The Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebrate 40 incredible years of honoring the best in gospel music, and the 2025 nominations are officially in! This year, Pastor Mike Jr. and Jason Nelson are leading the way, each earning an impressive nine nominations. Gospel legend CeCe Winans follows with eight nods, and the Mississippi Mass Choir proudly secured six nominations.
Presented by Procter & Gamble and produced by Central City Productions, the 40th Annual Stellar Awards will be taped live at the prestigious Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN, on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Fans can expect a night of electrifying performances, heartfelt tributes, and unforgettable moments honoring gospel music icons and rising stars.
Powered by Tide, public voting returns this year in two fan-favorite categories: Urban Single or Performance of the Year and Praise & Worship Song of the Year. Voting will be open from June 16 to July 18, 2025; those votes will help determine the winners in these categories.
Nineteen-time Stellar Award winner Pastor Mike Jr. and Stellar Award winner Jason Nelson lead the field of nominees this year with nine nominations each; both landing top nominations in the key categories Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (Nelson’s You Belong: Live in Durham; and Mike Jr.’s I Got Away EP).
With eight nominations, CeCe Winans is recognized in the top categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for More Than This. Winans’ More Than This also features the single, “That’s My King.”
Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc., commented, “For 40 remarkable years, the Stellar Awards have been a beacon of excellence, celebrating the voices, vision, and victories of gospel music. We honor not just the genre of gospel music, but the legacy of our history, faith, culture, and community that has inspired Black & African American generations for four decades with our Stellar Gospel Music Awards.”
Other artists earning multiple Stellar nominations include: Mississippi Mass Choir, Adia, Deitrick Haddon, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kenny Lewis & One Voice, Micah Lee, Tamela Mann, Chandler Moore, and FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, and Marcus Cole).
A full list of the 40th Annual Nominees can be found below:
Category #1 – ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- CeCe Winans – More Than This – Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services
- Jason Nelson – You Belong: Live in Durham – Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records
- Kenny Lewis & One Voice – The Healing Project – PureSound Muzik Group
- Pastor Mike Jr. – I Got Away EP – Rock City Media Group
- Tamela Mann – Live Breathe Fight – TillyMann
Category #2 – SONG OF THE YEAR
- “Amen” – Pastor Mike Jr.
- “Clap My Way” – Micah Lee
- “I Prayed For You (Said a Prayer)” – MAJOR.
- “That’s My King” – CeCe Winans
- “Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III – Jason Nelson
Category #3 – MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Chandler Moore – Live in Los Angeles
- Deitrick Haddon – One Night In California
- Doc McKenzie – Run On
- Jason Nelson – You Belong: Live in Durham
- Pastor Mike Jr. – I Got Away EP
Category #4 – ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- ADIA – On the Way
- CeCe Winans – More Than This
- Dorinda Clark-Cole – Determined
- Karen Clark-Sheard – Still Karen
- Lisa Page Brooks – The Grateful Chant
Category #5 – DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart
- FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, and Marcus Cole)
- Ted & Sheri
- The Group Fire
Category #6 – NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- ADIA
- Bobbi Lane
- Josh Bracy and Power Anointed
- Micah Lee
- Montrae Tisdale and The Friends Chorale
Category #7 – ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- I Got Away EP – Pastor Mike Jr.
- Live Breathe Fight – Tamela Mann
- More Than This – CeCe Winans
- The Healing Project – Kenny Lewis & One Voice
- You Belong: Live in Durham – Jason Nelson
Category #8 – CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Bishop S.Y. Younger
- Chicago Mass Choir
- Ricky Dillard
- The Mississippi Mass Choir
Category #9 – PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Dana Sorey – Jason Nelson
- FK&M Production Team
- J. Drew Sheard – Karen Clark-Sheard
- Pastor Mike Jr. & David “DLo” Outing II
- Mississippi Mass Choir Production Team
Category #10 – CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart
- Red Hands
- Ted & Sheri
- The Group Fire
Category #11 – TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Brandon Camphor & One Way
- Men Of Prayze
- The Flint Cavaliers
- Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony
Category #12 – CONTEMPORARY MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jason Nelson – You Belong: Live in Durham
- Micah Lee – Clap My Way
- Pastor Mike Jr. – I Got Away EP
- Vincent Bohanan – VBSOV Summer Jam
Category #13 – TRADITIONAL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Bishop Calvin Norton – Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP
- Brent Jones – Live Your Best Life
- Earnest Pugh – Worthy Is The Lamb
- Kenny Lewis – The Healing Project
Category #14 – CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- ADIA – On the Way
- Bobbi Lane – Unmatched Grace
- CeCe Winans – More Than This
- DOE – Heart Of A Human
- Keyla Richardson – Home
Category #15 – TRADITIONAL FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Dorinda Clark-Cole – Determined
- Lasha Knox – Right There
- Lisa Page Brooks – The Grateful Chant
- Terri McConnell – He’ll Get Me Through This
