The highly anticipated Gospel event of the year, the 37th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, is set to air this Sunday, August 7, 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.

RCA Inspiration celebrates multiple nominations for the upcoming 37th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with multiple artists nominated for their album and song projects over the past year in 17 categories. Eighteen Stellar Award nominations for hit artists Mali Music, Kelontae Gavin, Travis Greene, Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling, and Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) include the major categories of Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Album of the Year, and Choir of the Year, along with nominations in Contemporary, Traditional, Urban/Inspirational, and Praise and Worship categories.

Garnering seven nominations for a live EP collaboration is chart-topper Mali Music (K Approved Enterprises/RCA Inspiration). As a co-performer on the Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music hit collaboration album Jonny x Mali: Live in LA, their 2021 project of live performances was released in partnership between Mali’s imprint K Approved Enterprises, RCA Inspiration, Jonathan’s Life Room Label and MNRK. The Stellar Award nominations on the Jonny x Mali: Live in LA project include: Artist of the Year, Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, Special Event Album of the Year, and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year. Separately, Mali is also named in his appearance with singer Amethyst on her song “Redeemed” (ft. Mali Music), nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year.

Garnering five nominations is chart-topper Kelontae Gavin (Marquis Boone Enterprises/RCA Inspiration) for his album The N.O.W. Experience. His Stellar Award nominations include: Male Artist of the Year, Traditional Male Artist of the Year, Traditional Album of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, and Praise and Worship Song of the Year for his hit single “Great.” 

Garnering two nominations is chart-topper Travis Greene for his album Oil + Water. His Stellar Award nominations include: Male Artist of the Year, and Contemporary Male Artist of the Year.  

Garnering two nominations is the album from the acclaimed Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling (HezHouse Entertainment/RCA Inspiration), Third Round. Their Stellar Award nominations include: Choir of the Year, and Traditional Choir of the Year.  

Separately, chart-topper Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA) received a nomination in the Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year category, as a co-performer on the Lil Baby x Kirk Franklin track “We Win.” Released in May 2021, the song was featured on the Space Jam: A New Legacy Official Soundtrack, which was released by Republic Records and Warner Bros. Pictures.

The 37th Annual Stellar Awards will be taped in Atlanta, GA, July 15th-16th, 2022.

BET brought together the hottest names in gospel music for an unforgettable night of dynamic performances and soul-stirring tributes at the annual celebration, the “Stellar Gospel Music Awards.”

The “Stellar Awards” was the #1 program for the night on all TV for Black viewers P2+ excluding sports with, 867 K Total Viewers during premiere night (Live+3, simulcast across BET and BET Her on 8/1/21). On BET alone the “Stellar Awards” scored a .243 P18-49 rating, and 798 K total viewers P2+, up 104% year-over-year.** The telecast grew +18% in Live + 3 (Adults 18-49, BET Alone). BET now has the Top 3 Cable award shows of 2021 for Black viewers: “BET Awards” (#1), “NAACP Image Awards” (#2), and “Stellar Awards” (#3) excluding sports.*

Hosted by gospel chart-toppers Jekalyn Carr and Tye Tribbett, this year’s ceremony showcased an eclectic mix of gospel legends and industry standard-bearers along with the unstoppable force of young, contemporary artists who are spreading the good news in new ways. A new generation of gospel artists showed up and showed out during the celebration as a testament to the genre’s staying power.

Big winners at the 36th Stellar Gospel Music Awards include Pastor Mike Jr., who was named Artist of the Year and won Rap/Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year.

Kierra Sheard was feted during the ceremony with Song of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year, and Maverick City Music won both New Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. Other multiple Stellar Awards winners include Jonathan McReynolds, who was named Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, and as part of a group that won Producer of the Year; and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, whose wins included Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.

Among many highlights from “The Greatest Night in Gospel Music,” Yolanda Adams, Tamela Mann, and Avery Sunshine joined together to deliver a powerful tribute to Lady Tramaine Hawkins, who was honored with the Aretha Franklin Icon Award presented by Toyota. The trio performed a medley including widely-known Hawkins’ songs such as “Holy One,” “Changed,” and “Going Up Yonder.” The Clark Sisters, who received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award presented by AT&T, also performed rousing renditions of “Is My Living In Vain,” “Blessed & Highly Favored,” “You Brought The Sunshine,” and “His Love.”

The legendary group received three nominations for this year’s Stellar Awards. Kierra Sheard, Sheléa, Christina Bell, Jonathan McReynolds, Mali Music, CeCe Winans Pastor Mike Jr., Jekalyn Carr, Maverick City Music, Jokia, Terrian, and Nia Allen also delivered soul-stirring performances.

