The 27th Annual Stellar Awards were held on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in Nashville, TN at the Grand Ole Opry House.

And here are this year’s winners (winners in bold and blue)!

Artist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
VaShawn Mitchell

Song of the Year
“Nobody Greater” | Darius Paulk
“Well Done” | Deitrick Haddon
“I Smile” | Kirk Franklin
“I Choose To Worship” | Wess Morgan

Male Vocalist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
Smokie Norful
VaShawn Mitchell

Female Vocalist of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Kim Burrell
Martha Munizzi
Yolanda Adams

Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Rance Allen Group
Trin-i-tee 5:7

New Artist of the Year
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Preashea Hilliard
Todd Dulaney
Y’Anna

CD of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe
Kirk Franklin – I Smile
Mary Mary – Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant

Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard
Shekinah Glory Ministry

Producer of the Year
Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims & Israel Houghton for Love God. Love People.
Kirk Franklin for Hello Fear
VaShawn Mitchell, Daniel Weatherspoon & Rick Robinson for Triumphant
Warryn Campbell/Mary Mary for Something Big

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Trin-i-tee 5:7

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers

Contemporary Male of the Year
Deitrick Haddon
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Male of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson
John P Kee
Rance Allen
Smokie Norful

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell
Preashea Hilliard
Y’Anna
Yolanda Adams

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee
LaShun Pace
Twinkie Clark

Contemporary CD of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Kirk Franklin | Hello Fear
Mary Mary | Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant

Traditional CD of the Year
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living
Smokie Norful | How I Got Over…

Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | “Well Done”
Kirk Franklin | “I Smile”
Mary Mary | “Walking”
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater”

Music Video of the Year – Short Form
Martha Munizzi | “Excellent” (Martha Munizzi)
Christian Heuer | “Walking” (Mary Mary)
Canton Jones | “God” (Canton Jones)
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater” (VaShawn Mitchell)

Music Video of the Year – Long Form
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Jerry Parries | Bishop Morton Celebrates…
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living

Traditional Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Lonnie Hunter & Structure
Shekinah Glory Ministry

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Harold Rayford | I Am the Instrument
Moses Tyson Jr | Music Remastered & Sacred Organ
Todd Ledbetter | Meditations: Hymsn in the Key of Jazz
Winston Stewart | Season

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Paul Morton | Still
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | My Songbook

Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Flame | Captured
Lecrae | Rehab
Lecrae | Rehab: The Overdose
Viktory | Birth of a Legacy

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure N Heart | Pure N Heart Live
Santiago & Claude Deuce | My Destiny Place – My Imagination
The Velasquez Singers | Ten
T-Rep The Young Prayzr | Let’s Go

Quartet of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Christina Jones for Dominionaire (Canton Jones)
Denise Trotman & Greg Gilligan for Hello Fear (Kirk Franklin)
Martha Munizzi for Make It Loud (Martha Munizzi)
Tanner Gary for Triumphant (VaShawn Mitchell)

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Earnest Pugh | Earnestly Yours
Israel Houghton | Love God. Love People.
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant

Spoken Word CD of the Year
Marco the Poet | Marco the Poet EP
Michael Diallo McLendon | The Diallo Experience
Selah | Look At You Loving Me
Trupoetry | Trupoetry

Radio Station of the Year Finalists:

Major Market (3M+)
WPZE 102.5 FM (Atlanta, GA)
WPRS 104.1 FM (Washington, DC)
KJLH 102.3 FM (Los Angeles, CA)
WGRB 1390 AM (Chicago, IL)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Large Market (1-3M)
WHAL 95.7 FM/1460 AM (Memphis, TN)
WFMI 100.9 FM (VA-Norfolk-Newport, VA)
KCAO 600 AM (Baltimore, MD)
WMBM 1490 AM (Miami, FL)

Medium Market (500,000-1M)
WLOU 1350 AM (Louisville, KY)
WPRF 94.9 FM (New Orleans, LA)
WENO 760 AM (Nashville, TN)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]
WPZK 102.5 (Little Rock, AR)

Small Market (under 500,000)
WDJL 1000 AM (Huntsville, AL)
WJNI 106.3 FM (Charleston, SC)
KOKA 980 AM (Shreveport, LA)
WIMG 1300 AM (Trenton, NJ)

The show was hosted by Marvin Sapp and Dorinda Clark Cole, and will begin airing in local markets on January 21, 2012 (visit the Stellar Awards website for Local Airdates). The program will also be broadcast on gmc on February 11, 2012 at 8pm ET.

You know it’s the place to be… it just is. Lol

Urban Soul Cafe returns to Stellar Awards weekend with its annual “Access Granted” event, featuring some of the greatest gospel artists in the game. It’s got three events over the course of the weekend!

