(L-R): Don Jackson (Chairman, Central City Production), Jessica Reedy, Erma Davis (COO, Central City Productions), Lucinda Moore
Photo:Moses Robinson / Courtesy of Central City Productions


Nominees for the 26th Annual Stellar Awards show were announced recently at Nashville’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The live announcement show was led by this year’s Stellar Awards host, Donnie McClurkin. The one-of-a-kind telecast featured an exciting mix of presentations and powerful musical performances by two-time 2011 nominee Lucinda Moore (Fire Baptised), Joe Pace (And We are Glad), Jessica Reedy (God Has Smiled on Me), VaShawn Mitchell (Nobody Greater) and Bishop Neal Roberson (I Believe). A special pre-show presentation was hosted by Nashville Weekend TV News Anchor Jonathan Martin (NBC’s WSMV-TV).

Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones was on hand to announce several special honors for several individuals including Kirk Franklin, who will be recognized with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award; Vanessa Bell Armstrong who is receiving the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award; and Donald Lawrence, who will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, for their historical contributions to the industry.

It was also announced that the “Female Vocalist of the Year” award has been renamed in honor of the legendary ‘Queen’ of Gospel music Albertina Walker, who recently passed this year. Other special categories were also revealed, highlighting the top radio stations serving urban Gospel music audiences.

Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) has produced The Stellar Gospel Music Awards for 25 years. Central City founder/Chairman Don Jackson stated in a recent press release, "I was extremely pleased with the successful outcome of our first-ever live nominee announcement on the GMC television network. The live 1-hour special with performances from some of the top upcoming gospel music stars contributed greatly to the energy of the nominations program. And Pastor Donnie McClurkin was a spectacular host."

The 26th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Show will be taped before a live audience on Saturday, January 15, 2011 and is scheduled to air in syndication from January 22, 2011 to March 13, 2011. The show will also broadcast on Saturday, March 6 at 8 p.m. EST on the Gospel Music Channel (GMC).

The telecast is open to the public and tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/). Ticket prices range from $35 - $200. For additional details, visit the Stellar Awards website www.thestellarawards.com

Here is a partial list of the 2011 Stellar Awards Nominees

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BEBE & CECE WINANS, STILL, B&C/MALACO

FRED HAMMOND, LOVE UNSTOPPABLE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP

JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, ENCORE, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE

MARVIN SAPP, HERE I AM, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP



SONG OF THE YEAR

CLOSE TO YOU-BEBE WINANS B&C/MALACO

THEY THAT WAIT, LOVE UNSTOPPABLE-FRED HAMMOND, CALVIN RODGERS, PHILLIP FEASTER, ERICKA WARREN, MICHAEL BETHANY, & DYNNA WELLS, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP

ENCORE-ENCORE, JAMES FORTUNE, C. FORTUNE, & T. VAUGHN, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE

THE BEST IN ME - HERE I AM-MARVIN SAPP, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP



MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

BYRON CAGE, FAITHFUL TO BELIEVE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP

FRED HAMMOND, LOVE UNSTOPPABLE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP

J MOSS, JUST JAMES, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP

MARVIN SAPP, HERE I AM, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP



ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR* (*renamed in 2011)

CECE WINANS, STILL, B&C/MALACO

KAREN CLARK SHEARD, ALL IN ONE, KAREW RECORDS

LUCINDA MOORE, BLESSED, BROKEN & GIVEN, TYSCOT RECORDS/JOYFULA RECORDS

TAMELA MANN, THE MASTER PLAN, TILLYMANN MUSIC


GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

BEBE & CECE WINANS, STILL, B&C/MALACO

FOREVER JONES, GET READY, EMI GOSPEL

JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, ENCORE, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE

THE ANOINTED PACE SISTERS, ACCESS GRANTED, TYSCOT RECORDS