Sooo, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that the 25th annual Stellar Awards weekend was ACTION PACKED.
Throughout the week, I’m gonna try my best to give recaps of the events that I attended (there were SEVERAL), but before I do, I wanted to post the full list of winners at this year’s award show…
Artist Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)
Song Of The Year – “God In Me” by Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)
Male Vocalist Of The Year – Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live (EMI Gospel)
Female Vocalist Of The Year – Vickie Winans, How I Got Over (Destiny Joy)
Group/Duo Of The Year – Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)
New Artist Of The Year – Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin (Verity)
CD Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)
Choir Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)
Producer Of The Year – Donald Lawrence & Daniel Weatherspoon, The Law Of Confession Pt. 1 (Quietwater/Verity)
Contemporary Group/Duo Of The Year – Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)
Traditional Group/Duo Of The Year – Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs, Fall On Me (MCG)
Contemporary Male Vocalist Of The Year – Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live (EMI Gospel)
Contemporary Female Vocalist Of The Year – Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin (Verity)
Traditional Male Vocalist Of The Year – Donnie McClurkin, We All Are One (Verity)
Traditional Female Vocalist Of The Year – Dottie Peoples, Do It! (DP Muzik Group)
Contemporary CD Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)
Traditional CD Of The Year – Shari Addison, Shari Addison (Verity)
Urban/Inspirational Single Of The Year – “God In Me” by Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)
Music Video Of The Year – “How I Got Over” by Vickie Winans, How I Got Over (Destiny Joy)
Contemporary Choir Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)
Traditional Choir Of The Year – Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir, Cry Your Last Year (Light)
Special Event CD Of The Year – The Clark Sisters, J. Moss & Kierra Sheard, Silky Soul Music – A Tribute To Maze (Barantera Music Group)
Instrumental CD Of The Year – Ben Tankard, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Verity)
Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD Of The Year – Da’ T.R.U.T.H., The Big Picture (Cross Movement)
Children’s Performance Of The Year – Rev. Dr. Emory Andrews & Oxon Hill High School Choir, Amazing (Yrome)
Quartet Of The Year – Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs, Fall On Me (MCG)
Praise & Worship CD Of The Year – Stephen Hurd, Times Of Refreshing (Integrity)
Recorded Music Package Of The Year – Denise Trotman for Donald Lawrence’s The Law Of Confession Pt. 1 (Quietwater/Verity)
Stellar Radio Awards:
Internet Radio | http://www.ishoutforjoy.com
Small Market | WEUP 1700 AM – Huntsville, AL
Medium Market | Hallelujah FM – Little Rock, AR
Large Market | WTLC 1310 AM – Indianapolis, IN
Major Market | WLIB 1190 AM – New York City, NY
Lonnie Hunter of Praise 103.9 in Philadelphia was awarded with the Announce Of The Year Award. And the Central South Distribution REACH Awards were awarded to Vickie Hill (Saginaw, MI), Willie Mae MacIver (Dallas, TX) and Michael A. Davis (Memphis, TN).
I was surprised only by about two of these wins– I thought that Praise & Worship CD Of The Year would go to Israel Houghton. He really got shafted this year, because The Power Of One was one of the best albums to come out in 2009. The fact that he was only nominated in three categories, one of which was for packaging… c’mon. But, kudos to Stephen Hurd anyhow.
Second, I didn’t think Hezekiah Walker & LFC would walk away with Artist Of The Year. I really figured it would go to Donald Lawrence. Either way, I’m thrilled. I have loved Pastor Walker for YEARS and I couldn’t be more excited for him… he definitely deserved to be recognized and that album is an absolute favorite from the past year.
So, that’s THAT. If you get Gospel Music Channel, the show airs on February 28th at 8pm ET/7pm CST. BUT, it will likely air in your region before that… I’ll post the local dates and times when the Stellars post it… I can’t type all of that! LOL
And check back here throughout the week for my recaps– I went a lot of places, chatted with a lot of folks, and I’ve got LOTS to tell you. Deal? DEAL!
In the meantime, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK of the winners!!!
i am soooooo hzppy for crystal aikin mayb this will persuade them to put out that sophomore album cuz she is amazing.. and congrats to hez im kinda suprised though ej im with yu on israel.... i cant wait to see these performances i was following tur tweets yu had me intrigued
@mdixon-- the performances were some of the best I've EVER seen on the Stellars. EVER. Backstage at the Stellars, Crystal Aikin shared that she got the green light to start workin' on the new album... stay tuned and I'll keep you posted!
Best thing about DL is that although he didnt win, he produced Hez project, so he's definitely still the man!
