The 2010 Stellar Awards Nominees List and History of the 25th Annual Gospel Music Awards Show

The Stellar Awards celebrates its 25^th annual year with its upcoming 2010 gospel music awards show. The list of 2010 Stellar Awards nominees was recently released with many notable traditional and contemporary gospel singers and groups on the nominee list.

The Stellar Awards ceremony is January 16, 2010 and will be held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The show's hosts will be gospel artists Vickie Winans, Donnie McClurkin and Kirk Franklin.

Nominated in one of the top categories, Artist of the Year, are: Donald Lawrence for the album The Law of Confession Part 1; Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship for the album Souled Out; Kierra Sheard for the album Bold Right Life and Vickie Winans for the album How I Got Over.

In the Song of the Year category Donald Lawrence was nominated for "Back II Eden"; Vickie Winans was nominated for "How I Got Over"; Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship was nominated for "I Am Souled Out" and Mary, Mary was nominated for the song "God in Me."

There are a few new artists that are getting some recognition this year. For the New Artist of the Year category, the nominees are CoCo McMillan for I've Been Delivered; Crystal Aikin for Crystal Aikin; Kim Ruff for Ready To Live and Shari Addison for Shari Addison. McMillan is a native of St. Pauls, NC, Aikin hails from Tacoma, WA, Ruff is from Chattanooga, TN and Shari Addison is from Chicago, IL.

As a side note, I am proud to say my husband worked on one of these Stellar-nominated albums, Vickie Winans, How I Got Over. Congratulations to him!

The Stellar Awards is the only gospel music awards show in the United States The show was created in 1985 by Chicago-based production company Central City Productions Inc. The Stellar Awards show was first taped at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago and has since been taped in numerous cities throughout the country. CCP still produces the show to this day. There have been many performances on the Stellar Awards including popular gospel artists CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin.

The show also features James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award and the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award.

Those interested in being a part of the voting process can vote for gospel rado announcer of the year starting November 16, 2009. This gives recognition to those that have made great contributions to the gospel industry through their work as a gospel radio announcer. You can visit the Stellar Awards Web site to vote.

Here is the rest of list of the 2010 Stellar Awards nominees.

Male Vocalist of the Year
Israel Houghton, The Power of One, Integrity Music
Philip Carter, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC
Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel
Stephen Hurd, Times of Refreshing, Integrity Gospel

Female Vocalist of the Year
Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel
Niyoki, Rest, D2G Records
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Group Duo of the Year
Donald Lawrence, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers, Just The Beginning, Verity Records
Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, Experience The Evolution, Independent
Mary, Mary, The Sound, Columbia

CD of the Year
Donald Lawrence; The Law of Confession Part 1; Quiet Water/Verity
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship; Souled Out; Verity Records
Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Choir of the Year
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records
Joe Leavell & St. Stephen Temple Choir, God Is Able, Emtro Gospel
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter & SOV, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC

Producer of the Year
Donald Lawrence & Daniel Weatherspoon, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Philip Carter and Michael Smith, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC
Troy Sneed, Derrieux Edgecombe and Titus Robertson, In Due Season, Emtro Gospel
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
5AM Praise, The Beginning, Born Again Records
Christopher Page and The Dream Keeper's Ensemble, A Page From My Heart, Restoration Records
Donald Lawrence, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Mary, Mary, The Sound, Columbia

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
Endurance, The Best of Endurance and More, SCCME Records
Greg O'Quin & iPraize, After The Storm, Pendulum Records
Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's, Fall On Me, MCG Records
Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, Experience The Evolution, Independent

Contemporary Male of the Year
Darwin Hobbs, Free, Tyscot Records
Earl Bynum, Open My Heart, Earl Bynum Ministries
Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMI Gospel
Troy Sneed, In Due Season, Emtro Gospel

Traditional Male of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton, Cry Your Last Tear, Light Records
Donnie McClurkin, We All Are One (Live in Detroit), Verity Records
Malcolm Williams, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC

