Kirk Franklin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard Are Big Winners at 35th Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Here Are the Winners
(CHICAGO, IL) – Well, it’s 2020, and we all have had to make some adjustments. The same was true for the 35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The Stellars delivered on it’s usual powerful worship and praise performances via it’s Virtual Special that aired on BET and BETHer on August 23rd.
Led by hosts Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds, and Koryn Hawthorne, the 35th Anniversary Stellar Gospel Music Awards awarded trophies in 28 categories for the year’s best performances in the genre.
The big winners of tis years awards are familiar names, with Kirk Franklin winning six awards, including awards for Male Performer of the Year, Contemporary Male Performer of The Year, Album of The Year and Contemporary Album of the Year for “Long Live Love”, and Producer of the year for the same album.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard was also a big winner, taking home the major awards for Artist of the year, and Contemporary Artist of the Year.
Donald Lawrence and the Tri City Singers took home four awards, including song of the year for “Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus).”
The virtual Awards show included powerful, pre-produced performances by Tamela Mann, Tye Tribbet, Taurean Wells, Koryn Hawthorne, and Travis Greene among many others.
The show’s hosts visited first responder heroes on the front lines of the Coronavirus pandemic in Dallas, Nashville and Chicago, expressing gratitude for their sacrifice and bestowing commemorative Stellar Awards lapel pins in honor of their service. In addition, several healthcare professionals and civic organizations were highlighted for their efforts to combat the deadly pandemic.
One of the more moving moments of the show was a tribute to the late Congressman John Lewis when Cece Winans performed “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a perfect tribute to the late Congressman and civil rights icon.
2019 – 2020
35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners
Category #1
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Motown Gospel
Category #2
SONG OF THE YEAR
Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus); Donald Lawrence, William Stokes, Marshon Lewis, Robert Woolridge & Desmond Davis; RCA Inspiration
Category #3
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kirk Franklin; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #4
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Le’Andria Johnson; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #5
DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Walls Group, Friend in Me, Wall2Wall Entertainment/My Block Records
CATEGORY #6
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike Jr.; Live Free; Black Smoke Worldwide
CATEGORY #7 ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Long Live Love; Kirk Franklin; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #8 CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #9 PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill & Phil Thornton; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #10
CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Walls Group, Friend in Me, Wall2Wall Entertainment/My Block Records
CATEGORY #11
TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers; Bless Somebody Else; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #12
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kirk Franklin; Long Live Love; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #13
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One
CATEGORY #14
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live at Passion City Church); Motown Gospel
CATEGORY #15
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Le’Andria Johnson; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #16
CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Long Live Love; Kirk Franklin; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #17
TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I Made It Out; John P. Kee; Entertainment One
CATEGORY #18
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus); Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #19
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Love Theory; Matt DeLisi; Fo Yo Soul/ RCA/ RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #20
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
John P. Kee; I Made It Out; Entertainment One
CATEGORY #21
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers; Goshen; RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #22
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Rise!; Ben Tankard; BEN-Jamin’ Universal Music
CATEGORY #23
SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Greenleaf: Season 3 (Music from The Original TV Series); Various Artists; Lionsgate Entertainment
CATEGORY #24
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Live Free; Pastor Mike Jr.; Black Smoke Worldwide
CATEGORY #25
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Gospel Kids; Gospel Kids Present… Christian Soldiers; Tyscot Records
2019 – 2020
35th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners
CATEGORY #26 QUARTET OF THE YEAR
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Josh Myles; Inspirational Project; Timeless Music
CATEGORY #27
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Bless Somebody Else; Derek Blanks; Kurt Carr Gospel / RCA Inspiration
CATEGORY #28
PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Miracle Worker; JJ Hairston; JamesTown Music / Entertainment One GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR WINNERS
MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR
WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta
LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR
WPZS Praise 100.9 FM, Charlotte
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR
WXHL 89.1, Wilmington
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR
WJAY 98.3 FM & 1280 AM, Mullins
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
U Gospel, http://uGospel.com
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR
Meta Washington, SiriusXM, Satellite Radio
