The 32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards are beginning to take shape as its parent company Central City Productions has announced the performers for this year’s event. Billed as an “epic night in gospel music,” this year’s Stellar Awards will return to the Las Vegas Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The telecast will premiere on TV One Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. ET with encores at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET. In addition, the Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication on 170 stations in over 150 markets around the country from April 15 – May 7, 2017.
This year’s performers include Tamela Mann, Shirley Caesar, Jekalyn Carr, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Bizzle,Canton Jones, Da’ Truth, JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise, Travis Greene, VaShawn Mitchell, Tasha Cobbs, Doug Williams, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson & Da Chozen Brothaz. The evening will be hosted by multi-time Stellar Award winners Erica Campbell and Anthony Brown.
Kirk Franklin Stellar photoThere will also be a number of special awards presented during this weekend. Gospel music legend Spencer Taylor (of the Highway QC’s) is the recipient of the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. The Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award will be presented to the legendary Reverend Clay Evans and the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award will be presented to Harvey Watkins Jr, lead singer of The Canton Spirituals. In addition, Fred Hammond, The Mississippi Mass Choir, and Dr. Leonard Scott will be inducted into the Stellar Honors Hall of Fame.
The Stellar Awards show taping is open to the public, with ticket prices ranging from $50 – $200 at www.ticketmaster.com.
The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show is scheduled for Friday, March 24 where a number of awards will be presented in non-televised multiple categories. Performers for this special event include C. Ashley Brown-Lawrence, Micah Stampley, Janice Gaines, Latice Crawford, Myron Butler, Charles Butler & Trinity, The Wardlaw Brothers, Kinsmen and the Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University.
In addition, the Stellar Gospel Radio Awards & Showcase will be held on Saturday, March 25, honoring top radio stations and announcers serving urban gospel music audiences. Performers include: Zacardi Cortez, Ted Winn, Cheryl Fortune, Luther Barnes, Enon Tabernacle Choir and Brian Courtney Wilson. Tickets for each event can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information and a full listing of this year’s nominees, check out the Stellar Awards website at stellartv.com.
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Source: bonnerfideradio.com
