Created in 1985 by Chicago-based production company Central City Productions Inc., the Steller Awards is the most popular gospel music awards show in the United States. Its first show was tapped at the Arie Theater in Chicago and since then has been tapped in various cities throughout the country.

(Ever smooth Bobby Jones Smiles for the cameras)

(David and Tamela Mann glow on the red carpet)

(The CARAVANS posing and looking stunning)

This year’s Awards were held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.Hosts of the evening were gospel artist Vickie Winans, Donnie McClurkin and Kirk Franklin.

(James Fortune all smiles on the red carpet)

Hezekiah Walker was one of the biggest winners of the night taking home awards that include Choir of the Year, Contemporary Choir of the Year, CD of the Year, and Contemporary CD of the Year for his album “Souled Out.” He also won the coveted Artist of the Year.

(Yolanda Adams always giving us a youthful edge)

(Karima Kibble)

Other artist highlights of the night were Mary Mary winning Song of the Year for their hit single “God in Me,” Group Duo of the Year, Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single/Performance of the Year. Also Smokie Norful won Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Male of the Year.

(The Clark/ Moss crew always keeping it in the family)

“By bringing together Hollywood personalities, superior production and sophisticated staging, the Stellar Awards has become a major promotional event for labels, artists and Gospel Muisc.” (www.nowplayingnashville.com)

Check below for more information on nominees and award winners.

STELLAR AWARD WINNERS RECAP

( Note: ** Means the person won in the category.)

Artist of the Year

Donald Lawrence; The Law of Confessions Part 1 Quiet/ Verity
**Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship; Souled Out; Verity Records
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records Part 1; Quiet Water/Verity

Song of the Year (Songwriter; Song – Album; Label)
Donald Lawrence, “Back II Eden” – The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, “I Am Souled Out”- Souled Out, Verity Records
**Mary, Mary, “God in Me” – The Sound, Columbia
Vickie Winans, “How I Got Over” – How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Male Vocalist of the Year
Israel Houghton, The Power of One, Integrity Music
Philip Carter, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC

**Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel
Stephen Hurd, Times of Refreshing, Integrity Gospel

Female Vocalist of the Year
Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel
Niyoki, Rest, D2G Records
**Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Group Duo of the Year
Donald Lawrence, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers, Just The Beginning, Verity Records Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, Experience The Evolution, Independent
**Mary, Mary, The Sound, Columbia

New Artist of the Year
CoCo McMillan, I’ve Been Delivered, T Records
**Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Kim Ruff, Ready To Live, MacKim Records
Shari Addison, Shari Addison, Verity Records

CD of the Year
Donald Lawrence; The Law of Confession Part 1; Quiet Water/Verity
**Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship; Souled Out; Verity Records

Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

(Pastor Walker with his Stellers)

Choir of the Year
**Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records

Joe Leavell & St. Stephen Temple Choir, God Is Able, Emtro Gospel

Malcolm Williams & Great Faith, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter & SOV, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC

(Donald Lawrence Serving up High  Fashions)

Producer of the Year
**Donald Lawrence & Daniel Weatherspoon, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Philip Carter and Michael Smith, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC
Troy Sneed, Derrieux Edgecombe and Titus Robertson, In Due Season, Emtro Gospel
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
5AM Praise, The Beginning, Born Again Records
Christopher Page and The Dream Keeper’s Ensemble, A Page From My Heart, Restoration Records
Donald Lawrence, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
**Mary, Mary, The Sound, Columbia

(Tina and Erica(5 months pregnant) of Mary Mary hit the red carpet)

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
Endurance, The Best of Endurance and More, SCCME Records
Greg O’Quin & iPraize, After The Storm, Pendulum Records
**Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s, Fall On Me, MCG Records
Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, Experience The Evolution, Independent

Contemporary Male of the Year
Darwin Hobbs, Free, Tyscot Records Earl Bynum, Open My Heart, Earl Bynum Ministries
**Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel
Troy Sneed, In Due Season, Emtro Gospel

Contemporary Female of the Year
**Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Kim Burrell, No Ways Tired, Shanachie Ent. Corp.
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel
Kim Ruff, Ready To Live, MacKim Records

