2012 Stellar Awards Nominees Have Been Chosen!

Your favorite gospel artists willtake center stage at the 27th Annual Stellar Awards show in 2012. DorindaClark Cole and Marvin Sapp will host this historic event from the The Grand OleOpry House in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, January14, 2012.

Voting has taken place within 29 categoriesresulting in the final nominees per category. Your votes have resulted in the following final contestants:

Category #1

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- EARNEST PUGH, EARNESTLY YOURS, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #2

SONG OF THE YEAR
- DARIUS PAULK, NOBODY GREATER – TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
- DEITRICK HADDON, WELL DONE – CHURCH ON THE MOON, VERITY GOSPEL
- KIRK FRANKLIN, I SMILE – HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- WESS MORGAN, I CHOOSE TO WORSHIP – UNDER AN OPEN HEAVEN, BOWTIE WORLD

Category #3

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- EARNEST PUGH, EARNESTLY YOURS, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- ISRAEL HOUGHTON, LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, INTEGRITY MUSIC
- SMOKIE NORFUL, HOW I GOT OVER: SONGS THAT CARRIED US, TREMYLES MUSIC/EMIGOSPEL
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #4

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OFTHE YEAR
- BEVERLY CRAWFORD, LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES – VOL. 2, JDI RECORDS
- KIM BURRELL, THE LOVE ALBUM, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
- MARTHA MUNIZZI, MAKE IT LOUD!, EPIC MUSIC
- YOLANDA ADAMS, BECOMING, N-HOUSE MUSIC GROUP

Category #5

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, I BELIEVE, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
- THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, THE LIVE EXPERIENCE II, TYSCOT MUSIC
- TRIN-I-TEE 5:7, ANGEL & CHANELLE, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL/MUSIC WORLD

Category #6

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- GREATER MOUNT CALVARY RECORDING CHOIR, GREATER MOUNT CALVARY LIVE: AS TOLD BYTHE MUSIC MINISTRY, CALVARY RECORDS
- PREASHEA HILLIARD, LIVE OUT LOUD, SOUNDEFX MEDIA/BLACKSMOKE
- TODD DULANEY, PULLIN ME THROUGH, GOLDSTREET GOSPEL MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
- Y’ANNA CRAWLEY, THE PROMISE, ID MUSIC GROUP/UNIVERSAL/FONTANA

Category #7

CD OF THE YEAR
- JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, I BELIEVE, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #8

CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- CHICAGO MASS CHOIR, XV LIVE, NEW HAVEN RECORDS
- MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR, …THEN SINGS MY SOUL, MALACO
- RICKY DILLARD & NEW G, KEEP LIVING, LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE
- SHEKINAH GLORY MINISTRY, REFRESHED BY FIRE, KINGDOM RECORDS, INC.

Category #9

PRODUCEROF THE YEAR
- AARON LINDSEY, TOMMY SIMS, & ISRAEL HOUGHTON, LOVE GOD,LOVE PEOPLE, INTEGRITYMUSIC
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, DANIEL WEATHERSPOON & RICK ROBINSON, TRIUMPHANT, EMIGOSPEL
- WARRYN CAMPBELL/ MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS

Category #10

CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, I BELIEVE, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
- TRIN-I-TEE 5:7, ANGEL & CHANELLE, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL/MUSIC WORLD

Category #11

TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- KEITH “WONDERBOY” JOHNSON & THE SPIRITUAL VOICES, BACK 2 BASICS,BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, THE LIVE EXPERIENCE II, TYSCOT MUSIC &ENTERTAINMENT
- THE SOUL SEEKERS, SOUL SEEKERS II, MY BLOCK RECORDS/MALACO MUSIC GROUP

Category #12

CONTEMPORARY MALE OF THE YEAR
- DEITRICK HADDON, CHURCH ON THE MOON, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- EARNEST PUGH, EARNESTLY YOURS, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- ISRAEL HOUGTON, LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, INTEGRITY MUSIC
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #13

TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THEYEAR
- KEITH “WONDERBOY” JOHNSON, BACK 2 BASICS, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- JOHN P. KEE, THE LEGACY PROJECT, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- RANCE ALLEN, THE LIVE EXPERIENCE II, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
- SMOKIE NORFUL, HOW I GOT OVER: SONGS THAT CARRIED US, TREMYLES MUSIC/EMIGOSPEL

Category #14

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THEYEAR
- KIM BURRELL, THE LOVE ALBUM, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
- PREASHEA HILLIARD, LIVE OUT LOUD, SOUNDEFX MEDIA/BLACKSMOKE
- Y’ANNA CRAWLEY, THE PROMISE, ID MUSIC GROUP/UNIVERSAL/FONTANA DISTRIBUTION
- YOLANDA ADAMS, BECOMING, N-HOUSE MUSIC GROUP

Category #15

TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THEYEAR
- BEVERLY CRAWFORD, LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES – VOL.2, JDI RECORDS
- EVELYN TURRENTINE-AGEE, THERE’S GONNA BE A MEETING, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
- LASHUN PACE, REBORN, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
- TWINKIE CLARK, WITH HUMILITY, ARROWHEAD GOSPEL

Category #16

CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
- DEITRICK HADDON, CHURCH ON THE MOON, VERITY MUSIC GROUP
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY MUSIC GROUP
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #17

TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
- JOHN P. KEE, THE LEGACY PROJECT, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR, …THEN SINGS MY SOUL, MALACO
- RICKY DILLARD & NEW G, KEEP LIVING, LIGHT RECORDS/ ENTERTAINMENT ONE
- SMOKIE NORFUL, HOW I GOT OVER: SONGS THAT CARRIED US, TREMYLES MUSIC/ EMIGOSPEL

