I took a minute before writing my thoughts about this year’s Stellar Awards, held in Nashville, TN this past Saturday. Aside from being utterly exhausted by Monday morning, I also wanted to reflect a bit before I penned my thoughts. Having so reflected, here we go…
The 26th Annual Stellar Awards program was hosted by Donnie McClurkin– the first time that only one person has had hosting duties. It had to be a bit exhausting for him, but he’s a great host who keeps the energy high both on and off-camera.
For me, one major highlight of the show was that newer artists (or those that we don’t see often on national TV) were given performance slots– the Soul Seekers, forever Jones, the Nevels Sisters, Joshua’s Troop… I think the overwhelming consensus has been that the “same people” get booked for the Stellars, the Celebration of Gospel, etc. This year, I feel like the mold was broken a bit. And that’s good.
Similarly, some non-”regulars” won in a few categories– Lucinda Moore for Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year, Darwin Hobbs for Praise & Worship CD of the Year… it seemed like, for a lot of categories, one could not predict the winner. That’s fine, until one also cannot explain the winner, and there were quite a few head-scratching moments as it relates to the winner’s list.
I’m not going to dig too deeply into how I feel about who won an award and who didn’t– what’s done is done. But I will say that the Just James from J Moss was career-defining and one of the only albums in the past decade that I have allowed to play without skipping a track. That he didn’t win one of the many awards for which he was nominated is more than unfortunate. I also think that forever Jones had the greatest eligible song of last year with “He Wants It All,” but the family band wasn’t even nominated in the “Best Song” category.
You’ll see the edited show in various markets beginning this weekend (check your local listings) and on gmc on March 5th at 8pm. But I’ll tell you my fave moments now–
Key performances for me came from JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, who opened the show with “Lord, You’re Mighty,” as well as Beverly Crawford who simply does not disappoint on stage, and VaShawn Mitchell with his unstoppable hit “Nobody Greater.” I also loved the Nevels Sisters (they whipped their “hair back and forth”) and the quartet moment, which featured INCREDIBLE vocals from The Rance Allen Group, the Soul Seekers and the Williams Brothers. Deitrick Haddon commanded the stage like few can on his set. But at the end, it was Marvin Sapp, in a moving tribute to his wife MaLinda, who had the entire audience on their feet (and nearly in tears) before Donnie McClurkin had us all pray for Pastor Sapp– hope they show that on TV.
Fairly or unfairly, the Stellar Awards really needed to meet or exceed the performance success of last year’s 25th Anniversary Stellar Awards. While this year’s show was not bad, it’s hard not to knock it down a few pegs in comparison to the incredible show from last year, with its once-in-a-lifetime collaborative performances.
But then the question becomes “should they be considered ‘once-in-a-lifetime’?” As the show did this year with the quartet collabo, is there not a way to creatively combine performances each year in such a way that the Stellar Awards consistently features unique performances that you cannot see elsewhere?
If I’ve seen an artist perform his or her song at the Gospel Heritage Conference, then GMWA, then COGIC Convocation and, finally, Celebration of Gospel over the past year, what’s so special about seeing them do it again on the Stellar Awards? The suits and dresses? The lights and house band? The audience? It’s not enough. We need more than a performance of the song– we need a moment. Last year, the Stellars gave us hours of moments. This year, we also got a couple. But we need more. I get that last year’s show was special– but I do believe that the gospel community wants it to be the norm.
In any case, kudos to Central City Productions and the Stellar Awards– it’s not an easy task and, for all the commentary I’m giving, I still wouldn’t miss a taping for the world. Here’s to a good 26th, and a great 27th.
!
Word has it that the Nevels Sisters, the rising gospel group known for their head-bangin’, hair-whippin’ energetic performances, just wrapped several days of studio sessions with production camp PAJAM.
Word has it that April Nevels, one-fourth of the increasingly popular gospel group, the Nevels Sisters, is preparing for the release of her first solo project, Krazy Praise, this Spring on 7-Places Indie Records.
