Marylander Y’Anna Crawley was named New Artist of the Year at the 27th Annual Stellar Awards in Nashville on January 14 . During her acceptance speech, the singer known best for winning Season 2 of Sunday Best, thanked God for allowing her to use her gift for his glory.
Through thankful tears she said, “When people forget about you, God remembers you.”
Crawley is one of several artists from the capital area to be involved in gospel music’s biggest night. The award for Spoken Word Artist of the Year, a new category, went to DC native Selah Watkins. The Maestro, Richard Smallwood performed during the main show as did rising gospel star Ernest Pugh. A highlight of the evening, Pugh’s jaw-dropping, five octave range delighted worshippers at the Grand Ole Opry as he rendered a special arrangement of his two 2011 hits, “Rain on Us” and “Let Your Glory Fill This Place.” Maurette Brown Clark and Byron Cage hosted the pre-show where worship leader Stephen Hurd was a presenter.
With a show book-ended by an electrifying opening from Kirk Franklin and ending with a thunderous response from Ricky Dillard and powerhouse Leandria Johnson in between, the production was no less than stellar.
The audience lept to its feet with expectancy at the sight of Johnson who wore a fitted full-length purple gown as she slayed the crowd with a stanza of “Jesus.” Johnson performed as a part of a “Ladies of Gospel” set that was led by new Female Vocalist of the Year Kim Burrell singing “Sweeter,” Jessica Reedy (debuting a jazzy new short hairdo) singing “Put It on the Altar”and Martha Munizzi raising the praise with "How Excellent is Your Name." It was the collaborative spirit-filled energy from Holy Hip Hoppers Lecrae, Da' T.R.U.T.H., and Canton Jones that caused a praise surge in the atmosphere.
Winner of Producer of the Year Kirk Franklin performed a combination of his latest hits, including Song of the Year "Smile," from the CD of the Year, “Hello Fear.” Franklin stunned the crowd when he shared his award for Song of the Year with fellow nominee Darius Paulk who penned Vashawn Mitchell's "Nobody Greater." This big-hearted gesture from the gospel icon won’t soon be forgotten.
"Because God has been so kind to me.....He's given me more than I deserve or could ever earn," said Franklin, "I want to be a good Christian and I know to do that, I have to encourage others. That song ‘Nobody Greater’ has ministered to me so deeply. If you don't mind, I would be honored to share this award with [Darius Paulk] because that song is incredible."
Overall, the night belonged to Vashawn Mitchell.
Leading the list of winners, the “Nobody Greater” singer took home six out of eleven Stellar Award nominations for his work on the album "Triumphant." With the mass success of the single "Nobody Greater," Mitchell’s triumph as both Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the year was predictable.
"I've been coming to the Stellar Awards a long time and I'm glad I waited my turn," he said.
John P. Kee received the well-deserved James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments over a career that spans three decades and was serenaded by Isaac Carree, Sheila Lakin, Lowell Pye and Zacardi Cortez, members of the gospel community who ether sang with Kee or were influenced by him. Dorothy Norwood, dubbed "The World's Greatest Gospel Story Teller," received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, presented by the veteran show host. Vy Higgensen, a preacher's daughter, was the first woman to host a morning show on New York radio as well as produce a faith-based musical on Broadway ("Momma I Want to Sing"), received the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award for her work with the "Gospel for Teens" program.
Everyone was a winner as nominees received elegant gift bags courtesy of Central City Productions and Jireh Communications Group,
Congratulations to all of the 2012 Stellar Award award recipients:
AT&T ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
SONG OF THE YEAR
- KIRK FRANKLIN, I SMILE - HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- KIM BURRELL, THE LOVE ALBUM, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Y'ANNA CRAWLEY, THE PROMISE, ID MUSIC GROUP/UNIVERSAL/FONTANA DISTRIBUTION
CD OF THE YEAR
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- RICKY DILLARD & NEW G, KEEP LIVING, LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- MARY MARY, SOMETHING BIG, COLUMBIA RECORDS/MY BLOCK RECORDS
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, THE LIVE EXPERIENCE II, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
CONTEMPORARY MALE OF THE YEAR
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
TRADITIONAL MALE OF THE YEAR
- SMOKIE NORFUL, HOW I GOT OVER: SONGS THAT CARRIED US, TREMYLES MUSIC/EMI GOSPEL
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- KIM BURRELL, THE LOVE ALBUM, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- BEVERLY CRAWFORD, LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES - VOL. 2, JDI RECORDS
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
- KIRK FRANKLIN, HELLO FEAR, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
- SMOKIE NORFUL, HOW I GOT OVER: SONGS THAT CARRIED US, TREMYLES MUSIC/EMI GOSPEL
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, NOBODY GREATER - TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR - SHORT FORMAT
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, NOBODY GREATER - TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR - LONG FORMAT
- DEITRICK HADDON, CHURCH ON THE MOON, VERITY GOSPEL MUSIC GROUP
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR, ...THEN SINGS MY SOUL, MALACO
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- SHEKINAH GLORY MINISTRY, REFRESHED BY FIRE, KINGDOM RECORDS, INC.
