2025 Stellar Award nominations announced (see full list below) !

Nominees have been revealed for the 2025 Stellar Awards!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the awards ceremony that many call "the greatest night in gospel music."

This year, Jason Nelson and perennial fan favorite Pastor Mike Jr. lead the pack with the most nominations.

Both Pastor Mike Jr. and Jason Nelson both earned 9 nominations each. Propelled by her song "That's My King" from the hit Christian film "The Forge," gospel powerhouse, CeCe Winans, wasn't too far behind with 8 nominations.

Pastor Mike Jr. could set a record for winning Artist of the Year four years in a row. He is currently tied with Kirk and Pastor Marvin Sapp as the only artist to win the category three times.

The other nominees in the Artist of the Year category include CeCe Winans, Jason Nelson and Kenny Lewis & One Voice.

Lisa Page Brooks received 3 nominations: Female Artist of the Year, Traditional Female Artist of the Year, and Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year. The Witness alum is having a musical resurgence with her viral hit song "The Grateful Chant" and its various remixes and after the passing of her husband, Bishop Michael Brooks from the group Commissioned.

Blessings continue to shower down on singer and songwriter, DOE (aka, Dominique Jones). She wed her husband Orlando Palmer in 2023, had baby Shiloh in 2024, and won a GRAMMY in 2025 for her soulful album HEART OF A HUMAN. Now, she's nominated for a 2025 Stellar Award for the same album.

Also, every year seems to present a new breakout performer. Last year, it was Javonta Patton and Melvin Crispell III. Each of these newcomers were nominated in multiple categories. This year's breakout artists seems to be Micah Lee with his single "Clap My Way." Lee earned an impressive four (4) nominations, including New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year.

Finally, in an effort to boost public participation, fans will have the chance to vote in two categories this year- Urban Single or Performance of the Year and Praise and Worship Song of the Year. Fan voting will run from June 16 until July 18.

Here’s the full list of nominations for the 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards!

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

Traditional Artist of the Year

• Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records

• Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records

• Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Song of the Year

• “Amen,” Michael McClure Jr., Adia Andrews, Terrell Anthony Pettus, Andrea Crouch, & David “DLo” Outing; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

• “Clap My Way,” Fred Jerkins III, Alvin Garrett, & Micah Lee; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

• “I Prayed for You (said a prayer),” Major Johnson Finley, Brunes Charles, & Jeshua Williams; MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK

• “That’s My King,” Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks, & Jess Russ; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

• “Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III; Danni Baylor, Jason Nelson, Jerome Baylor, & Johnnie Huntley Steele III; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year

• ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group

• CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

• Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records

• Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel

• Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year

• ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group

• Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group

• CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

• DOE; Heart of a Human; RCA Inspiration / Provident Entertainment

• Keyla Richardson; Home; Uncle G Records

Traditional Female Artist of the Year

• Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records

• Lasha Knox; Right There; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music

• Terri McConnell; He’ll Get Me Through This; Royal T Records

Male Artist of the Year

• Chandler Moore; Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; TRIBL

• Deitrick Haddon; One Night in California; DH Visions

• Doc McKenzie; Run On; Blockbuster Records/Milbert McKenzie Music Group

• Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

• Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

Contemporary Male Artist of the Year

• Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

• Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

• Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

• Vincent Bohanan; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent

Traditional Male Artist of the Year

• Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records

• Brent Jones; Live Your Best Life; JDI Entertainment

• Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

• Kenny Lewis; The Healing Project; PureSound Muzik Group

Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

• Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records

• FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Record

• Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide

• The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East

Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

• Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records

• Red Hands; The Three (EP); Black Suit Music / Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records

• Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide

• The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East

Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

• Brandon Camphor & One Way; Hymn Medley; Tomii Entertainment

• Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

• The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group

• Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records

New Artist of the Year

• ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group

• Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group

• Josh Bracy and Power Anointed; Favor; Josh Bracy Muzic

• Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

• Montrae Tisdale and The Friends Chorale; The Faith Journey; Tisdale Nation Entertainment

Album of the Year

• I Got Away EP; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

• Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann

• More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

• The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group

• You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Contemporary Album of the Year

• Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; Chandler Moore; TRIBL

• Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann

• Still Karen; Karen Clark-Sheard; Motown Gospel

• You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Traditional Album of the Year

• Determined; Dorinda Clark-Cole; Malaco Records

• Live in Detroit, Pt 1; The Victorius Army ATL Feat. Vincent Bohanan; Independent

• The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group

• We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records

Choir of the Year

• Bishop S.Y. Younger; Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)

• Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records

• Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel

• The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Contemporary Choir of the Year

• Alphaeus Anderson Presents The USC Upstate Gospel Choir; Already Done; Music2ChangeU

• Charles Butler & Trinity; Live in Washington DC; Red Alliance Media

• Johnny Sanders Featuring Faith on Full; Christmas Everyday; Third Century Development Corp/Johnny Sanders Presents, LLC