During that time, Dorinda Clark Cole and the Rance Allen Group will be honored with Lifetime Achievement awards, while Kim Burrell is receiving an Artist of the Year award. Plus, you’ll get live appearances from just about every artist that comes to Nashville, including Marvin Sapp, Myron Butler, Canton Jones, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Shirley Murdock and more.

For a complete list of events, visit http://urbansoulcafe.com.

And the nominees for the 27th Annual Stellar Awards are…

Artist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
VaShawn Mitchell

Song of the Year
“Nobody Greater” | Darius Paulk
“Well Done” | Deitrick Haddon
“I Smile” | Kirk Franklin
“I Choose To Worship” | Wess Morgan
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Male Vocalist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
Smokie Norful
VaShawn Mitchell
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Female Vocalist of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Kim Burrell
Martha Munizzi
Yolanda Adams
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Rance Allen Group
Trin-i-tee 5:7

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

New Artist of the Year
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Preashea Hilliard
Todd Dulaney
Y’Anna

CD of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe
Kirk Franklin – I Smile
Mary Mary – Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard
Shekinah Glory Ministry
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Producer of the Year
Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims & Israel Houghton for Love God. Love People.
Kirk Franklin for Hello Fear
VaShawn Mitchell, Daniel Weatherspoon & Rick Robinson for Triumphant
Warryn Campbell/Mary Mary for Something Big

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Trin-i-tee 5:7
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers

Contemporary Male of the Year
Deitrick Haddon
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Male of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson
John P Kee
Rance Allen
Smokie Norful

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell
Preashea Hilliard
Y’Anna
Yolanda Adams
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee
LaShun Pace
Twinkie Clark

Contemporary CD of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Kirk Franklin | Hello Fear
Mary Mary | Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Traditional CD of the Year
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living
Smokie Norful | How I Got Over…
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | “Well Done”
Kirk Franklin | “I Smile”
Mary Mary | “Walking”
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater”

Music Video of the Year – Short Form
Martha Munizzi | “Excellent” (Martha Munizzi)
Christian Heuer | “Walking” (Mary Mary)
Canton Jones | “God” (Canton Jones)
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater” (VaShawn Mitchell)

Music Video of the Year – Long Form
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Jerry Parries | Bishop Morton Celebrates…
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living

Traditional Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Lonnie Hunter & Structure
Shekinah Glory Ministry

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Harold Rayford | I Am the Instrument
Moses Tyson Jr | Music Remastered & Sacred Organ
Todd Ledbetter | Meditations: Hymsn in the Key of Jazz
Winston Stewart | Season
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Paul Morton | Still
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | My Songbook

Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Flame | Captured
Lecrae | Rehab
Lecrae | Rehab: The Overdose
Viktory | Birth of a Legacy
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure N Heart | Pure N Heart Live
Santiago & Claude Deuce | My Destiny Place – My Imagination
The Velasquez Singers | Ten
T-Rep The Young Prayzr | Let’s Go

Quartet of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Christina Jones for Dominionaire (Canton Jones)
Denise Trotman & Greg Gilligan for Hello Fear (Kirk Franklin)
Martha Munizzi for Make It Loud (Martha Munizzi)
Tanner Gary for Triumphant (VaShawn Mitchell)

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Earnest Pugh | Earnestly Yours
Israel Houghton | Love God. Love People.
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Spoken Word CD of the Year
Marco the Poet | Marco the Poet EP
Michael Diallo McLendon | The Diallo Experience
Selah | Look At You Loving Me
Trupoetry | Trupoetry

The following are the recipients of this year’s special awards:
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

John P. Kee will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award
Vy Higgensen will receive the Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award
Dorothy Norwood will receive the Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award

Radio Station of the Year Finalists:

Major Market (3M+)
WPZE 102.5 FM (Atlanta, GA)
WPRS 104.1 FM (Washington, DC)
KJLH 102.3 FM (Los Angeles, CA)
WGRB 1390 AM (Chicago, IL)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Large Market (1-3M)
WHAL 95.7 FM/1460 AM (Memphis, TN)
WFMI 100.9 FM (VA-Norfolk-Newport, VA)
KCAO 600 AM (Baltimore, MD)
WMBM 1490 AM (Miami, FL)

Medium Market (500,000-1M)
WLOU 1350 AM (Louisville, KY)
WPRF 94.9 FM (New Orleans, LA)
WENO 760 AM (Nashville, TN)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]
WPZK 102.5 (Little Rock, AR)

Small Market (under 500,000)
WDJL 1000 AM (Huntsville, AL)
WJNI 106.3 FM (Charleston, SC)
KOKA 980 AM (Shreveport, LA)
WIMG 1300 AM (Trenton, NJ)

The awards show takes place on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in Nashville, TN. It will be hosted by Marvin Sapp and Dorinda Clark Cole.

WOW Gospel 2011 has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week!

