2012 Stellar Award Nominations :: Vashawn Mitchell Receives 10 Nominations!

Last night Nashville, Tennessee welcomed Gospel’s finest for a special one-hour live telecast on GMC from NorthStar Studios where the nominees for the 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were announced.

Audiences enjoyed hilarious Christian comedian Akintunde and Stellar Award winning Trin-i-tee 5:7’s Angel and Chanelle, who hosted the show. Featuring performances from Isaac Carree, William McDowell, Y’anna Crawley, and hosts Trin-i-tee 5:7 who were joined by their Music World Gospel artist label mate, Brian Courtney Wilson, for new single Over and Over.

Gospel music lovers learned that emerging star, Vashawn Mitchell, led this year’s nominee’s with an impressive ten nods for his 2011 release Triumphant. Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin each tied with six nominations for their respective projects, Something Big and Hello Fear. To round out the top nomination earners, Deitrick Haddon’s Church on the Moon, received five nominations.

Produced by Central City Productions, the 2012 Stellar Awards ceremony will be hosted by gospel legends Dorinda Clark-Cole and Marvin Sapp on Saturday, January 14, 2012. The telecast will air in national syndication beginning January 21, 2012.

Most are in expectation of a great time in gospel as Kirk Franklin, Jessica Reedy, Earnest Pugh, Richard Smallwood and Vision, Martha Munizzi, LeAndria Johnson, Lecrae, Canton Jones, Kim Burrell, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Fred Hammond, Ricky Dillard and James Fortune, who also appeared on last night’s nomination broadcast to learn he received nods for Group/Duo of the Year, CD of the Year and Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year.

The 2012 awards ceremony will also honor Vy Higgenson, founder of Gospel for Teens with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award; Dorothy Norwood will receive the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award; and John P. Kee will be given the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong music ministry.

You can help choose Gospel Announcer of the Year and Internet RAdio Station of the Year by voting online at www.thestellarawards.com from October 29, 2011 to November 15, 2011. If you are interested in attending the live taping at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com.

Root Magazine congratulates all of this year’s nominees! Check out our gallery of photos from last night’s event; the list of 2012 nominees follows…

The 2012 Stellar Awards Nominees are:

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

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

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/EMI GOSPEL
– VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR* (*renamed in 2011)
– 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

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 & ENTERTAINMENT
– TRIN-I-TEE 5:7, ANGEL & CHANELLE, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL/MUSIC WORLD

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
– GREATER MOUNT CALVARY RECORDING CHOIR, GREATER MOUNT CALVARY LIVE: AS TOLD BY THE 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 DISTRIBUTION

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

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.

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

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

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 SEAKERS, SOUL SEEKERS II, MY BLOCK RECORDS/MALACO MUSIC GROUP

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

TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– 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/EMI GOSPEL

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– 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

TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
– 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

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

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/ EMI GOSPEL

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE 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

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – SHORT FORMAT
– 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

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

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

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

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

SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
– BISHOP PAUL S. MORTON, BISHOP MORTON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF MUSIC, LIGHT RECORDS/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

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

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

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

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

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

SPOKEN WORLD CD RECORDING OF THE YEAR
– 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

SMALL MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
– WDJL 1000 AM Huntsville, AL
– WJNI 106.3 FM Charleston, SC
– KOKA 980 AM Shreveport, LA
– WIMG 1300 AM Trenton, NJ

MEDIUM MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
– WLOU 1350 AM Louisville, KY
– WPRF 94.9 FM New Orleans, LA
– WENO 760 AM Nashville, TN
– KPZK 102.5 FM Little Rock, AR

LARGE MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
– WHAL 95.7FM/1460 AM Memphis, TN
– WFMI 100.9 Va-Norfolk-Newpt, VA
– WCAO 600 AM Baltimore, MD
– WMBM 1490 AM Miami, FL

MAJOR MARKET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
– WPZE 102.5 Atlanta, GA
– WPRS 104.1 Washington, DC
– KJLH 102.3 FM Los Angeles, CA
– WGRB 1390 AM Chicago, IL