of nominees and for additional updates, follow The Stellar Awards on social media — @thestellars on Instagram and Twitter and Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook — and check out the Stellar Awards website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: WWW.STELLARAWARDS.COM.

The post The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards Taping in Atlanta this Saturday! appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Hello World,

The need for unity in this country is more necessary now than ever before. The National Baptist Convention has aligned with producers, Terk Entertainment Group and OCTET Productions, to produce “The 2021 Inaugural Gospel Celebration: An Evening of Inspiration and Unity.” The two-hour virtual event features performances from inspirational music artists to celebrate the January 2021 Inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, who are special invited guests of course. The celebration lends a voice of hope, unity and healing to the world.

Throughout the event, a number of the nation’s top gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Dietrick Haddon, Jonathan McReynolds, Leandria Johnson, Tye Tribbett, Koryn Hawthorne, Bryan Popin, Jokia, JJ Hairston, Todd Dulaney, Titus Showers, and Spencer Taylor and the Highway QCs in addition to notable celebrities such as Anthony Anderson, Taraji P. Henson, Morris Chestnut and Lamman Rucker (formerly Jacob Greenleaf!) will join together for a cohesive, COVID-compliant celebration to give viewers a semblance of healing and optimism during this time of crisis.

This necessary celebration will be shown domestically and internationally. This event will also serve as a fundraising effort, benefiting The National Baptist Convention, “I’m In”, a strategic initiative aimed at narrowing the disparity in healthcare in the African American community that has been highlighted during the current pandemic. For more information about the organization, go to https://nbcimin.com. In this new season, we are clear that progress must be made. By standing united together, we’re stronger!

To buy tickets, click HERE.

Also, click HERE to learn more about the Rev. Dr. Silvester S. Beaman, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, who will be delivering the the inauguration benediction.

Any thoughts?

The post Tune Into the 2021 Inaugural Gospel Celebration: An Evening of Inspiration and Unity Tomorrow at 8 p.m. appeared first on After the Altar Call.