New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Though celebrating the milestone 35th Anniversary of the
Stellar Gospel
Music Awards has been delayed due to the ongoing global health crisis and pandemic of COVID-19, Central City Productions today announced plans to produce the "Greatest Night in Gospel Music" as a two-hour virtual awards telecast that will air in 3Q of this year. Replacing the live taping previously rescheduled for August in Las Vegas, the new show format will harness the power of technology and creative television production to honor the best in Gospel music. The virtual production will acknowledge all winners of the
Stellar Awards pre-show and main show, with select categories being presented in the broadcast. The broadcast will also feature inspirational performances from Gospel music's most celebrated artists, and special tributes to first responder heroes on the front lines of the battle against the Coronavirus pandemic.
"As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic closing venues in Las
Vegas we are producing our
Stellar Awards as a virtual at home television special to honor our
Stellar Award 2020 nominees and winners, that will still raise the roof for our fans at home with great Gospel music performances in a new format," said
Stellar Awards Founder and Executive Producer Don Jackson. "Also, it gives us the opportunity to honor COVID-19 first responder heroes in appreciation of the great work they are doing to save lives during this pandemic. We hope to further inspire these heroes with tributes of thanks from our Gospel music cast of
Stellar winners and performances."
Joining previously announced first time co-hosts Jonathan McReynolds and
Koryn Hawthorne is
Stellar Awards veteran host Kirk Franklin. The superstar trio will work together to keep the virtual television praise party lifted and flowing seamlessly throughout the evening. Confirmed performers include Donnie McClurkin,
James Fortune, J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise,
Travis Greene, Pastor Mike Jr., Kierra Sheard, and Doe, with more to be announced in coming weeks.
An important tradition at the
Stellar Awards will be held for next year's 2021 show, where Jackson will bestow well-deserved special honors and recognition upon Gospel greats who have elevated the genre. The previously named recipients - The Clark Sisters, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, Pastor Shirley Caesar in addition to Gospel music industry leaders Dr. Leonard Scott, Skip Barrett, Kerry Douglas, and Dr. Teresa Hairston -- will be celebrated for their contributions to Gospel music when The
Stellar Awards returns to Las
Vegas next
Spring in March 2021.
Tickets purchased for 2020
Stellar Awards events that were scheduled for August 14-16 will be refunded. To submit requests or for more information, visit https://www.ticketmaster.com.
Previously announced nominees for the 2020
Stellar Awards includes veteran Gospel collective,
Donald Lawrence Presents The Tri-City Singers who leads the field of nominees with nine nominations. Other top nominees include Gospel icon and
Stellar Awards Host, Kirk
Franklin and powerhouse singer, producer and performer
Tasha Cobbs Leonard with eight nominations each; JJ Hairston (7 Nominations), Bishop Paul S.
Morton (6 Nominations), John P. Kee (5 Nominations), Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers (4 Nominations),
William Murphy (4 Nominations), Pastor Mike, Jr. (4 Nominations), Maranda Curtis (3 Nominations), and
Fresh Start Worship (3 Nominations) round out the field of top nominated artists. For the complete list of the 35th Anniversary
Stellar Gospel
Music Awards nominees, please visit https://www.thestellarawards.com.
More of the biggest names in Gospel and a few additional surprises are being added to the growing list of top performers appearing in this year's show, presented by AT&T and also sponsored by
State Farm.
"I am especially grateful and appreciative of the tremendous positive response we have had from Gospel music artists, our advertising partners and over 200 television broadcast and cable partners around the country who have agreed to support our 35th annual
Stellar Awards at home special honoring
Stellar winners and first responder heroes," said Jackson.
Stay tuned for future announcements and follow @thestellars for the latest news and updates about the greatest night in Gospel music.
The
Stellar Gospel
Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Executive in Charge of Production. Michael A. Johnson will produce and direct this year's award show.
