A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.[1] The annual presentation ceremony features performances by prominent gospel artists, and the presentation of those awards that have a more popular interest.[2] The Stellars are the first of the Big Two major gospel music awards held annually.

Stellar Awards
Current: 40th Annual Stellar Awards
Awarded forOutstanding achievements in the gospel music industry
CountryUnited States
Presented byStellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA)
First awarded1984; 40 years ago (1984)
Websitethestellarawards.com
Television/radio coverage
Network

The first Stellar Awards ceremony was held on 1984, to honor and respect the musical accomplishments by gospel performers for the year 1983. Following the 2018 ceremony, SAGMA overhauled a few Stellar Award categories for 2019.

In 2020, the awards show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was aired virtually on August 23, 2020.[3] Jekalyn Carr later hosted the "Stellar Tribute to the Holidays", which aired on local channels and on UPtv, Aspire TV, and Bounce TV..[4]

History

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The first award ceremony was held at Arie Crown Theater in Chicago in 1984.[5] Over the years, The Stellars have been held in various locations including Atlanta,[6] Houston,[7] Los Angeles, Las Vegas,[8] Nashville,[9] and New York. Starting from the 30th Annual Stellar Awards in 2015, the show has been held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas,[10] and airing on American digital cable and satellite television network TV One.[11] Starting with the 34th annual ceremony in 2019, the Stellar Awards moved its annual broadcast to BET.[12] The number of awards given have also changed over the years with categories added and removed. The Stellars were produced in 1970 by Don Jackson's Chicago-based Central City Productions.[2] The production company is also a distributor of original programming to television and cable networks.[2] In the spring of 2000, Central City Productions changed the voting process by creating the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA).[1] SAGMA is currently the official voting body for the Stellar Awards.[1] The Academy is open to record company executives, artists, radio announcers, gospel industry professionals and supporters.[1]

Entry process and selection of nominees

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Media companies registered with the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy and individual members of SAGMA (artists and other professionals working in the industry who meet certain criteria) may enter recordings for consideration, along with an entry form.[13] Record Companies and artists enter recordings and music videos online released during the eligibility period that charted in the top 25 on at least two Nielsen Charts for at least four weeks.[13] Entries are made online and two physical copies of the work is sent to SAGMA. Once a work is entered, submission go through a screening process.[13] A confidential Nominating committee made up of music industry experts in various fields meet to insure that all entries meet the eligibility criteria, all entries are in the appropriate categories, that the entries are charting in the top 25 on the Nielsen Charts during the eligibility period, and are appropriate for the Stellar Awards.[13] Each category is limited based on the dictate and discretion of the Stellar Awards Nomination Committee therefore all entries cannot be included on the ballot.[13] Technical quality, lyrics, voice quality, charting duration, project content and charting performance will be reviewed for inclusion on the ballot. All Stellar Awards Nomination Committee selections are then finalized.[13]

Final voting

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The voting process for narrowing down the final nominees consist of two separate ballots. The first round ballot includes eligible entries as determined by the Nominating Committee of SAGMA. Top entries for each category from the first ballot will move forward to the final ballot. During the final voting process, the general public (including fans) are the voting body for the second and final ballot to determine the Stellar Award winners. The nominees are announced during a press/radio tour.[13]

Categories

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  • Artist of the year
  • Song of the Year
  • Male Vocalist of the Year
  • Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year
  • Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
  • New Artist of the Year
  • Musician of the Year
  • Album of the Year
  • Choir of the Year
  • Producer of the Year
  • Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
  • Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
  • Contemporary male vocalist of the year
  • Traditional male vocalist of the year
  • Male Vocalist of the Year
  • Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
  • Urban/Inspirational single or performance of the year
  • Music Video of the Year
  • Traditional choir of the Year
  • Contemporary choir of the Year
  • Instrumental album of the Year
  • Special event album of the Year
  • Rap/Hip Hop gospel album of the year
  • Youth Project vocalist of the year
  • Quartet of the Year
  • Praise and worship album of the Year

Radio & Internet Station Awards

  • Gospel Radio Major Market of the Year
  • Gospel Radio Large Market of the Year
  • Gospel Radio Medium Market of the Year
  • Gospel Radio Small Market of the Year
  • Gospel Internet Station of the Year
  • Gospel announcer of the Year

