Pastor Mike Jr. was the top winner at the 2022 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which were presented on last Saturday at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta. The pastor, author and recording artist won six awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for “I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol. 1”. Pastor Mike Jr. also won Artist of the Year last year. He’s the first artist to win in that top category two years running since Donald Lawrence in 2006-07.
The ceremony, which was co-hosted by Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard, was taped live and will air on Sunday Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET, BET Her and BET International and will be syndicated in various local markets across the U.S. between Aug. 13 and Sept.
CeCe Winans won three awards — Producer of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, and Praise and Worship Song of the Year. The awards are for Winans’ first live album, “Believe for It” which logged seven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music received three awards for their collaboration, Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP. Ricky Dillard also won three Stellar Awards, in addition to receiving the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to gospel music.
Tamela Mann received two awards. E. Dewey Smith was named Best New Artist for his 2021 album “God Period”.
The show featured performances by Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell, Maverick City Music, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett, Le’Andria Johnson, Koryn Hawthorne, Brian Courtney Wilson, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Doe, Rudy Currence, Chrisette Michele, Darrel Walls, James Fortune and more.
The Stellar Gospel Music Awards also bestowed several special honors. Six-time Grammy Award-winning hitmaker and producer Aaron Lindsey received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award.
Candi Staton, who has had pop, R&B, disco and gospel hits in a career that stretches back to the 1960s, received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award. Staton’s biggest hit was the 1976 classic “Young Hearts Run Free,” which reached No. 1 on Hot Soul Singles (as the chart was then known) and the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show was executive produced by Don Jackson, chairman and CEO of Chicago-based Central City Productions. Jennifer J. Jackson served as executive in charge of production and producer. Michael A. Johnson produced and directed this year’s show.
Artist of the Year
CeCe Winans; Believe for It; Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media
Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music; Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK
Maverick City Music; Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition; TRIBL Records
WINNER: Pastor Mike, Jr.; I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; Black Smoke Music Worldwide/ Rock City Media Group
Tamela Mann; Overcomer; Tillymann Music Group
Song of the Year
“All of My Help”; Nathaniel Zaccheus Bean & Ricky Dillard; Motown Gospel
“Amazing”; Michael McClure Jr., Adia Andrews, Giano Piero Reverberi, Brian Joseph Burton, Gianfranco Reverberi & Thmosa Decarlo Callaway; Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group
“Believe for It”; CeCe Winans, Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee & Mitch Wong; Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media
“Help Me”; Bartholomew Orr, Justin Pearson, La’Tia Mann, Phillip Bryant, Tamela Mann & Tiffany Mann; Tillymann Music Group
WINNER: “Jireh” (Featuring Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine); Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, Steven Furtick & Chris Brown; TRIBL Records
Male artist of the Year
Israel Houghton; Feels Like Home, Vol. 1; District 11 Entertainment
Kelontae Gavin; The N.O.W. Experience; RCA Inspiration
WINNER: Pastor Mike, Jr.; I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; Black Smoke Music Worldwide/ Rock City Media Grouphttps://13d08e5d5ce6842c439896e19cb152d9.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Todd Dulaney; Anthems & Glory; MNRK
Travis Greene; Oil + Water; RCA Inspiration
Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year
Bri Babineaux; The Encounter Continues; Bri Babineaux Music/Tyscot
CeCe Winans; Believe for It; Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media
Kelly Price; Grace; Motown Gospel
Kim Person; Journey 2.0; KLP Music Enterprise
WINNER: Tamela Mann; Overcomer; Tillymann Music Group
Duo/chorus Group of the Year
1K Phew & Lecrae; No Church in a While; Reach Records
Dawkins & Dawkins; Never Gets Old Vol 2; Legacy Music Group
Israel And New Breed; Feels Like Home, Vol. 1; District 11 Entertainment
WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music; Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK
Maverick City Music, Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition, TRIBL Records
New Artist of the Year
WINNER: E. Dewey Smith; God Period; Pebble Street Records
Evvie McKinney; This Is Evvie McKinney EP; Motown Gospel
Jason McGee & The Choir; Power; My Block Inc.
Josh Copeland; No Fear; Anointed Sounds / MNRK
Lasha’ Knox; God of Miracles; Black Smoke Music Worldwide
Album of the Year
Anthems & Glory; Todd Dulaney; MNRK
Believe for It; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media
WINNER: I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol 1; Pastor Mike, Jr.; Black Smoke Music Worldwide / Rock City Media Group
Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP; Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music; Life Room/K Approved/RCA Inspiration/MNRK
Overcomer; Tamela Mann; Tillymann Music Group
Click HERE for full Billboard.com article and list of winners at the 2022 Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
