28th ANNUAL STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Mary Mary Tops List of Nominees with Nine Nods; Best New Artist Nominee Charles Jenkins Earns Eight, Including Artist of the Year; Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond and Andre Crouch Score Multiple Nominations

CHICAGO, IL (October 26, 2012) – Two of Gospel music’s biggest acts will share the microphone when Kirk Franklin and Tina and Ericka Campbell of Mary Mary co-host the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The annual salute to Gospel’s best and brightest performers returns to Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry House Theater Saturday, January 19, 2013. The Stellar Awards will air in broadcast syndication on 150 stations in over 125 markets around the country and on the GMC network from January 19 to March 3, 2013. Today the nominees in twenty-eight categories of excellence were announced via webcast (www.thestellarawards.com) and social media.

With more than 30,000 fans logging online to cast their votes for their favorite projects of the year, show co-hosts and WEtv reality stars Mary Mary lead the list of nominees with nine total nominations based on their latest disc, “Go Get It.” Nominations include “Song of the Year,” “Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year,” and “Contemporary CD of the Year,” in addition to recognition for the project in the “Producer of the Year,” “Music Video of the Year” and “Recorded Music Packaging of the Year” categories.

Newcomer Charles Jenkins who, in addition to earning a “Best New Artist” nomination for his debut CD “The Best of Both Worlds,” garnered recognition in seven additional categories including “Artist of The Year” and “Song of The Year.” Other multiple nominees include superstars Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond with six nominations each, both nominated in the hotly-contested “Male Vocalist of the Year” and “CD of the Year” categories; legendary Andre Crouch with five nominations, including “Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” for his disc “The Journey”; and “Best New Artist” contender Isaac Carree with five nods for his solo but “Uncommon Me.”

