The biggest night in gospel music invaded Vegas on July 15. Co-hosted by Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Cobbs Leonard the show was filled with honoring gospel legends, incredible performances, along with fashion forward outfits seen on the blue carpet.
The 38th Annual Stellar Awards’ presenting sponsor was AT&T Dream in Black. Other proud supporters of this year’s program included, Aflac, GM, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Spotify, State Farm, Verizon and Walmart.
This year’s winners included some familiar faces and showcased a new wave of gospel artists that are on the rise. Pastor Mike Jr. tops the chart, winning the most Stellars of the night with eight, while new emerging female vocalist, DOE, took home three awards.
Check out the full list of the 2023 Stellar Awards winners:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
SONG OF THE YEAR
Impossible; Pastor Mike Jr., James Fortune & JeVon Hill; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
DOE; Clarity; Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration
DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin; Kingdom Book One; Tribl Records / Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA Inspiration
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lena Byrd Miles; Brand New; My Block Inc.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Winning; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Brent Jones; Nothing Else Matters (INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING, PRAISE HIM); JDI Entertainment
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Tye Tribbett & Joseph Bethea; All Things New; Motown Gospel
CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin; Kingdom Book One; Tribl Records / Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA Inspiration
CONTEMPORARY MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
TRADITIONAL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Zacardi Cortez; Imprint; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
DOE; Clarity; Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration
CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Winning; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Imprint; Zacardi Cortez; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
When I Pray; Doe; Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Mr. McClure; Michael McClure, Andre Rudolph & Antonio Minifield; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
T.D. Jakes Presents “Finally Loosed”; Various Artists; Dexterity Sounds
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Church Clothes 4; Lecrae; Reach Records
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Detroit Youth Choir; Rockspell; Confidential Records
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson; Restructure, Renew Reunion; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
All Things New; Mike McKesey & Trent Nicholson; Motown Gospel
PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Hymns; Tasha Cobbs Leonard; TeeLee Records/Motown Gospel
PRAISE AND WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
You’ve Been Good To Me; Zacardi Cortez; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
RAP/HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
Blak Sheep; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
SPECIAL HONOREES
JAMES CLEVELAND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Rev. Milton Biggham
ARETHA FRANKLIN ICON AWARD
CeCe Winans
THOMAS A. DORSEY MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones
AMBASSADOR DR. BOBBY JONES LEGEND AWARD
Dottie Peoples
GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR
WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta
LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR
WHAL-FM 95.7, Memphis
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR
WXHL 89.1 FM Reach Gospel Radio, Wilmington
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR
WWLD-HD2 98.3FM, Tallahassee
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
WVTC Gospel Radio Network, http://www.wvtcradio.com
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR
Melanie Pratt, WPZS Praise – Melanie In The Midday
The 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will telecast on the Stellar Network Sunday, July 30 at 6 p.m. ET and will air on BET on Sunday, August 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
More Stories
Maverick City Music and Songhouse partner for new EP “MAVHOUSE”
“The Forge” debuts with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes
Peach3 is bringing the Hotlanta heat with their new single “Ghostryde It”