The Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebrated its 37th year honoring excellence in Gospel music during an uplifting weekend of events, concluding with the live-taped ceremony on Saturday, July 16, at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by Stellar Award-winning artists Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard, this year’s celebration will premiere Sunday, August 7 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET, BET Her, and BET International and will be syndicated in various local markets across the country between August 13 and September 11, 2022.
Pastor Mike, Jr. leads the list of winners with a total of six Stellar Awards, including Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary Male Artist of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year, as well as Album of the Year for I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol. 1. CeCe Winans won three Stellar Awards, including Producer of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, and Praise and Worship Song of the Year, all tied to the album Believe For It. Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music received three awards for their collaboration, Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP, including Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, and Special Event Album of the Year.
Other notable winners during the 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards include Tamela Mann and Ricky Dillard, both of whom received two Stellar Awards, with Dillard also receiving the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Toyota in recognition of his contributions to Gospel music as a renowned choir leader and recording artist. In addition, Two-time nominee E. Dewey Smith was named Best New Artist for his 2021 albums God Period and Let Praises Ring.
The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards features showstopping performances by Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell, Maverick City Music, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett, Le’Andria Johnson, Koryn Hawthorne, Brian Courtney Wilson, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Doe, Rudy Currence, Chrisette Michele, Darrel Walls, James Fortune and more.
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 received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award Presented by Aflac. Candi Staton also received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, an honor that reflects her career of nearly seven decades as a music pioneer and a captivating Gospel music artist.
Top nominees for this year’s ceremony included CeCe Winans, who led the field with nine nominations, followed by Pastor Mike, Jr., who received eight nominations. Tamela Mann, Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, and Todd Dulaney all received six nominations. Kelontae Gavin received five nominations. Maverick City Music, Israel Houghton, Ricky Dillard, E. Dewey Smith, and Jason Clayborn received four nominations each.
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
Full List of Winners Below!
- ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike, Jr.; I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1;
Black Smoke Music Worldwide/ Rock City Media Group - SONG OF THE YEAR
Jireh (Featuring Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine); Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, Steven Furtick & Chris Brown;
TRIBL Records - MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike, Jr.; I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1
Black Smoke Music Worldwide/ Rock City Media Group - ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Tamela Mann; Overcomer
Tillymann Music Group - 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 - NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
E. Dewey Smith; God Period
Pebble Street Records - ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; – Pastor Mike, Jr.
Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group - CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Ricky Dillard; Breakthrough: The Exodus
Motown Gospel - 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 - 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 - TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
Category Omitted - 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 - TRADITIONAL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ricky Dillard; Breakthrough: The Exodus
Motown Gospel - CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tamela Mann; Overcomer
Tillymann Music Group - TRADITIONAL FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Martha Munizzi; Best Days
Epic Music - CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; – Pastor Mike, Jr.
Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group - TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The N.O.W. Experience; Kelontae Gavin
RCA Inspiration - URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Amazing; Pastor Mike, Jr.
Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group - MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Help Me; David Mann Jr.
Tillymann Music Group
- TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Ricky Dillard; Breakthrough: The Exodus
Motown Gospel - CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Category Omitted - INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Good News (Instrumental); Charles Butler & Trinity
Impact One Music / Red Alliance Media / Fair Trade Services - 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 - RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
No Church In A While; 1K Phew & Lecrae;
Reach Records - YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Janessa Smith; Finish This Race;
Inspired Recording - QUARTET OF THE YEAR
The Brown Boyz; The Reintroduction;
SIX19 Music - RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Tyler Siemen
Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK - PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Believe For It; CeCe Winans
Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media - PRAISE AND WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
Believe For It; CeCe Winans
Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media - 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
THOMAS A. DORSEY MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Rev. Milton Brunson
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
- Senior Bishop Kenneth Monroe, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
- Senior Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
- Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle John Drew Sheard, Church of God in Christ
- 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
