35th Stellar Gospel Music Awards – 2020 Nominees Revealed!

The nominees for the 35th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards have finally been revealed!

Acclaimed gospel singer and record producer, Donald Lawrence led the way garnering a total of 9 nods on major categories including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (Deliver Me), Album of the Year (Goshen) and Produce or the Year.

Gospel music icon Kirk Franklin and Powerhouse singer Tasha Cobbs Leonard follow are also top nominees with 8 nods on major categories including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

The annual award show which recognizes the achievements and immense contribution of hardworking individuals in the gospel music industry will have its taping return to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, March 27, 2020.

Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. commented, “I am elated to celebrate this landmark 35th year of the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Our flagship show is now one of the longest-running nationally televised African American awards programs in history. We are proud to honor Gospel music artists and industry professionals for their priceless contributions to Gospel music. We look forward to another spectacular weekend of family-friendly entertainment in Las Vegas.”

In addition to celebrating the year’s best album releases, Jackson will bestow special honors upon Gospel greats who have elevated the genre. This year’s James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award will honor none other than the iconic Clark Sisters — Karen Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Twinkie Clark, and Jacky Clark Chisholm — who hold a collective fifteen Stellar Awards, in addition to the Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award (2007).

See Nominations in some Major Categories Below;

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
– JJ Hairston; Miracle Worker; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One
– Kirk Franklin; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
– Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Motown Gospel

SONG OF THE YEAR

– Big; Michael McClure, Curtiss Glenn & Rodeny Turner; Black Smoke Worldwide
– Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus); Donald Lawrence, William Stokes, Marshon Lewis, Robert Woolridge & Desmond Davis; RCA Inspiration
– Love Theory; Kirk Franklin; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
– This Is A Move (Live); Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tony Brown, Brandon Lake, & Nate Moore; Motown Gospel

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

– JJ Hairston; Miracle Worker; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One
– Kirk Franklin; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
– Todd Dulaney; To Africa With Love; Entertainment One
– William Murphy; Settle Here; RCA Inspiration

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

– Jekalyn Carr, I See Miracles, Lunjeal Music Group
– Le’Andria Johnson; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
– Maranda Curtis, I’m All In, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
– Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Motown Gospel

DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

– Fresh Start Worship; Have it All; Fresh Start Worship / Marquis Boone Enterprises
– Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers; Bless Somebody Else; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration
– The Group Fire; Again; Jet Records North/East
– The Walls Group, Friend in Me, Wall2Wall Entertainment/My Block Records

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

– Fresh Start Worship; Have it All; Fresh Start Worship / Marquis Boone Enterprises
– Jerard & Jovaun; What A Beautiful Name; Motown Gospel
– Kim Person; The Journey; KLP Enterprises, LLC
– Pastor Mike Jr.; Live Free; Black Smoke Worldwide

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– Goshen; Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; RCA Inspiration
– Miracle Worker; JJ Hairston; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One
– Long Live Love; Kirk Franklin; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
– Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Motown Gospel

CHOIR OF THE YEAR

– Bishop Paul S. Morton & The Full Gospel Ministry of Worship; A Month of Sundays; Tehillah/Integrity Music/Tyscot
– Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
– JJ Hairston; Miracle Worker; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One
– John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

– Donald Lawrence, Phil Thornton, Sir the Baptist, Troy Taylor for Songbook, & Greg Peterca; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
– John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One
– Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill & Phil Thornton; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
– Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kenneth Leonard, William Murphy & Phil Thornton; Settle Here; RCA Inspiration

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

– Big; Johny Zotic; Black Smoke Worldwide
– I See Miracles; Kauwaune Burton; Lunjeal Music Group
– Love Theory; Matt DeLisi; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
– Miracle Worker feat. Rich Tolbert Jr.; Gary Saunders; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

– Ghost; Canton Jones; Cajo Records
– Live Free; Pastor Mike Jr.; Black Smoke Worldwide
– Love Letter One; Reggie Rocc; Rocc Bottom
– Nothings Too Hard; Lawrence Hancock; LV Productions

See More at WWW.THESTELLARAWARDS.COM