Pastor Mike Jr. with his Stellar Awards, 2025

Pastor Mike Jr. won all nine categories in which he was nominated.

Central City Productions’ “40th Stellar Gospel Music Awards” were held on August 16th, 2025 at the historic Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.

Hosted by Stellar and GRAMMY Award-winning duo, BeBe & CeCe Winans, the 40th Stellar Gospel Music Awards will premiere Saturday, August 30th at 8PM ET/7PM CT on the Stellar Network; Additionally, the ceremony will air Sunday, August 31st at 8PM ET/7PM CT on BET.

Under the show theme, OUR MUSIC, OUR VOICE, OUR CULTURE, performers included: Jamal Roberts, Jonathan McReynolds, Nathan Davis Jr., Todd Dulaney, New Direction Gospel Choir of Tennessee State University, Lisa Knowles-Smith, Adia, Donnie McClurkin, Dottie Peoples, Jekalyn Carr, Jason Nelson, Lisa Page Brooks, MAJOR., Melvin Crispell III, Pastor Mike Jr., Pastor Mike Todd & Transformation Worship, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Tramaine Hawkins, and William Murphy.

Special guest presenters included Lil Rel Howery, Dominique Perry, Dante Bowe, Isaac Carree, Trina Braxton, Tyler Lepley, Serayah, DeVon Franklin, DOE and more. Central City Productions founder Don Jackson received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 2025 Stellar Awards were presented by P&G (Procter & Gamble) with additional sponsorship provided by: Mielle, Olay Body, Tide, Chevy, Walmart, Aflac, AT&T, AARP, State Farm, McDonalds, Kenvue, Johnson & Johnson, and St. Jude.

The big winner of the night was Pastor Mike Jr., who took home nine statuettes for each of the nine categories in which he was nominated. Others who were called to the podium to accept Stellar Awards included CeCe Winans, The Group Fire, Ricky Dillard and Dorinda Clark-Cole,

“The Greatest Night in Gospel Music,” the 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will premiere on the Stellar Network on Saturday, August 30th at 8PM and 11PM EST; on BET Sunday, August 31st at 8PM ET/7PM CT; on Bounce TV September 28th at 1PM EST/12PM CT; and in broadcast syndication from September 6, 2025 – September 28, 2025. The show will also stream on Vizio and Xumo Play beginning September 29th, 2025.

And the Stellar Award goes to…

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

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

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
I Got Away EP; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel

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

CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
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

CONTEMPORARY MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

TRADITIONAL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is The Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

TRADITIONAL FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music

CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Determined; Dorinda Clark-Cole; Malaco Records

URBAN SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Amen; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

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

TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Vincent Bohanan & SOV; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent

TRADITIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records

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)

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Canton Jones and CAJO Records Presents The Free Life Experience; The Free Life Experience; CAJO Records

YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Brent Jones presents The Fire; Brent Jones presents The Fire; JDI Entertainment

QUARTET OF THE YEAR
Men Of Prayze; Live: In The Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Still Karen; Justin Foster; Motown Gospel

PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

PRAISE AND WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
Overflow ft. Todd Dulaney; Transformation Worship; Represent Records, Re: Think Music

RAP/HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
Amen; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

JAMES CLEVELAND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Don Jackson

Radio Awards:

TOP MARKET OF THE YEAR
WBBP 1480 AM, Memphis, TN

MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR
WXHL 89.1 FM, Wilmington, DE

SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR
WTSK – Praise 93.3/ 790 AM, Tuscaloosa, AL

INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
GODRadio1.com, https://godradio1.com

SYNDICATED GOSPEL RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR
Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell; Erica Campbell with Griff & Cheryl Jackson

GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR
Melissa Wade; WNNL, The Light 103.9/ Melissa Wade in the Midday

For more information, please visit stellarawards.com and join the conversation using the hashtag #TheStellars.

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Written by : Bob Marovich

Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.