Category #16 – CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- Chandler Moore – Live in Los Angeles
- Tamela Mann – Live Breathe Fight
- Karen Clark-Sheard – Still Karen
- Jason Nelson – You Belong: Live in Durham
Category #17 – TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- Dorinda Clark-Cole – Determined
- The Victorious Army ATL feat. Vincent Bohanan – Live in Detroit, Pt 1
- Kenny Lewis & One Voice – The Healing Project
- The Mississippi Mass Choir – We Still Believe
Category #18 – URBAN SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- Pastor Mike Jr. – Amen
- Micah Lee – Clap My Way
- MAJOR. – I Prayed For You (Said a Prayer)
- Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz ft. Zacardi Cortez – Without You
Category #19 – MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- Pastor Mike Jr. – Amen
- David Mann – Deserves To Win
- Jekalyn Carr – For My Good
- Deitrick Haddon & Terrance Church – Never Be The Same
Category #20 – TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Chicago Mass Choir – Greater Is Coming
- Christopher L. Ervin & Abraham’s Descendants – Recover
- Ricky Dillard – When I Think
- The Mississippi Mass Choir – We Still Believe
Category #21 – CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Alphaeus Anderson Presents The USC Upstate Gospel Choir – Already Done
- Charles Butler & Trinity – Live In Washington DC
- Johnny Sanders Featuring Faith on Full – Christmas Everyday
- Vincent Bohanan & SOV – VBSOV Summer Jam
Category #22 – TRADITIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Bishop Calvin Norton – Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP
- Dorinda Clark-Cole – Determined
- Earnest Pugh – Worthy Is The Lamb
- The Mississippi Mass Choir – We Still Believe
Category #23 – SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- Bishop S.Y. Younger – Worship in Brazil
- CeCe Winans – Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album
- Jonathan McReynolds – Red & Green
- The Group Fire – The Gift Deluxe Edition
- The Mississippi Mass Choir – We Still Believe
Category #24 – RAP/HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- The Free Life Experience – Canton Jones and CAJO Records
- 1K Phew – Let Go Let God: The EP
- Otis Kemp – Meet Me in Miami
- Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz – Without You: There Would Be No Me
Category #25 – YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- AMG Kidz x Boston Arts Academy – The Kidz At North Station
- Brent Jones presents The Fire
- Janessa Smith – Sounds Of Joy
- Nina Symmone & Noah Alexander – God’s Way
Category #26 – QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- Blest By Four – Only Believe The EP
- Men Of Prayze – Live: In The Red
- The Flint Cavaliers – The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1)
- Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony – Try Me
Category #27 – RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- Brianna Dowd & Melvin Crispell III – Covered Vol. 1
- Blair Monique – Meet Me in Miami
- Jonathan McReynolds & Trent Nicholson – Red & Green
- Justin Foster – Still Karen
Category #28 – PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- Chandler Moore – Live in Los Angeles
- CeCe Winans – More Than This
- Jordan G. Welch – One
- Jason Nelson – You Belong: Live in Durham
Category #29 – PRAISE AND WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
- Bobbi Lane – Light in a Dark Place
- Transformation Worship ft. Todd Dulaney – Overflow
- CeCe Winans – That’s My King
- Jason Nelson ft. Melvin Crispell III – Yahweh
Category #30 – RAP/HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
- Pastor Mike Jr. – Amen
- Otis Kemp – Blessings
- Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz – Fa REAL… Fa Real
- Dante’s Pride ft. Lisa Page Brooks – Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Gospel Radio of the Year Nominees
Top Market of the Year
- WBBP 1480 AM, Memphis, TN
- WBGX 1570 kHz, Chicago, IL
- WFTB FM 104.1, Nashville, TN
- WGRB 1390AM, Chicago, IL
- WPZS 100.9, Charlotte, NC
Medium Market of the Year
- WAGR 102.5 FM, Lexington, MS
- WEUP Worship 94.5, Huntsville, AL
- WJNI 106.3FM, Charleston, SC
- WXHL 89.1 FM, Wilmington, DE
Small Market of the Year
- WBZF-FM 98.5, Florence-Myrtle Beach, SC
- WHLH 95.5, Jackson, MS
- WKTT 97.5 FM, Salisbury, MD
- WTSK – Praise 93.3/ 790 AM, Tuscaloosa, AL
Internet Station of the Year
- Black Gospel Radio – blackgospelradio.net
- GODRadio1.com – godradio1.com
- Hands Up Radio WHUR – handsupradio.org
- Power of Worship Radio – powerofworship.net
Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year
- Early Morning Praise Party with Sherry Mackey
- Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell
- The Big Redd Radio Show
- The Tracy Morgan Show
Gospel Announcer of the Year
- Destiny Diggs – WXHL – Reach Gospel Radio
- Melissa Wade – WNNL, The Light 103.9
- Micha “ML6” Logan – WEUP, 103.1 FM
- Sherry Mackey – WHAL, 95.7 Hallelujah FM
STELLAR PLUS WEEK
This year’s Stellar Awards is part of STELLAR PLUS Week, running from August 14–16, featuring fashion shows, comedy showcases, master classes, and more, sponsored by Chevy and Aflac. Visit stellarplusexperience.com for more.
TICKETS & INFO
Tickets for the 40th Stellar Gospel Music Awards are available now at StellarAwards.com.
Follow @thestellars on Instagram and X, and Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook for official updates.
Who are you rooting for? Drop your favorite nominee in the comments and tell us who will take home top honors at the 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards!
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Credit: Stellar Awards
Veleka B.