INSTRUMENTAL GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- MOSES TYSON, JR., MUSIC REMASTERED & SACRED ORGAN, TYMO RECORDS
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
- BISHOP PAUL S. MORTON, BISHOP MORTON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF MUSIC, LIGHT RECORDS/ENTERTAINMENT ONE
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- LECRAE, REHAB: THE OVERDOSE, REACH RECORDS
CHILDRENS PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- PURE N HEART, TEEN PURE IN HEART LIVE, MUSIC2CHANGEU
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, THE LIVE EXPERIENCE II, TYSCOT MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- MARTHA MUNIZZI, MAKE IT LOUD!, EPIC MUSIC
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
- VASHAWN MITCHELL, TRIUMPHANT, EMI GOSPEL
SPOKEN WORD CD RECORDING OF THE YEAR
- SELAH, LOOK AT YOU LOVING ME, PAUSE AND THINK MINISTRIES
GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR
MAJOR MARKET (3 M AND ABOVE)
- KJLH - 102.3 FM, LOS ANGELES, CA
LARGE MARKET (1 M - 3 M)
- WHAL-95.7 FM/1460 AM, MEMPHIS, TN
MEDIUM MARKET (500,000 - 1 M)
- WLOU - 1350 AM, LOUISVILLE, KY
SMALL MARKET (UNDER 500,000)
- KOKA - 980 AM, SHREVEPORT, LA
INTERNET RADIO STATION
- GOSPELSYNERGY.COM/SYNERGY1RADIO.COM, CHICAGO, IL
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER
- JOHN HANNAH, WGRB - 1390 AM, CHICAGO, IL
Hosted by Dorinda Clark Cole and Marvin Sapp, the 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will air in nationwide syndication from January 21, 2012 to February 26, 2012 and premiere on GMC Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 8 p.m. EST. A shortened list of key markets follows. To view a full broadcast schedule go to www.thestellarawards.com.
Atlanta, GA (FOX) – February 4, 2012, 4PM
Washington, DC (CW) – February 12, 2012, 1PM
Philadelphia, PA (MyNetworkTV) – February 5, 2012, 3PM
Houston, TX (MyNetworkTV) – January 21, 2012, 7PM
Detroit, MI (WADL-TV) – February 5, 2012, 8PM
Norfolk, VA (FOX) – January 29, 2012, 12PM & February 12, 2012, 1PM
Charlotte, NC (ABC) – February 26, 2012, 2PM
Cleveland-Akron, OH (ABC) – February 5, 2012, 1PM
St. Louis, MO (MyNetworkTV) – February 19, 2012, 5PM
Orlando-Dayton Beach, FL (WRDQ-TV) – February 5, 2012, 3PM
Birmingham, AL (ABC) – February 12, 2012, 12PM
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA (KOFY-TV) – February 25, 2012, 3PM
Richmond-Petersburg, VA (FOX) – February 12, 2012, 3PM
Jackson, MS (ABC) – January 29, 2012, 12PM
Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC (FOX) – February 12, 2012, 1PM
Nashville, TN (MyNetworkTV) – February 5, 2012, 7PM
Indianapolis, IN (WHMB-TV) – January 26, 2012, 8PM & February 23, 2012, 8PM
Columbus, OH (W23BZ-TV) – January 21, 2012, 8PM
Shreveport, LA (MyNetworkTV) – January 25, 2012, 8PM
Milwaukee, WI (MyNetworkTV) – January 29, 2012, 3PM
Savannah, GA (FOX) – January 29, 2012, 1PM
Pittsburgh, PA (MyNetworkTV) – February 12, 2012, 3PM
Charleston, SC (ABC) – January 21, 2012, 2PM
Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, MI – January 29, 2012, 12:30PM
Tyler-Longview, TX (ABC) – February 5, 2012, 12:30PM
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