Central City Productions announced the 2017 Stellar Awards nominees in 26 Gospel categories. This year celebrities leading the pack with the most nominations are Tamela Mann and Travis Greene with 9 nominations and Hezekiah Walker with 7 nominations. The Artist of the Year for the Stella Awards is the major category that honors Gospel Music artists, writers, and industry professionals.
Las Vegas Release - This year's Stella Awards show will be hosted by Erica Campbell and Anthony Brown and will return to the Las Vegas Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The telecast will premiere on TV One Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. ET with encores at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET. In addition, the Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication on 170 stations in over 150 markets around the country from April 14 - May 7, 2017.
Jekalyn Carr, nominated for Artist of the Year, and Todd Dulaney are in contention for Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year. Other artists earning multiple nominations include newcomers, Bri (Brianna Babineaux), Livre’, Enon Tabernacle and living legend Shirley Caesar.
Multiple Stellar Awards and Grammy Award-winning solo artist, nationally-syndicated radio host and television personality Erica Campbell joins multiple Stellar Award winner, songwriter and arranger Anthony Brown to co-host the 32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. commented, “Our 2017 nominees represent the strongest group of Gospel artists and songs in our 32-year history of the Stellar Awards. This year’s large number of artists who are first-time nominees is a positive testament to the new and upcoming artists in Gospel Music, as well as, a reflection of the tremendous growth of the Gospel Music Genre.”
Mr. Jackson further stated, “The announcement of the 2017 nominees corresponds with the launch of www.stellartv.com, the first phase of the Stellar TV Cable Television Network, which will be officially introduced during the taping at the 32nd Annual Stellar Awards on March 25, 2017."
The Stellar Awards show taping is open to the public, with ticket prices ranging from $50 - $200 at www.ticketmaster.com.
The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show is scheduled for Friday, March 24 to showcase non-televised award winners. Also, the Stellar Gospel Radio Awards & Showcase will be held on Saturday, March 25, honoring top radio stations and announcers serving urban gospel music audiences. Tickets for each event can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.
See full list of nominees below.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jekalyn Carr
Kirk Franklin
Tamela Mann
William McDowell
SONG OF THE YEAR
“You’re Bigger” – Jekalyn Carr
“God Provides” – Kirk Franklin
“Made a Way” – Travis Greene
“You Deserve It” – JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Todd Dulaney
Travis Greene
Donnie McClurkin
Hezekiah Walker
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Bri Babineaux
Shirley Caesar
Jekalyn Carr
Tamela Mann
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Myron Butler & Levi
Livre’
Virtue
Bryan Andrew Wilson ft. Roderick & Grace
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bri Babineaux
Enon Tabernacle
Livre’
Deborah Joy Winans
CD OF THE YEAR
A Worshipper’s Heart by Todd Dulaney
Losing My Religion by Kirk Franklin
The Hill by Travis Greene
One Way by Tamela Mann
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Charles Butler & Trinity
Chicago Mass Choir
Enon Tabernacle
Hezekiah Walker (Azusa – The Next Generation)
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Kirk Franklin, Ron Hill, Monica Coats, Shaun Martin & Max Stark (Losing My Religion)
Geo Bivins, Travis Greene & Victor Navejar (The Hill)
Myron Butler, Tamela Mann, Kirk Franklin, Timberland, Eric Dawkins, King Logan, Shaun Martin & David Mann (One Way)
Donald Lawrence For Quiet Water Entertainment & Hezekiah Walker for Hezhouse Entertainment (Azusa – The Next Generation)
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Myron Butler & Levi
GI
Livre’
Virtue
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Travis Greene
Charles Jenkins
Jonathan McReynolds
Hezekiah Walker
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Luther Barnes
Fred Hammond
Donnie McClurkin
Bryan Andrew Wilson
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Bri Babineaux
Latice Crawford
Janice Gaines
Tiff Joy
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Lemmie Battles
Shirley Caesar
Jekalyn Carr
Tamela Mann
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
A Worshipper’s Heart by Todd Dulaney
Losing My Religion by Kirk Franklin
The Hill by Travis Greene
Masterpiece by Deitrick Haddon
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
Fill This House by Shirley Caesar
We Give You Praise by Chicago Mass Choir
Worship Journal Live by Fred Hammond
One Way by Tamela Mann
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE/PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
“The Anthem” – Todd Dulaney
“You Deserve It” – JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise
“God Provides” – Tamela Mann
“Better” – Hazekiah Walker
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Wanna Be Happy?” – Kirk Franklin (Rock Jacobs)
“Intentional” – Travis Greene (Will Thomas of Space Cherry Films
“The Way That You Love Me” – Jonathan McReynolds (Derek Blanks)
“Better” – Hezekiah Walker (Mark Clement)
HIP-HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Surrender by Bizzle
It’s Complicated by Da’Truth
The Glory Album by Christon Gray
I Am Justice by Canton Jones
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