Nashville, TN — The Stellar Gospel Music Awards will celebrate 25 years of honoring the biggest and brightest in Gospel music, with a star-studded 25th Anniversary Awards event hosted by Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Vickie Winans and the City of Nashville, TN.
The show returns to Nashville for the 5th consecutive year and is set to take place on January 16, 2010 at the Grand Ole Opry House. Stars from music, film and television will join Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions, in celebration of this important milestone in bringing Gospel music’s premier event to its fans for 25 years.
The nominees for the 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were announced on October 29th with gospel singers Donald Lawrence and Vickie Winans topping the list of nominees with a phenomenal nine Stellar noms each. Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship and Phillip Carter & SOV tie with six each while Kierra “KiKi” Sheard earns five. Crystal Aikin, Mary, Mary, Niyoki, Shari Addison, Smokie Norful, Israel Houghton all tie with four nomination.
The 25th Annual Stellar Award Nominees will be honored on Friday, January 15 with a red carpet Nominee Luncheon to be held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel. Red Carpet will begin at 10:30am. The event will feature special tributes and performances.
Special Awards to be handed out at the 25th Anniversary Awards celebration will include the presentation of “The James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award” to Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC’s. “The Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award” will be bestowed upon the Mississippi Mass Choir for a decade of excellence, and Edwin Hawkins will be presented with this year’s “Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award,” celebrating his 40-plus year contribution to Contemporary Gospel.