Contemporary Female of the Year
Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Kim Burrell, No Ways Tired, Shanachie Ent. Corp.
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel
Kim Ruff, Ready To Live, MacKim Records

Traditional Female of the Year
Dorothy Norwood, 50 Years: It's Been Worth It All, Malaco
Dottie Peoples, Do It!, DP Muzik Group
Shari Addison, Shari Addison, Verity Records
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Contemporary CD of the Year
Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records
Donald Lawrence, The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records
Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospel

Traditional CD of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir, Cry Your Last Tear, Light Records
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter & SOV, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC
Shari Addison, Shari Addison, Verity Records

Urban/ Inspirational Single / Performance of the Year
Donald Lawrence & Company, "Let the Word Do the Work" - The Law of Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Mary, Mary, "God in Me" - The Sound, Columbia
Niyoki, "Joy" - Rest, D2G Records
Vickie Winans, "How I Got Over" - How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Music Video of the Year
Dr. Bobby Jones presents Renee Spearman and Prez, Dr. Bobby Jones presents Renee Spearman and Prez, JDI Records
Gerald Hinton, I'm On My Way, Davin Records
Niyoki, Joy/Rest, D2G Records
Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Earl Bynum Ministries, Open My Heart, Earl Bynum Ministries
Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out, Verity Records
Mike McCoy & Voices United, Continue to Continue, Independent
New Direction, Destiny, New Haven Records

Traditional Choir of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir, Cry Your Last Tear, Light Records Joe Leavell & St. Stephen Temple Choir, God Is Able, Emtro Gospel
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith, In Your Glory, Malcolm James Music
Philip Carter & SOV, Songs from the Storm, Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC

Special Event CD of the Year
Dorothy Norwood, 50 Years: It's Been Worth It All, Malaco
Endurance, The Best of Endurance and More, SCCME Records
Reverend Timothy Wright, The Godfather of Gospel, Savoy / Malaco
The Clark Sisters, J. Moss and Kierra Sheard, Silky Soul Music - A Tribute to Maze, Barantera Music Group

Instrumental CD of the Year
Ben Tankard, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Verity
Daniel Weatherspoon, Official, Longlife Entertainment Inc.
Derrick Scott - The Seed of Kenaniah, The Total Experience, SHONDO Records
Mel Holder, Music Book Vol. 1, Psalmist Music Group

Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Da' T.R.U.T.H., The Big Picture, Cross Movement Records
Dooney Da Priest, Pull Your Pants Up!, Malaco
Lecrae, Rebel, Central South Dist.
Papa San, Higher Heights, Habakkuk Music

Children's Performance of the Year
Eva Sabiniano featuring Alex Duncan, Born to Praise CD-2, Independent
Pure N Heart (Children's Choir), Pure-N-Heart Live, Music2ChangeU Records
Rev. Dr. Emory Andrews and Oxon Hill High School Choir, Amazing, Yrome Records
The Velazquez Family Singers, Family & Friends, Z.A.V.E. Records

Quartet of the Year
Endurance, The Best of Endurance and More, SCCME Records
Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's, Fall On Me, MCG Records
Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers, Experience The Evolution, Independent
The Soul Stirrers, A Soul Stirring Reunion, Malaco

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Israel Houghton, The Power of One, Integrity Music
Kathy Taylor, Live: The Worship Experience, Tyscot Records and Katco Music Group
Micah Stampley, Ransomed, Interface
Stephen Hurd, Times of Refreshing, Integrity Gospel

Recorded Music Package of the Year
Chris Fieldman, Deitrick Haddon - Revealed, Verity Records
Denise Trotman, Donald Lawrence - The Confession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity
Lucretia Knight, Vickie Winans - How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records
Sam Noerr, BOERHAUS, Israel Houghton - The Power of One, Integrity Music

Source: The Stellar Awards, Gospel Flava