Traditional Male of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton, Cry Your Last Tear, Light Records
**Donnie McClurkin, We All Are One (Live in Detroit), Verity Records
Malcolm Williams, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC

(Tramaine Hawkins, Shirley Caesar and Dottie Peoples tear the stage up)

Traditional Female of the Year
Dorothy Norwood, 50 Years: It’s Been Worth It All, Malaco
**Dottie Peoples, Do It!, DP Muzik Group
Shari Addison, Shari Addison, Verity Records
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Contemporary CD of the Year
Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Donald Lawrence, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
**Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel

Traditional CD of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir, Cry Your Last Tear, Light Records
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter & SOV, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC
**Shari Addison, Shari Addison, Verity Records

Urban/ Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year (Artist; Song – Album; Label)
Donald Lawrence & Company, “Let the Word Do the Work” – The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
**Mary, Mary, “God in Me” – The Sound, Columbia
Niyoki, “Joy” – Rest, D2G Records
Vickie Winans, “How I Got Over” – How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Music Video of the Year (artist, song or CD title, label)
Dr. Bobby Jones presents Renee Spearman and Prez, Dr. Bobby Jones presents Renee Spearman and Prez, JDI Records
Gerald Hinton, I’m On My Way, Davin Records
Niyoki, Joy/Rest, D2G Records
**Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Earl Bynum Ministries, Open My Heart, Earl Bynum Ministries
**Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records
Mike McCoy & Voices United, Continue to Continue, Independent
New Direction, Destiny, New Haven Records

Traditional Choir of the Year
**Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir, Cry Your Last Tear, Light Records
Joe Leavell & St. Stephen Temple Choir, God Is Able, Emtro Gospel
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter & SOV, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC

Special Event CD of the Year
Dorothy Norwood, 50 Years: It’s Been Worth It All, Malaco
Endurance, The Best of Endurance and More, SCCME Records
Reverend Timothy Wright, The Godfather of Gospel, Savoy / Malaco
**The Clark Sisters, J. Moss and Kierra Sheard, Silky Soul Music – A Tribute to Maze, Barantera Music Group

Instrumental CD of the Year

Daniel Weatherspoon, Official, Longlife Entertainment Inc.

**Ben Tackard Mercy, Mercy , Mercy Verity
Derrick Scott – The Seed of Kenaniah, The Total Experience, SHONDO Records
Mel Holder, Music Book Vol. 1, Psalmist Music Group

Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
**Da’ T.R.U.T.H., The Big Picture, Cross Movement Records
Dooney Da Priest, Pull Your Pants Up!, Malaco
Lecrae, Rebel, Central South Dist.
Papa San, Higher Heights, Habakkuk Music

Children’s Performance of the Year
Eva Sabiniano featuring Alex Duncan, Born to Praise CD-2, Independent Pure N Heart (Children’s Choir), Pure-N-Heart Live, Music2ChangeU Records
**Rev. Dr. Emory Andrews and Oxon Hill High School Choir, Amazing, Yrome Records
The Velazquez Family Singers, Family & Friends, Z.A.V.E. Records

Quartet of the Year
Endurance, The Best of Endurance and More, SCCME Records
**Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s, Fall On Me, MCG Records
Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, Experience The Evolution, Independent
The Soul Stirrers, A Soul Stirring Reunion, Malaco

Contemporary Female of the Year
**Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Kim Burrell, No Ways Tired, Shanachie Ent. Corp.
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel
Kim Ruff, Ready To Live, MacKim Records

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Israel Houghton, The Power of One, Integrity Music
Kathy Taylor, Live: The Worship Experience, Tyscot Records and Katco Music Group
Micah Stampley, Ransomed, Interface
**Stephen Hurd, Times of Refreshing, Intergrity Soul

Recorded Music Package of the Year [art credit / artist - album / label]
Chris Fieldman, Deitrick Haddon – Revealed, Verity Records
**Denise Trotman, Donald Lawrence – The Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Lucretia Knight, Vickie Winans – How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records
Sam Noerr, BOERHAUS, Israel Houghton – The Power of One, Integrity Music