Defunct award categories

Winner Milestones Kirk Franklin was the night's big winner with six statues. Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers received four Stellar Awards. John P. Kee's I Made It Out delivered three Stellar Awards. Tasha Cobbs Leonard garnered two trophies, while Le'Andria Johnson earned two for her work on Donald Lawrence's project, Goshen. The Walls Group received two statues for their album Friend in Me, along with newcomer Pastor Mike Jr. who took home a pair of Stellar Awards for his work on Live Free. Kurt Carr received two Stellar awards. Rounding out the night with one Stellar Award each were JJ Hairston, Ben Tankard, Gospel Kids, Keith Wonderboy Johnson and Greenleaf; Season 3.[13]

Ceremonies

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# Date Host(s) Venue Ref.
1 1985 Tramaine Hawkins Arie Crown Theater, Chicago [5][14]
2 1986 Al Green
Tramaine Hawkins
Auditorium Theatre, Chicago [5][15]
3 1987 The Winans [5]
4 1988 Tramaine Hawkins
Wintley Phipps
Marvin Winans
Christ Universal Complex, Chicago [5][16]
5 1989 Clifton Davis
Marla Gibbs
Aquarius Theater, Los Angeles [5][17]
6
7 1991 Clifton Davis
Marilyn McCoo
Royce Hall, Los Angeles [5][18]
8 November 5, 1992 [19][20]
9 November 1993 Clifton Davis Auditorium Theatre, Chicago [5][21]
10 1994 Clifton Davis [5]
11
12 December 12, 1996 Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville [22]
13 1998 Kirk Franklin Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta
14 January 9, 1999 Lynn Whitfield
Steve Harvey
CeCe Winans
[23][24]
15 January 8, 2000 Dr. Bobby Jones
Donnie McClurkin
Vickie Winans
[25]
16 January 13, 2001 Dr. Bobby Jones
Vickie Winans
Bishop T.D. Jakes
Ananda Lewis
[26]
17 January 12, 2002 Yolanda Adams
Donnie McClurkin
[27]
18 January 11, 2003 Mary Mary
Donnie McClurkin
Michelle Williams
[28]
19 January 10, 2004 Yolanda Adams
Kirk Franklin
Donnie McClurkin
George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston [29]
20 January 15, 2005 Yolanda Adams
Donnie McClurkin
Tonéx
[30]
21 January 21, 2006 Israel Houghton
Donnie McClurkin
Vickie Winans
Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville [31]
22 January 13, 2007 Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
Tye Tribbett
[32]
23 January 12, 2008 Byron Cage
Kirk Franklin
CeCe Winans
[33]
24 January 17, 2009 Dorinda Clark-Cole
Donnie McClurkin
Sinbad
[34]
25 January 16, 2010 Kirk Franklin
Donnie McClurkin
Vickie Winans
[35]
26 January 15, 2011 Donnie McClurkin [36]
27 January 14, 2012 Dorinda Clark-Cole
Marvin Sapp
[37]
28 January 19, 2013 Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
[38][39]
29 January 18, 2014 Sherri Shepherd
Rickey Smiley
Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville [40]
30 March 28, 2015 David Mann
Tamela Mann
Rickey Smiley
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas [41][42]
31 February 20, 2016 Sherri Shepherd
Rickey Smiley
[43]
32 March 25, 2017 Anthony Brown
Erica Campbell
[44]
33 March 24, 2018 Kirk Franklin [45]
34 March 29, 2019 [46]
35 August 23, 2020 Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds and Koryn Hawthorne Virtual ceremony [3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Sagma. The Stellar Awards. Retrieved on March 6, 2019
  2. ^ a b c About Us. The Stellar Awards. Retrieved on March 6, 2019
  3. ^ a b "Stellar Awards 2020 Performers". BET.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  4. ^ "The Stellar Awards | Gospel Music". www.thestellarawards.com. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Stellar Awards - Series - TV Tango". TVTango.com. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  6. ^ "The 17th Annual Stellar Awards Ceremony - brought to you by GospelFlava.com". www.gospelflava.com. Retrieved September 25, 2017."Central City Productions About Us". Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "The 19th Annual Stellar Award Results - brought to you by GospelFlava.com". gospelflava.com. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  8. ^ "Hallelujah: The Stellar Awards to move to Las Vegas for 30th anniversary". Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  9. ^ "The Official 21st Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2006) - brought to you by GOSPELflava.com". gospelflava.com. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  10. ^ The 30th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards: About the Show - TV One. TV One Network. Retrieved on March 7, 2019
  11. ^ The 30th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on TV One!. TV One Network. Retrieved on March 7, 2019
  12. ^ GMA (March 28, 2019). "34th Annual Stellar Awards Set To Air Easter Sunday On BET". The Gospel Music Association. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h Stellar Awards Important Dates. The Stellar Awards. Retrieved on March 6, 2019
  14. ^ "Gospel Music Awards brings out the Best | Gary/Chicago Crusader". Chicago/Gary Crusader. March 10, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  15. ^ "Primetime - Sunday". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. October 18, 1986. p. 133. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. WGN Stellar Awards: "The Second Annual Gospel Music Awards" Tramaine Hawkins and Al Green introduce performers The Winans and Shirley Caesar as awards are given in 14 categories of gospel music. From The Auditorium Theater in Chicago.
