Stellar Gospel Music Awards – 2023 Awardees

By Robert M. Marovich

Pastor Mike Jr., Blacksmoke Music Worldwide recording artist, took home eight statues, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, for “Impossible,” at the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebration.

The two-day gala was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 14 and 15. Multiple Stellar Awardees Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Cobbs Leonard were co-hosts of the signature event on Saturday the 15th. Cobbs Leonard received the Praise & Worship Album of the Year Stellar for Hymns (TeeLee Records / Motown Gospel).

Other top honorees include DOE and Zacardi Cortez, with three Stellars each; and Tye Tribbett and Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin, with two Stellars each. Gospel Announcer of the Year went to Melanie Pratt “Melanie in the Midday,” WPZS Praise.

Congratulations to the winners and the nominees! For more information, visit www.thestellarawards.com.

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 (Tye Tribbett); 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

GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:

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