• Vincent Bohanan & SOV; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent

Traditional Choir of the Year

• Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records

• Christopher L. Ervin & Abraham’s Descendants; Recover; CervinMusiq

• Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel

• The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Producer of the Year

• Dana Sorey; Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

• Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Marcus Cole, Paul Wright III and Ray Hammond; FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Records

• J. Drew Sheard; Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel

• Michael McClure Jr., & David “DLo” Outing II; Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

• Stan Jones, Jerry Mannery, Jerry Smith, & David R. Curry Jr.; The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Urban Single or Performance of the Year

• Amen; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

• Clap My Way; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

• I Prayed for You (said a prayer); MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK

• Without You ft. Zacardi Cortez; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records

  
  

Music Video of the Year

• “Amen,” Pastor Mike Jr., Tony “Mr.YNOT” Minifield, Drae Rudolph & Kevin “Krispy” Key/Moon Men; Rock City Media Group

• “Deserve to Win,” David Mann; TillyMann

• “For My Good,” Jekalyn Carr; Waynorth Music

• “Never Be the Same,” Deitrick Haddon & Terrance Church; DH Visions

Special Event Album of the Year

• Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Bishop S.Y. Younger; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)

• Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

• Red & Green; Jonathan McReynolds; Life Room Label, Motown Gospel

• The Gift Deluxe Edition; The Group Fire; Jet Records North/East

• We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records

Rap/Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year

• Canton Jones and CAJO Records Presents the Free Life Experience; The Free Life Experience; CAJO Records

• Let Go Let God: The EP; 1K Phew; Reach Records

• Meet Me in Miami; Otis Kemp; Revive 5.0 Entertainment

• Without You: There Would Be No Me; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records

Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year

• “Amen,” Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

• “Blessings,” Otis Kemp; Revive 5.0 Entertainment

• “Fa REAL… Fa Real,” Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records

• “Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah” ft. Lisa Page Brooks; Dante’ Pride; iAmDantePrideMuzik

Youth Project of the Year

• AMG Kidz x Boston Arts Academy; The Kidz at North Station; Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records

• Brent Jones presents The Fire; Brent Jones presents The Fire; JDI Entertainment

• Janessa Smith; Sounds of Joy; Inspired Recording

• Nina Symmone & Noah Alexander; God’s Way; The Big Moment / Anderson Music Group

Quartet of the Year

• Blest By Four; Only Believe The EP; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

• Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

• The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group

• Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year

• Covered Vol. 1; Brianna Dowd & Melvin Crispell III; RCA Inspiration, Provident Label Group LLC

• Meet Me in Miami; Blair Monique; Revive 5.0 Entertainment

• Red & Green; Jonathan McReynolds & Trent Nicholson; Life Room Label, Motown Gospel

• Still Karen; Justin Foster; Motown Gospel

Praise and Worship Album of the Year

• Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; Chandler Moore; TRIBL

• More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

• One; Jordan G. Welch; JordiG Music

• You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Praise and Worship Song of the Year

• “Light in a Dark Place,” Bobbi Lane; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group

• “Overflow” ft. Todd Dulaney; Transformation Worship; Represent Records, Re: Think Music

• “That’s My King,” CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

• “Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Gospel Radio Top Market of the Year

• WBBP 1480 AM, Memphis

• WBGX 1570 kHz, Chicago

• WFTB FM 104.1, Nashville

• WGRB 1390AM, Chicago

• WPZS 100.9, Charlotte, N.C.

Gospel Radio Medium Market of the Year

• WAGR 102.5 FM, Lexington, Miss.

• WEUP Worship 94.5, Huntsville, Ala.

• WJNI 106.3FM, Charleston, S.C.

• WXHL 89.1 FM, Wilmington, Del.

Gospel Radio Small Market of the Year

• WBZF-FM 98.5, Florence-Myrtle Beach, S.C.

• WHLH 95.5, Jackson, Miss.

• WKTT 97.5 FM, Salisbury, Md.

• WTSK – Praise 93.3/ 790 AM, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year

• “Early Morning Praise Party with Sherry Mackey,” Sherry Mackey

• “Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell,” Erica Campbell with Griff & Cheryl Jackson

• “The Big Redd Radio Show,” Big Redd

• “The Tracy Morgan Show,” Tracy Morgan

Gospel Announcer of the Year

• Destiny Diggs; WXHL – Reach Gospel Radio/ “Say So Radio Show with Destiny”

• Melissa Wade; WNNL, The Light 103.9/ “Melissa Wade in the Midday”

• Micha “ML6” Logan; WEUP, 103.1 FM/ “The Midday Shift”

• Sherry Mackey; WHAL, 95.7 Hallelujah FM/ “Early Morning Praise Party with Sherry Mackey”

The 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be held from August 14-16, 2025, in Nashville, TN. The main awards ceremony will be taped live at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Saturday, August 16. 

The show will be executive produced by Don Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as producer and executive in charge of production; Michael A. Johnson as producer and director, Erin Johnson as talent producer, and Daniel Moore as music director.

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