The Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebrated its 41st year of honoring excellence in gospel music with a star-studded ceremony over the weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Hosted by 45-time Stellar Award winner and 20-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin, the ceremony brought “The Greatest Night in Gospel Music” to the Spectrum Center on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Pastor Mike Jr. was presented with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award for his impact on the gospel music industry. (Pastor Mike is shown above)
Gospel superstar Tasha Cobbs Leonard received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, recognizing her influential career and contributions to gospel music.
Lisa Knowles Smith led the list of winners in the competitive categories with five awards, including the Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year trophy.
Other winners included Darrel Walls, Vincent Bohanan & SOV, Jonathan McReynolds, John P. Kee, Jekalyn Carr, and The Brown Singers.
The ceremony was executive produced by Don Jackson. Jennifer J. Jackson served as producer and executive in charge of production, with Michael A. Johnson as producer and director, Erin Johnson-Pressley as talent producer and Daniel Moore as music director.
The awards air Saturday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m. ET on The Stellar Network, followed by an encore presentation Sunday, Aug. 30, at 8 p.m. ET on BET.
Below is the list of winners at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
Category #1
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Darrel Walls ~ Heart of Mine ~ Tyscot Records / Gumbo Studios
Category #2
SONG OF THE YEAR
– Promises (Live) ~ Lisa Knowles Smith ~ EvoWorld Entertainment
Category #3
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds ~ Still (Live) ft. Jamal Roberts ~ Motown Gospel, Life Room Label
CATEGORY #4
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Lisa Knowles Smith ~ Revival: Live in Dallas ~ EvoWorld Entertainment
CATEGORY #5
DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
– Lisa Knowles Smith & The Brown Singers ~ Revival: Live in Dallas ~ EvoWorld Entertainment
CATEGORY #6
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Ablaze ~ Ablaze ~ Independent
CATEGORY #7
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
– Live in New York ~ Vincent Bohanan & SOV ~ Independent
CATEGORY #8 –
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
TIE
– JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise ~ The Live Reunion: Washington, DC ~ Motown Gospel, Jamestown Music
– Vincent Bohanan & SOV ~ Live in New York ~ Independent
CATEGORY #9
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
– Lisa Knowles Smith & Frederick Perry ~ Revival: Live in Dallas ~ EvoWorld Entertainment
2025 – 2026
41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners
CATEGORY #10
CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
– Jonathan McReynolds ft. Jamal Roberts ~ Still (Live)~ Motown Gospel, Life Room Label
CATEGORY #11
TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR
– Brandon Camphor & One Way ~ In Christ Alone ~ TOMii Entertainment
CATEGORY #12
CONTEMPORARY MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Darrel Walls ~ Heart of Mine ~ Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studio
CATEGORY #13
TRADITIONAL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– John P. Kee ~ Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee Part I ~ Kee Music Group/Tyscot Records
CATEGORY #14
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Erica Campbell ~ Trust and Obey – London ~ My Block Records Inc.
CATEGORY #15
TRADITIONAL FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Blanche McAllister-Dykes ~ Words ~ Platoon
CATEGORY #16
CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
– Fred Hammond Presents Sensere: The Soul Of Future Worship Vol. II ~ Sensere ~ Wrightsound M&E
CATEGORY #17
TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
– Jekalyn X The Legends ~ Jekalyn Carr ~ Waynorth Music
CATEGORY #18 –
URBAN SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
– On The Way Remix ft. Erica Campbell ~ Adia ~ Rock City Media Group
2025 – 2026
41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners
CATEGORY #19
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
– Find Jesus ~ Deitrick Haddon ~ ManHaddon Ministries/Tyscot Records
CATEGORY #20
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– John P. Kee & New Life ~ Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee Part I ~ Kee Music Group/Tyscot
Records
CATEGORY #21
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– Vincent Bohanan & SOV ~ Live in New York ~ Independent
CATEGORY #22
TRADITIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– Jekalyn Carr ~ Jekalyn X The Legends ~ Waynorth Music
CATEGORY #23
SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
– Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents: Almost Home – A Ramp Record with Friends ~ Bishop S.Y. Younger ~
Ramp Records, Under Exclusive License to MNRK Records LP
CATEGORY #24
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
– Reconstruction ~ Lecrae ~ Reach Records
CATEGORY #25
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
– Pure N Heart; Alphaeus Anderson Presents Pure N Heart Celebrate Jesus 20yrs; Music2ChangeU
CATEGORY #26
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
– Lisa Knowles Smith & The Brown Singers ~ Revival: Live in Dallas ~ EvoWorld Entertainment
CATEGORY #27
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
– PJ Morton ~ Heart of Mine ~ Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studios
2025 – 2026
41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners
CATEGORY #28
PRAISE AND WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
– Promises ~ Todd Dulaney ~ DulaneyLand Music, FairTrade Services
CATEGORY #29
PRAISE AND WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR
– Your Name ~ Jovonta Patton ~ Newton Street Entertainment/Integrity
CATEGORY #30
RAP/HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
– Movin ~ JustCordell ~ Rock City Media Group
CATEGORY #31
HBCU CHOIR OF THE YEAR
– The Fort Valley State University Choir ft. Loren Michelle & Tiffany Boone
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