Canton Jones comes in at #2 with his new project, Dominionaire.

The rest Billboard’s top 10…

1 | WOW Gospel 2011
2 | Canton Jones – Dominionaire
3 | Deitrick Haddon – Church On The Moon
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe: Live
5 | Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
6 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp
7 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
8 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | The Rance Allen Group – The Live Experience II

The WOW Gospel series is a strong one, so I’m expecting WOW Gospel 2011 to stay where it is for the next several weeks– probably until Kirk Franklin releases his new album, Hello Fear, on March 22nd, followed by Mary Mary’s Something Big on the 29th.

Rance Allen is a pioneer in the gospel music community– a vocalist often studied for his before-his-time riffing style and impeccable stage performance.  The group he formed four decades ago continues to be a steady source of great music, including his latest release, The Live Experience II.

On the heels of that release, Associate Editor Troy Lilly chats with the legend himself…

*     *     *

Troy: Dr. Rance Allen! It’s a pleasure and a privilege. How are you?

Rance: Troy, I’m feeling great. And yourself?

Troy: I’m well. Excited to talk with you today. Shall we?

Rance: Certainly!

Troy: We really want to know about The Live Experience II, the latest album from The Rance Allen Group, which hit stores on January 25. Tell about a little about it.

Rance: Well, you know most of us recording artists say this, and I know I may be guilty of saying it about every new one that comes out, but this truly is the best one ever. And I say it because I believe it’s true.

Troy: Ok.

Rance: Here it is a live album. We’ve recorded twenty albums, this being only the second live one. Thus comes the name The Live Experience II. And man, there was just a free spirit moving as the Holy Ghost moved how He would, and with thousands of excited people there, they made us excited.

God anointed myself and my two brothers to sing, and the band to play, and then the great guests we had were second to none.

Troy: Certainly!  Tell me about the special guests appearing on this project.

Rance: We had Paul Porter, who’s a great singer himself, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong…I call her “the voice.”

Troy: Yes, yes.

Rance: Then the First Lady of Gospel, the Pastor Shirley Caesar, and a young group named Called to Worship out of Cincinnati.

Troy: Okay.

Rance: It’s just a beautiful piece of music. I want to tell young listeners that all you’ve got to do is put it in the player. You don’t have to search around looking for a song that you like more than the others. It’s the kind of CD that you want to play from track one through track 15.

Troy: Wow. So with that kind of project on your hands, do you have any favorites? Or at least a Top 5, since you can’t have just one.

Rance: Ok, well I hope I don’t mention all 15 to you! (Laughs)

Troy: (Laughs)

Rance: But let me start with “It’s You That I Trust,” the one where Paul Porter joins us in song. It’s an awesome song… you and the listeners will love it. But there’s one that I love even more than that.

There’s a cut called “Holy One.” You wanna talk about worship? This is a song that really reaches down into the reservoirs of a person’s heart…that’s “Holy One.”  And these are both kind of like ballads, actually.

Troy: Nice! What else have you got?

Rance: Pastor Shirley Caesar helped us sing another one called “Living for Jesus.” But there’s something I’ve got to tell you about this particular song.

Many, many years ago when I had just started my church, every Sunday one of my members would get up and just turn around and say to the audience– full of excitement– “There’s something about living for Jesus that’s the best thing for me…makes me feel real, (singing) real good.”

After a while, she had said that thing so much ‘til the Lord gave us a song! And you can hear it on this new CD– “Living for Jesus!”

Troy: Wow.

Rance: Yes, but there’s some great music on here. We did a song called “Love Train.” Now it doesn’t sound like the O’Jays! It sounds like the Rance Allen Group!

Troy: Now that’s a sound. (Laughs)

Rance: We also remade “Hear My Voice,” which we originally did way back in 1984.  Oh and number 13…that’s going to be one that you and every[one] of your listeners will love, and it’s called “United We Stand.” It goes on for about eight minutes and some change. And basically, it’s our take on “We Are the World,” sort of. Myself, my brothers, all my guests sang with a choir backing it up and it just turned out wonderfully.

I told you, if you keep letting me pick out favorites, I’ll be done picked out all 15! (Laughs)

Troy: I see. But I was actually counting while you were talking, and you only gave me five and a half! (Laughs)

Rance: (Laughs)

Troy: You’re celebrating 40 years of ministry along with your brothers. That’s almost two decades longer than I’ve been alive. Who are some of the new guys or the young cats that you admire or want to work with?

Rance: I’ve been blessed, man. I have worked with so many of these younger fellows. You know about the work I’ve done with Kirk Franklin. I’ve also worked with Joe Pace, The Williams Brothers, John P. Kee, Mary Mary. I’ve been able to share with many of the younger prominent artists of this day.

Troy: And we have enjoyed it!

