The nominees for the 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, were recently announced during a live broadcast. Vashawn Mitchell led the way, receiving ten nominations for his 2011 release Triumphant, including "Artist of the Year" and "Male Vocalist of the Year." Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin tied with six nods for their respective projects Something Big and Hello Fear. Deitrick Haddon's latest CD, Church on the Moon, earned a respected five nominations.

Director Christian Heuer received a nomination for Mary Mary's music video, Walking, and Warryn Campbell received a nomination for Producer of the Year for Mary Mary's album Something Big; Songwriter Darius Paulk received a nomination for Nobody Greater, sung by Vashawn Mitchell; and Denise Trotman and Greg Gilligan received a nomination for the recorded music packaging on Kirk Franklin's Hello Fear.

The live announcement show was hosted by, Christian comic Akintunde and Stellar Award-winning gospel artists Trin-i-tee 5:7. They were joined by Isaac Carree, William McDowell, Y'anna Crawley and Brian Courtney Wilson, who delivered stirring performances. Additionally, Stellar Award-winning artist James Fortune made a surprise guest appearance.

The show's producers, Central City Productions Founder/Chairman Don Jackson stated in a press release, "Last year marked our first live nominee announcement on the GMC television network and today's show was another huge success! It is very appropriate and fitting to celebrate the nominees of Gospel's biggest night through praise and worship because everyone is a winner here today."

The 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Show will be hosted this year by gospel legends Dorinda Clark Cole and Marvin Sapp and taped before a live audience on Saturday, January 14, 2012. The telecast is scheduled to air in national syndication from January 21, 2012 to February 26, 2012 on the GMC and local markets around the country.

The show will feature star-studded performances by James Fortune, Kirk Franklin, Jessica Reedy, Earnest Pugh, Richard Smallwood and Vision, Martha Munizzi, LeAndria Johnson, Lecrae, Canton Jones, Kim Burrell, Da' T.R.U.T.H., Fred Hammond and Ricky Dillard among others.

In addition to recognizing the year's most outstanding contributions in the genre, The Stellar Awards also bestow special honors upon individuals whose names are synonymous with greatness throughout distinguished careers in the gospel arena. During this year's ceremony, Vy Higginsen, founder of Gospel for Teens will be recognized with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award; Dorothy Norwood will receive the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award; and John P. Kee will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award for his historical contributions to the industry. Other special categories were also revealed, highlighting the top radio stations serving urban Gospel music audiences.

Public Voting for the Gospel Announcer of the Year and Internet Radio Station of the Year will be available online from October 29, 2011 through November 15, 2011 by visiting www.thestellarawards.com. Viewers can also log on to Facebook.com/stellarawards and follow Twitter.com/@TheStellars for show updates.

The live taping at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN is open to the public and tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/). Ticket prices range from $55 - $200. In addition, balcony seats are available for students for $35. For additional details and a full listing of nominees, visit the Stellar Awards website (https://www.thestellarawards.com/).

Partial list of The 2012 Stellar Awards Nominees are:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- EARNEST PUGH, EARNESTLY YOURS, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

SONG OF THE YEAR
- DARIUS PAULK, NOBODY GREATER - TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
- DEITRICK HADDON, WELL DONE - CHURCH ON THE MOON, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- KIRK FRANKLIN, I SMILE - HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- WESS MORGAN, I CHOOSE TO WORSHIP - UNDER AN OPEN HEAVEN, BOWTIE WORLD MUSIC

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- EARNEST PUGH, EARNESTLY YOURS, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- ISRAEL HOUGHTON, LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, INTEGRITY MUSIC
- SMOKIE NORFUL, HOW I GOT OVER: SONGS THAT CARRIED US, TREMYLES MUSIC/EMI GOSPEL
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR* (*renamed in 2011)
- BEVERLY CRAWFORD, LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES - VOL. 2, JDI RECORDS
- KIM BURRELL, THE LOVE ALBUM, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
- MARTHA MUNIZZI, MAKE IT LOUD!, EPIC MUSIC
- YOLANDA ADAMS, BECOMING, N-HOUSE MUSIC GROUP