Thanks for giving the blow-by-blow commentary of the show EJ. Unfortunately, some of the indies did not win because the voters stuck with the established artists and that showed. Secondly, it was a suprize that Hez won "Artist of The Year" but he deserved it. But everyone, all of the artists are winners in God's eyes because everyone shined this year and all of this past year's music was phenomenal. And for people who are critical and say that Christian award shows of not of God and of the devil (and there are some people here who continually harp on that) the bible says that we are to honor people when honor is due. I'm glad Gospel Music Channel did renew to put the show on a decent time slot opposed to here in Los Angeles where it supposed to be shown in an undecent hour--try 2 am...
I'm happy for Stephen Hurd...it's typical for Israel to win, but luckily they didn't award the typical winner. Go Stephen! Also, congratz to Shari!
Wow. NOT impressed with this list. Wasn't there much criticism about the voting procedures for the Stellers and all the "campaigning"? Sigh.... The Power of One was a refreshing break from the abysmal norm of gospel music today. That's why the Steller voters couldn't recognize innovation in gospel when they saw it. And yes, I am a fierce Israel supporter (notice I didn't say "fan"). Israel and Kim Burrell are the ONLY two reasons that I pay any attention to gospel anymore, for the most part. Did Verity sponsor the Stellers this year, because most of the winners are their artists. BIIIG YAWN.... Great reporting, though, EJ! :-)
"the performances were some of the best I’ve EVER seen on the Stellars. EVER." everyone i've talked to that attended said the exact same thing. i can't wait until it airs...
I'm surprised that Donald Lawrence wasn't a bigger winner. I fully expected him to sweep as he did with his past projects. I'm glad for Hezekiah though. However, I'm a little disappointed that Kierra Sheard did not have a solo win. Crystal Aiken surprised me with that win for Contemporary Female category. And Vickie Winans for "Female Vocalist of the Year"? Sighs. She did deserve Best Video, though.
Ok.. Female vocalist of the year-thought Kierra might have gotten that one. I know she's young and paying her dues, but her album was hot. Contemporary female of the year-I love Crystal and congrats to her on her huge win...she beat out Kim B and Kierra! Althought Hez is the man and I love him to pieces, I was surprised to see he beat D. Lawrence in so many categories! I think D. deserved to win more than Recorded music package of the year... Kim B. should have come out with something too...wow
Oops...I missed that D. Lawrence also won a duo award with Daniel Witherspoon for Producer of the year...still think he should have won more. That doggone album was WONDERFUL!! :)
Lawd help me today! Daniel WEATHERSPOON!
Thanks EJ for the blow by blow commentary Saturday night...You had me lol....That said ..I find it strange that Donnie's CD was not mentioned in theStellar nominations, but he received the award for Traditional Male artist of the year,( wonder if they wanted to appease..just a thought)I also thought Israel Haughton would have won something..... EJ..when are you going to give your pick for the GrammyAwards?
@EJ Man why you tell us? Now I can't watch it b/c I know who's gonna win! Lol You should of had a link to click on if you wanted to see the winners. But glad Hez won and mad that Israel got shafted too!
I HIGHLY enjoyed the Stellars!! Yes, all the performances were on point this year!!! The opening (i wont say who, you'll have to watch to see..lol) was one of the best, if not THE best, openings I've seen in years!!!! OMG!!! When they announced that Hezekiah Walker had one over D Lawrence, the applauds up in the balcony were few, but nonetheless i still give props to Hezekiah cuz that really is a great project!! I cant wait to see it again...Vickie Winans had us ROLLIN all night! lolol
So apparently the show will not air until late February, on a cable channel at that and, according to Gayle, we're supposed to appreciate that? In a word, NO. 1) my house is cable-free for more reasons than just money and 2) it's airing A MONTH AFTER the show was taped? It doesn't take much to please "us". And check it, at this point, the winners have been announced, and I can probably find some Youtube videos of the performances, so is there a reason to watch? I guess the GMC doesn't really care about ad revenue or the viewers. Better has to be done.
Cool, but not feeling the Contemp female category. Kierra should have won that. Are you serious? Well congrats aywho! I also did think maybe..possibly Kim would recive something...but! : (
@Thanks EJ-- Grammy predictions comin' next week. @Tam tam: the show always airs locally in January and February, depending on your city. On cable, it airs at the end of February on Gospel Music Channel. I'll post the city-specific airdates and times later.
Hi, EJ: thanks for the update. I did search for the air dates/times. And I'm in Detroit, where several of the winners are from! LOL! ;-)
Hezekiah is my favorite...so I'm really excited for him....but I love Donald Lawrence and wish He would have one more..."Law of Confession" was my personal CD of the year!! It literally shifted my life!
I'm glad that Hezekiah Walker won as many as he did. I think he earned them. His CD was great. I love the change of direction. He has been overlooked for a long time. Some of the other ones I wasn't too impressed by. Over all, the list is pretty good. I expected Donald Lawrence to win more. No surprise with Mary Mary. It was pretty Good. I think Ton3x "Blend" should have won something. Over all, pretty good
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