Tonight, Sunday, August 23, music fans, Gospel enthusiasts and those looking for a little inspiration can tune into the highly-anticipated 35th Anniversary Stellar Gospel Music Awards premiering on BET and BET Her as a two-hour virtual special on Sunday, August 23 at 6 p.m. ET/5C (with an encore at 9 p.m. ET). 

The award show will also run in national broadcast syndication in 210 markets starting August 29 – September 27 (check local listings).

Serving as hosts, the award-winning trio of Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds and Koryn Hawthorne artfully guide viewers through the virtual salute to 35 years of excellence as “The Greatest Night in Gospel Music” with inspirational performances from Gospel music’s most celebrated artists. 

Koryn Hawthorne, Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds Talk about the 35th Stellar Awards Going Virtual

Filmed from various locations, the pre-taped special acknowledges all award winners from the “Road to Stellars” pre-show and the main show, with select categories being presented in the broadcast.

Performers

One of the evening’s highlights will feature special segments honoring the late Congressman John Lewis with a musical tribute by Cece Winans and contributions of first responder heroes on the front lines of the battle against the Coronavirus pandemic, sponsored by AT&T,  AARP, State Farm, Toyota, and Proctor & Gamble.

As part of the tribute, hosts Franklin, McReynolds and Hawthorne visited frontline workers and presented special Stellar Awards lapel pins in recognition of their service at MeHarry Medical College in Nashville, TN; Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago, IL; and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, TX. In addition, several individuals were highlighted for their efforts to combat the deadly pandemic: Dr. Angela Mosby of Los Angeles, CA for her work at UCLA Urgent Care in the area of Telemedicine; Dr. Michele Reed of Queens NY, a family medicine practitioner who contracted and recovered from COVID-19 while serving others; and Dr. Leon McDougle, the 121st President of the National Medical Association who also serves as a member of the NCAA Coronavirus Panel and Chief Diversity Officer of OSU Medical School. 

Two organizations have also been noted for their work to combat the devastating effects of COVID-19 on communities of color, the National Urban League and the National Medical Association.

35TH ANNIVERSARY STELLAR AWARDS TOP WINNERS 2020

Kirk Franklin – 6

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers – 4 

John P. Kee – 3

Kurt Carr – 3

Tasha Cobbs Leonard – 2

Le’Andria Johnson – 2

Pastor Mike Jr. – 2

The Walls Group – 2

Winners & Nominees by Category

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 [WINNER]

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 [WINNER]
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 [WINNER]
• 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 [WINNER]
• 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 [WINNER]

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 [WINNER]

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 [WINNER]
• 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 [WINNER]
• 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 [WINNER]
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kenneth Leonard, William Murphy & Phil Thornton; Settle Here; RCA
Inspiration

CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Fresh Start Worship; Have it All; Fresh Start Worship / Marquis Boone Enterprises
• Jerard & Jovaun; What A Beautiful Name; Motown Gospel
• The Group Fire; Again; Jet Records North/East
• The Walls Group, Friend in Me, Wall2Wall Entertainment/My Block Records [WINNER]

CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

• D. Morton and Gifted; Declaration; Band Geek Music Group
• Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers; Bless Somebody Else; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration [WINNER]
• Renee Spearman ft. Hezekiah Walker & Dr. Holly Carter; I Love Him; JDI Entertainment
• The True Believers; Back to The Roots; 4Winds/Malaco

CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Donald Lawrence; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
• Kirk Franklin; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration [WINNER]
• Todd Dulaney, To Africa With Love, Entertainment One
• William Murphy; Settle Here; RCA Inspiration

TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Bishop Paul S. Morton; A Month of Sundays; Tehillah / Integrity Music / Tyscot
• Earl Bynum; This Song is For You; LRAE / HBK / Tyscot
• John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One [WINNER]
• Kurt Carr; Bless Somebody Else; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Casey J; The Gathering; Label ~ Tyscot/Integrity/Casey J LLC
• Kierra Sheard; Don’t Judge Me; Karew/ RCA Inspiration
• Kim Person; The Journey; KLP Enterprises, LLC
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Motown Gospel [WINNER]

TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Christina Bell; Going; Malaco Records
• Jekalyn Carr; I See Miracles; Lunjeal Music Group
• Le’Andria Johnson; Goshen; RCA Inspiration [WINNER]
• Maranda Curtis; I’m All In; Red Alliance Media / Fair Trade Artist

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST 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 [WINNER]
• Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Motown Gospel

TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• A Month of Sundays; Bishop Paul S. Morton & The Full Gospel Ministry of
WorshipTehillah/Integrity Music/Tyscot
• I Made It Out; John P. Kee; Entertainment One [WINNER]
• Bless Somebody Else; Kurt Carr; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration
• The Tommies Reunion; The Tommies Reunion; 7 Legend Group/JMG Entertainment/Tyscot

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

• Blessings on Blessings; Anthony Brown & group therAPy; Key of A / Tyscot / Fair Trade
• Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus); Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers; RCA [WINNER]
Inspiration
• Love Theory; Kirk Franklin; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
• Big; Pastor Mike Jr.; Black Smoke Worldwide

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 [WINNER]
• Miracle Worker feat. Rich Tolbert Jr.; Gary Saunders; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One

TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR

• Bishop Paul S. Morton & The Full Gospel Ministry of Worship; A Month of Sundays;
Tehillah/Integrity Music/Tyscot
• Dr. Alyn E. Waller Presents Zak Williams and 1/Akord; The Next Chapter; Enon Music Group
• John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One [WINNER]
• The Tommies Reunion; The Tommies Reunion; 7 Legend Group/JMG Entertainment/Tyscot

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR

• Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; Goshen; RCA Inspiration [WINNER]
• JJ Hairston; Miracle Worker; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One
• Joshua’s Troop; Another Chance; New Haven Records
• Vincent Bohanan & The Sound of Victory Fellowship Choir, Road to 5 – We Win EP, Independent

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• My Inspiration Vol. 2; Marcus Anderson; Anderson Music
• Music Book Volume III – Magnificent; Mel Holder; Psalmist Music Group/Megawave
• Rise!; Ben Tankard; BEN-Jamin’ Universal Music [WINNER]

SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• A Month of Sundays; Bishop Paul S. Morton & The Full Gospel Ministry of Worship;
Tehillah/Integrity Music/Tyscot
• A Motown Gospel Christmas; Various Artists; Motown Gospel
• Greenleaf: Season 3 (Music from The Original TV Series); Various Artists; Lionsgate [WINNER]
Entertainment
• Maranda Presents A Holy Christmas; Maranda Curtis; Red Alliance Media / Fair Trade

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

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

YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR

• Dy’Jah; Save Me; C-Shop Entertainment
• Gospel Kids; Gospel Kids Present… Christian Soldiers; Tyscot Records [WINNER]
• Jada Redmond; My Season; 4Redmusic Production and Entertainment
• New York Fellowship Children’s Choir; God is the Greatest; Godfather Records

QUARTET OF THE YEAR

• D. Morton and Gifted; Declaration; Band Geek Music Group
• Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Josh Myles; Inspirational Project; Timeless Music [WINNER]
• Pastor Rodney Mills and The Virginia Aires; Drugs (Are a Trick of The Enemy); Dove Records
Inc.
• The William Singers; Giants; Band Geek Music Group

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR

• Bless Somebody Else; Derek Blanks; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration [WINNER]
• Maranda Presents A Holy Christmas; Tyair Long, Rodney Greene, Jonathan Anderson &
Maalik Miles; Red Alliance Media / Fair Trade
• Miracle Worker; Lerico Britton & Omega George; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One
• To Africa With Love; Jaiyde Simone; Entertainment One

PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• A Month of Sundays; Bishop Paul S. Morton & The Full Gospel Ministry of Worship;
Tehillah/Integrity Music/Tyscot
• Miracle Worker; JJ Hairston; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One [WINNER]
• Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Motown Gospel
• Settle Here; William Murphy; RCA Inspiration