Social media lit up during the event, generating more than two million impressions with posts featuring performances, winners, and other notable moments. The audience and performers were pleased to return to an in-person ceremony after the Stellar Awards went virtual last year due to pandemic lockdowns. COVID-19 safety protocols were enacted as part of the in-person event.

The ceremony, held at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN, on Saturday, July 10, will also be carried in various markets for national broadcast syndication from August 7 through September 5.
The Stellar Awards not only recognizes the year’s best performances in the genre, but also honors gospel music icons and those who have been instrumental in advocating for the gospel industry.

AT&T is proud to be this year’s presenting sponsor. With support from additional sponsors, including State Farm (Song of the Year presenter), Toyota, P&G (Traditional Female Vocalist presenter), and McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour, the 2021 Stellar Gospel Music Awards is set to be the gospel event of 2021.

For additional updates, follow The Stellar Awards on social media and check their  website.

For more information about the “Stellar Awards” visit, STELLARAWARDS.COM and BET.COM. Follow the “Stellar Awards” on social media for updates and more @TheStellars
*Source: Nielsen | Award Programs of 2021 ranked on Blk P18-49 average imps (home network only)
**Source: Nielsen | 8/1/21 premiere of Stellar Awards (vs. YAGO premiere as noted)

eOne celebrated a powerful night of faith and music at the 36^th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which aired on BET on Sunday, August 1st. The Stellar Awards, which taped live on July 10th at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN, featured several of eOne’s chart-topping artists during its broadcast including Jonathan McReynolds, JJ Hairston and Latice Crawford.

Amongst the 5 Stellar Award wins, eOne cemented the major categories Male Vocalist of the Year and Choir of the Year (full list below). During the telecast Jonathan McReynolds delivered a powerful performance of his #1 single “Grace” and his GRAMMY winning single “Movin On” with Mali Music. JJ Hairston opened the show with his brand-new single “Great Jehovah” – impacting radio now. Latice Crawford, celebrated her new album release, The Cure, on the blue-carpet and she presented an award during the main telecast. Hitmaker, James Fortune, also presented on the main telecast, in celebration of his nomination and #1 single, “Nobody But Jesus (feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith).”

A complete list of Entertainment One’s wins can be seen below:

eOne’s 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners

Category #3 – MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds; People; eOne Music

CATEGORY #8 – CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back; JamesTown Music / eOne Music

CATEGORY #9 – PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds, Darryl “LiLMaN” Howell & Rogest “Rosco” Carstarphen, Jr.; People; eOne Music

CATEGORY #12 – CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds; People; eOne Music

CATEGORY #21 – CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back; JamesTown Music / eOne Music

Congratulations to Maverick City Music, who took home New Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year at the 2021 Stellar Awards for the 2020 release of Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1. Between Maverick City Music and all of its artists, the Billboard No.1 collective garnered 11 Stellar Award nominations. The gospel event of the year, the 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, will air on BET on Sunday, August 1st, at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT. Gospel legend Tye Tribbett and multiple Stellar Award winner Jekalyn Carr will host the highly-anticipated event, which will feature inspirational performances from the genre’s most celebrated artists.

In celebration of Juneteenth last month, Maverick City Music released their newest project, Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition. The new album is a dual-side feature consisting of a live gospel produced A-Side and a Rap/R&B/Pop produced B-Side. Jubilee features a wide range of guest artists, including heavy-hitters from gospel, R&B, Pop and Rap: Ciara, Rapsody, Tamar Braxton, Jonathan McReynolds, Israel Houghton, Jekalyn Carr, and more. As with other Maverick City Music releases, the collective continues to impress as the new album peaked at #1 on Apple iTunes.

Maverick City Music recently made headlines with their newest release Old Church Basement, a collab album with Elevation Worship, which broke streaming records at both Apple Music and Spotify. On Apple Music, the group set a new worldwide record for the most first-day streams for a Christian and Gospel album, and on Spotify, the album broke the U.S. record for the most streams in a day for an album by a Christian group and was No. 4 out of all U.S. albums its first weekend of release. Old Church Basement was released April 30 and is a powerful collection that aims to bring listeners back to a pure place of worship and features vocals from Chandler Moore, Brandon Lake, Naomi Raine, Chris Brown, Dante Bowe, Tiffany Hudson, Joe L Barnes, and Amanda Lindsey Cook.

This upcoming fall, Maverick City Music will embark on its first-ever tour and the shows will feature electrifying performances with collective members Dante Bowe, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine, Joe L. Barnes, Aaron Moses and special guests, including Lecrae, on certain dates. The group recently added 13 more tour dates after selling out their original 11. The new dates are set in even larger venues, including the Barclays Center in NYC and TD Garden in Boston. Learn more about the tour and tickets: https://tourlink.to/maverickcitytour