Rance: They are actually the inspiration that I need for this particular time. All of the young people who come to me asking me to work with them, and praising the work that I’ve done over the last four decades…all of that now is a true inspiration to me.

Troy: Now I know I greeted you as Dr. Allen, but in addition to being a multi-instrumentalist and a singer, you’re also a pastor. How are things at your church, New Bethel Church of God in Christ in Ohio?

Rance: Man, that’s still a great part of my joy. The church is doing well. God is doing a new thing and we are anticipatorily waiting to see what our next move is going to be.

Troy: With that being said, if God were to bless you with 40 more years, what would you do?

Rance: Well, hmmm. I think I probably would just do like some products read on the side of the box and…wait for further instruction! (laughs)

Troy: That is a GOOD answer, sir. Good answer!

Rance: (Laughs) Yeah, because if he lets me live that long, or even half that time…or even a third of that time, I know He has not brought me this far to leave me.  I could never tell what God is gonna do because He’s so amazing that he would take the thing that seems foolish to me and just blow my mind. So I’m waiting for further instruction.

Troy: That’s wisdom.

Rance: And as the other box says: for best results, read instructions! Wait on the Lord!

Troy: (Laughs) Absolutely. Well, there’s one more thing I want to ask about as we wrap up. There’s a Live Experience II DVD coming out as well…

Rance: Troy, listen! The only thing that could be any better than the CD is the DVD, because you get to see what you’re hearing on the album. Oh my goodness, I’m telling you the Lord met us there.  And I’m trying my best not to sound like I’m bragging. But I am so grateful to God for how He met us there until the only thing I can say is you’re gonna miss out on something if you don’t get the DVD.

Troy: I’m excited about the projects, especially the commemorative nature and all that it symbolizes. It’s good to have an original pioneer who introduced new sounds still around. And not just because I was raised Church of God in Christ, either. But it doesn’t hurt!

Rance: Yes, you’re one of my little baby brothers. And God is using you to perpetuate the best music in the world, and that’s gospel!

Troy: Thank you for your time, man!

Rance: You’re certainly welcome. And I’ll tell you like the old folks told us: come by and see us and we’ll do you good.

*     *     *

And there you have it folks.  To listen to and purchase The Live Experience II by the Rance Allen Group, click here.

What did you think of the interview???

Deitrick Haddon’s new album, Church on the Moon, debuts at #1 this week, pushing Lecrae’s Rehab: The Overdose, to the #2 spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart.

Also, the legendary Rance Allen Group debuts at #10 with their new release, The Live Experience II.

The top 10 at Billboard…

1| Deitrick Haddon – Church On The Moon
2| Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
3 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp
4 | Kevin Bond presents… – We Give You Praise
5 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
8 | John P Kee – The Legacy Project
9 | James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe: Live
10 | The Rance Allen Group – The Live Experience II

I’m a bit surprised to see that Marvin Sapp’s “best of” project hit #3 (it seems so close to the release of much of his most popular music), but I’m glad about it.

Next week, I’m predicting WOW Gospel 2011 to get big numbers– maybe even the #1 slot– and I’m curious to see how Canton Jones does.

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.

A list of performers and presenters for the 26th Annual Stellar Awards has been released!

Among the performers are Marvin Sapp, Beverly Crawford, Deitrick Haddon, the Nevels Sisters, VaShawn Mitchell, the Soul Seekers, the Williams Brothers, the Rance Allen Group, forever Jones, JJ Hairston and Joshua’s Troop.  Also performing will be an all-star choir in tribute to Kirk Franklin, and the winners of the 2010 How Sweet the Sound competition in tribute to Donald Lawrence.

Award presenters and other participants will include J Moss, Dorinda Clark Cole, Hezekiah Walker, Andrae Crouch, Vickie Winans, Lisa Page Brooks, DeWayne Woods, Wess Morgan, Myron Butler, Yvette Nicole Brown, Dr. Bobby Jones and more.

The show will be taped this Saturday in Nashville, TN, at the Grand Ole Opry House, and will air on gmc on March 5 at 8pm ET.  The program will also air in various national markets from January 22nd through March 13th.  Check your local listings!

Word has it that the Rance Allen Group is prepping for a live CD/DVD recording on July 16th at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, MI.

You kinda know that’s gonna be good– Rance Allen is a captivating performer, with a stage presence and vocal delivery that are unparalleled.

Anybody planning to attend???

Make sure you tune in to BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel this Sunday, January 24th at 9am ET, to catch the legendary Rance Allen Group, The Whispers and The Brown Sisters.

You can bet on Rance Allen showin’ out and I’m kinda interested in seeing The Whispers perform a gospel cut.  The Brown Sisters have been getting a lot of indie buzz since their debut project, Live In Chicago, was released last year… it’ll be good for the nation to see them in action.

Admittedly, I’m not EAGER for this episode, but I am curious.  Who’s tuning in???