Category #18

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE ORPERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- DEITRICK HADDON, WELL DONE – CHURCH ON THE MOON, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- KIRK FRANKLIN, I SMILE – HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARY MARY, WALKING – SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/ MY BLOCK RECORDS
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, NOBODY GREATER – TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #19 A

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – SHORTFORMAT
- CANTON JONES, GOD – DOMINIONAIRE, CAJO RECORDS
- CHRISTIAN HEUER, WALKING -SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
- MARTHA MUNIZZI, EXCELLENT – MAKE IT LOUD!, EPIC MUSIC
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, NOBODY GREATER – TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #19 B

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – LONGFORMAT
- DEITRICK HADDON, CHURCH ON THE MOON: PART ONE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- JERRY PARRIES, BISHOP MORTON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS IN MUSIC, LIGHTRECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE,
- MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR, ….THEN SINGS MY SOUL, MALACO
- RICKY DILLARD, KEEP LIVING, LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE

Category #20

TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- CHICAGO MASS CHOIR, XV LIVE, NEW HAVEN RECORDS
- GREATER MOUNT CALVARY RECORDING CHOIR, GREATER MOUNT CALVARY LIVE: AS TOLD BYTHE MUSIC MINISTRY, CALVARY RECORDS
- MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR, ….THEN SINGS MY SOUL, MALACO
- RICKY DILLARD & NEW G, KEEP LIVING, LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE

Category #21

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- LONNIE HUNTER & STRUCTURE, I’M BACK, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- SHEKINAH GLORY MINISTRY, REFRESHED BY FIRE, KINGDOM RECORDS, INC.

Category #22

INSTRUMENTAL GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- HAROLD RAYFORD, I AM THE INSTRUMENT, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
- MOSES TYSON, JR., MUSIC REMASTERED & SACRED ORGAN, TYMO RECORDS
- TODD LEDBETTER, MEDITATIONS: HYMNS IN THE KEY OF JAZZ, DAMALJAH
- WINSTON STEWART, SEASON, JOYFUL RECORDS

Category #23

SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
- BISHOP PAUL S. MORTON, BISHOP MORTON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF MUSIC, LIGHTRECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE
- JOHN P. KEE, THE LEGACY PROJECT, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- SHEKINAH GLORY MINISTRY, REFRESHED BY FIRE, KINGDOM RECORDS, INC.
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, MY SONGBOOK, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

Category #24

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- FLAME, CAPTURED, CLEAR SIGHT MUSIC
- LECRAE, REHAB, REACH RECORDS
- LECRAE, REHAB: THE OVERDOSE, REACH RECORDS
- VIKTORY, BIRTH OF A LEGACY: VOL. 1, VIKTORIUS MUSIC GROUP

Category #25

CHILDRENS PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- PURE N HEART, TEEN PURE IN HEART LIVE, MUSIC2CHANGEU RECORDS
- SANTIAGO & CLAUDE DEUCE, MY DESTINY PLACE – MY IMAGINATION, OPEN RIVERSPICTURES/EAESIS/WORD DISTRIBUTION
- THE VELAZQUEZ FAMILY SINGERS, TEN, Z.A.V.E. RECORDS
- T-REP THE YOUNG PRAYZR, LET’S GO, YUNGSTA GRIND ENTERTAINMENT

Category #26

QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- KEITH “WONDERBOY” JOHNSON & THE SPIRITUAL VOICES, BACK 2 BASICS,BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, THE LIVE EXPERIENCE II, TYSCOT MUSIC &ENTERTAINMENT
- THE SOUL SEEKERS, SOUL SEEKERS II, MY BLOCK RECORDS/ MALACO MUSIC GROUP

Category #27

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- CHRISTINA JONES, DOMINIONAIRE, CAJO RECORDS
- DENISE TROTMAN & GREG GILLIGAN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
- MARTHA MUNIZZI, MAKE IT LOUD!, EPIC MUSIC
- TANNER GARY, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #28

PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
- EARNEST PUGH, EARNESTLY YOURS, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
- ISRAEL HOUGHTON, LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, INTEGRITY MUSIC
- SHEKINAH GLORY MINISTRY, REFRESHED BY FIRE, KINGDOM RECORDS, INC.
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

Category #29

SPOKEN WORLD CD RECORDING OF THEYEAR
- MARCO THE POET, MARCO THE POET EP, INDEPENDENT
- MICHAEL DIALLO MCLENDON, THE DIALLO EXPERIENCE, SEEDWORKS RECORDS
- SELAH, LOOK AT YOU LOVING ME, PAUSE AND THINK MINISTRIES
- TRUPOETRY, TRUPOETRY, TRUPOETRY

SPECIAL AWARDS — HONOREES/NOMINEES

Thomas A. Dorsey Most NotableAchievement Award HONOREE
VY HIGGINSEN

Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones LegendAward HONOREE
DOROTHY NORWOOD

James Cleveland Lifetime AchievementAward HONOREE
JOHN P. KEE

RADIO STATION OFTHE YEAR FINALISTS

MAJOR MARKET (3MAND ABOVE)

WPZE – 102.5 FM ATLANTA, GA

WPRS – 104.1 FM WASHINGTON, DC

KJLH – 102.3 FM LOS ANGELES, CA

WGRB – 1390 AM

Large Market ( 1-3m)

WHAL - 95.7FM/1460 AMMEMPHIS, TN

WFMI – 100.9 FM VA-NORFOLK – NEWPT, VA

WCAO – 600 AM BALTIMORE, MD

SMALL MARKET – (UNDER500,000)

WDJL 1000 AM HUNTSVILLE, AL

WJNI 106.3 FM CHARLESTON, SC

KOKA 980 AM SHREVEPOT, LA

WIMG 1300 AM TRENTON, NJ