  16. ^ "WGN - Stellar Awards". Corbin Times Tribune. Corbin, Kentucky. April 7, 1989. p. 22. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.com. Stellar Awards From Chicago's Christ Universal Complex, the fourth-annual tribute to gospel music artists features perforryiances by Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland, Commissioned, Nicholas, Take 6, the Williams Brothers and the Winans. Hosts: Tramaine Hawkins, Wintley Phipps, Marvin Winans. (2 hrs.) (Taped)
  17. ^ Brennan, Patricia (January 14, 1990). "NBC'S 'GRAND'". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved January 26, 2019. Also today: the (taped) fifth annual Stellar Awards (10:30 a.m. on 11, 4 on 5), honoring gospel music recordings, hosted by Clifton Davis and Marla Gibbs from the Aquarius Theater in Los Angeles.
  18. ^ Willman, Chris (January 18, 1992). "TV Reviews : Black Gospel Specials Worthy of High Praise". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  19. ^ Collins, Lisa (October 7, 1992). "In the Spirit". Billboard. New York: Billboard Music Group. p. 51. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Eye on Gospel". Indianapolis Recorder. Indianapolis. November 21, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  21. ^ Willman, Chris (January 15, 1994). "TV REVIEWS : 'Stellar Awards' Spotlight on Gospel Singers". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  22. ^ Collins, Lisa (November 9, 1996). "In the Spirit". Billboard. New York: Billboard Music Group. p. 34. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  23. ^ Collins, Lisa (December 19, 1998). "In the Spirit". Billboard. New York: Billboard Music Group. p. 44. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  24. ^ Collins, Lisa (January 30, 1999). "In the Spirit". Billboard. New York: Billboard Music Group. p. 36. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "GospelFlava.com - 15th Annual Stellar Award Results". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  26. ^ "The 16th Annual Stellar Award Winners - brought to you by GospelFlava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  27. ^ "The 17th Annual Stellar Award Results - brought to you by GospelFlava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  28. ^ "The 18th Annual Stellar Award Results - brought to you by GospelFlava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  29. ^ "The 19th Annual Stellar Award Results - brought to you by GospelFlava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  30. ^ "20TH ANNUAL STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS". ASCAP. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  31. ^ "The Official 21st Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2006) - brought to you by GOSPELflava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  32. ^ "The Official 22nd Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2007) - brought to you by GOSPELflava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  33. ^ "RECAP: Taping of the 23rd Annual Stellar Awards (2008) - brought to you by GOSPELflava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  34. ^ "The Official 24th Annual Stellar Award WINNERS (2009) - brought to you by GOSPELflava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  35. ^ "The Official 25th Annual Stellar Award Results (2010) - brought to you by GOSPELflava.com". GospelFlava. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  36. ^ "26th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – DetroitGospel.com". DetroitGospel.com. January 25, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  37. ^ "The 27th Annual Stellar Awards Winners! | Praise 104.1". Interactive One, LLC. January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  38. ^ "Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary Unveiled As 2013 Stellar Awards Hosts". TheGospelGuru. October 22, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  39. ^ "Mary Mary, Marvin Sapp big winners at Stellar Awards". USA Today. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  40. ^ "The 29th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards announces lineup for 2014". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  41. ^ "The Stellar Awards Announce Final Nominees Along With Ricky Smiley, David Mann and Tamela Mann as Hosts | Path MEGAzine". Parallel Path Entertainment. January 14, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  42. ^ "Stellar Telecast Draws 1 Million Viewers – GospelFlava.com". GOSPELflava.com. April 9, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  43. ^ "31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Nominees & Details Announced Interview | Detroit Praise Network". Interactive One, LLC. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  44. ^ "Stellar Awards 2017: Hosts and Nominees Announced! | Praise 106.1". Interactive One, LLC. January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  45. ^ "Mary Mary Reunion And Snoop Dogg Stellar Awards Debut Highlight An Unforgettable Night at This Year's 33rd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, With an All-Star Line Up Of Performances - The Gospel Music Association". Gospel Music Association. February 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  46. ^ 34th Annual Stellar Awards. Orleans Arena. Retrieved on March 6, 2019
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