2012 – 2013  28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Nominees

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
SONG OF THE YEAR
ANDRAE CROUCH, LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN – THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
CHARLES JENKINS, AWESOME – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
MARVIN SAPP & AARON LINDSEY, MY TESTIMONY – I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
TINA CAMPBELL, ERICA CAMPBELL & WARRYN CAMPBELL, GO GET IT – GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
DEITRICK HADDON, A BEAUTIFUL SOUL, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
JASON NELSON, SHIFTING THE ATMOSPHERE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
 ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
DORINDA CLARK COLE, I SURVIVED, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
KIERRA SHEARD, FREE, KAREW RECORDS
LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, THE AWAKENING OF LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
MAURETTE BROWN CLARK, THE SOUND OF VICTORY, AIR INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
FOREVER JONES, MUSICAL REVIVAL, EMI GOSPEL
JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, IDENTITY, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
CHENETA JONES, TRANSFORMED, REAL TALENT MEDIA GROUP
ISAAC CARREE, UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, THE AWAKENING OF LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
 CD OF THE YEAR
ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
JAMES HALL WORSHIP & PRAISE, TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE, MUSIC BLEND, INC.
JJ HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE, AFTER THIS, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
RICHARD SMALLWOOD WITH VISION, PROMISES, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
DONALD LAWRENCE, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
ISAAC CARREE, ERIC DAWKINS, WARRYN CAMPBELL, GERALD HADDON, & RICK ROBINSON, UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
WARRYN CAMPBELL, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
FOREVER JONES, MUSICAL REVIVAL, EMI GOSPEL
JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, IDENTITY, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
ANGELA SPIVEY & GREATER BLESSINGS PRAISE TEAM, HE KEEPS HIS PROMISE, INNOVATIVE RECORDS
LUTHER BARNES & THE SUNSET JUBILAIRES, ANOTHER LEVEL, AIR INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS, LIVE AT THE HARD ROCK – PART 1, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
TIM ROGERS & THE FELLAS, REAL, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
CONTEMPORARY MALE OF THE YEAR
FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
ISAAC CARREE, UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
SMOKIE NORFUL, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, EMI GOSPEL
ZACARDI CORTEZ, ZACARDI CORTEZ: THE INTRODUCTION, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
TRADITIONAL MALE OF THE YEAR
ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
JASON NELSON, SHIFTING THE ATMOSPHERE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
WILLIAM MCDOWELL, ARISE, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE OF THE YEAR
ANITA WILSON, WORSHIP SOUL, EMI GOSPEL
DORINDA CLARK COLE, I SURVIVED, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
KIERRA SHEARD, FREE, KAREW RECORDS
LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, THE AWAKENING OF LE’ANDRIA JOHNSON, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF THE YEAR
ANGELA SPIVEY, HE KEEPS HIS PROMISE, INNOVATIVE RECORDS
DOROTHY NORWOOD, GOD’S BEEN JUST THAT GOOD, MALACO RECORDS
SHIRLEY MURDOCK, LIVE: THE JOURNEY, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
VANESSA BELL ARMSTRONG, TIMELESS, MUSIC WORLD GOSPEL
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY, YRM (YOUR RIGHTEOUS MIND), QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT/VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP/ SONY
DORINDA CLARK COLE, I SURVIVED, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
FRED HAMMOND, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
ANDRAE CROUCH, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
BYRON CAGE, MEMOIRS OF A WORSHIPPER, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
MARVIN SAPP, I WIN, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
ANITA WILSON, SPEECHLESS – WORSHIP SOUL, EMI GOSPEL
FRED HAMMOND, I FEEL GOOD – GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
ISAAC CARREE, IN THE MIDDLE – UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
MARY MARY, GO GET IT – GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – SHORT FORMAT
DARREN GRANT, GO GET IT – GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
DAVEN BAPTISTE, IN THE MIDDLE – UNCOMMON ME, SOVEREIGN AGENCY/DOOR 6 ENTERTAINMENT
JAMAAL BANKS, LEAD US TO TRUTH – THE NEXT DIMENSION, BGA MUSIC GROUP
STEVE HUFFMAN, I’M AT PEACE – I’M AT PEACE, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT CORP.
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
BILLWINSTON & LIVING WORD, BILL WINSTON PRESENTS LIVING WORD “RELEASED”, SOURCE MEDIA
CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, THE BESTOF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
JAMES HALL WORSHIP & PRAISE, TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE, MUSIC BLEND, INC.
RICHARD SMALLWOOD WITH VISION, PROMISES, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
DEITRICK HADDON, ANTHOLOGY: THE WRITER & HIS MUSIC, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, THE JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA, BLACKSMOKE MUSIC WORLDWIDE
MARY MARY, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
SMOKIE NORFUL, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, EMI GOSPEL
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
DA T.R.U.T.H., THE WHOLE TRUTH, XIST MUSIC/BLACK FUEL ENTERTAINMENT
FLAME, THE 6TH, CLEAR SIGHT MUSIC
JSON, GROWING PAINS, LAMP MODE RECORDINGS
TRIP LEE, THE GOOD LIFE, REACH RECORDS
CHILDRENS PROJECT OF THE YEAR
ANOINTED BY GOD, ANOINTED BY GOD, ONE VOICE MEDIA
KINGDOM KIDS WORLDWIDE, KINGDOM KIDS WORLDWIDE – AFTER SCHOOL PARTY, HEADSTRATE ENTERTAINMENT
NYASIA, TAKE OFF, INDEPENDENT
PURE-N-HEART KIDS, PURE-N-HEART KIDS: LIVE PRAISE AND WORSHIP EXPERIENCE, MUSIC2CHANGEU RECORDS
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
LUTHER BARNES & THE SUNSET JUBILAIRES, ANOTHER LEVEL, AIR INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
THE CLARK BROTHERS, IT’S IN YOUR HANDS, CE RECORDS
THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS, LIVE AT THE HARD ROCK – PART 1, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
TIM ROGERS & THE FELLAS, REAL, BLACKBERRY RECORDS
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
CHARLES JENKINS, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
DANIEL JOEL ORTIZ, THE JOURNEY, RIVERPHLO ENTERTAINMENT
DENISE TROTMAN, GOD, LOVE & ROMANCE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
FUSAKO CHUBACHI, GO GET IT, MY BLOCK/COLUMBIA RECORDS
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
ANITA WILSON, WORSHIP SOUL, EMI GOSPEL
BYRON CAGE, MEMOIRS OF A WORSHIPPER, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
JASON NELSON, SHIFTING THE ATMOSPHERE, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
WILLIAM MCDOWELL, ARISE, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC