2017 – 2018
33rd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Nominees (Nominees with Detroit ties are bolded)

Category #1
ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel
  • –  Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration

Category #2
SONG OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anthony Brown, Trust in You – A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  David Bloom, Cortez Vaughn, Phontane Demond Reed & JJ Hairston, You Deserve It (JJ Hairston & YouthfulPraise), JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  Derrick Starks & J.D. Sheard II, Hang On (Feat: Kierra Sheard) – Bishop J. Drew Sheard Presents: GEI LIVE,Karew Records
  • –  Travis Greene, You Waited – Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration

Category #3
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anthony Brown, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  JJ Hairston, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  Marvin Sapp, Close, Verity/RCA Inspiration
  • –  Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #4
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  CeCe Winans, Let Them Fall in Love, Pure Springs Gospel
  • –  Le’Andria Johnson, Bigger Than Me, RCA Inspiration
  • –  Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel
  • –  Tina Campbell, It’s Still Personal, Gee Tree Creative/Malaco

CATEGORY #5
DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
  • –  James Fortune & FIYA, Dear Future Me, Fiya World Music/Entertainment One
  • –  The Williams Brothers, Timeless, Blackberry Records

CATEGORY #6
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  Dr. F. James Clark Presents the NextGeneration Choir, Sure. Focused. Centered, City of Peace Music
  • –  Gene Moore, The Future, Motown Gospel
  • –  Isabel Davis, The Call, Uncle G Records
  • –  Koryn Hawthorne, Koryn Hawthorne EP, RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #7 CD OF THE YEAR

  • –  A Long Way from Sunday, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel
  • –  Crossover Live in Music City, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #8 CHOIR OF THE YEAR

  • –  JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  Ricky Dillard & New G, 10, Entertainment One
  • –  The Miami Mass Choir, The Miami Mass Choir Live: At The Adrienne Arsht Center, MaJo Records
  • –  Vincent Bohanan & The Sound of Victory Fellowship Choir, We Win, Independent

CATEGORY #9 PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anthony Brown, Justin Savage, Dana T. Sorey, Warryn Campbell & Darryl Woodson, A Long Way from Sunday (Anthony Brown & group therAPy), Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  Deitrick Haddon, Marcus Hodge & Gina Miller, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
  • –  Kenneth Leonard & Natasha Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit (Tasha Cobbs Leonard), Motown Gospel
  • –  Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City,RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #10
CONTEMPORARY DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
  • –  James Fortune & FIYA, Dear Future Me, Fiya World Music/Entertainment One
  • –  The Showers, The Journey, A & P Records

CATEGORY #11
TRADITIONAL DUO/CHORUS GROUP OF THE YEAR

  • –  Gods Posse, The Kind of God We Serve, Independent
  • –  The Rance Allen Group, Live from San Francisco, Tyscot Records
  • –  The Williams Brothers, Timeless, Blackberry Records
  • –  The Williams Singers, In Real Time, Blackberry Records

CATEGORY #12
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anthony Brown, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  Deitrick Haddon, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
  • –  JJ Hairston, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #13
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  Bishop Paul S. Morton, Legacy Live In New Orleans, Tehillah Music Group/Entertainment One
  • –  Marvin Sapp, Close, Verity/RCA Inspiration
  • –  Rance Allen, Live from San Francisco, Tyscot Records
  • –  Ricky Dillard, 10, Entertainment One

CATEGORY #14
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  Isabel Davis, The Call, Uncle G Records
  • –  Koryn Hawthorne, Koryn Hawthorne EP, RCA Inspiration
  • –  Lucinda Moore, Walking In My Favor, Nalah Music Group
  • –  Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel

CATEGORY #15
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

  • –  Anita Wilson, Sunday Song, Reflection Media, Inc/Entertainment One
  • –  CeCe Winans, Let them Fall in Love, Pure Springs Gospel
  • –  Le’Andria Johnson, Bigger Than Me, RCA Inspiration
  • –  Tina Campbell, It’s Still Personal, Gee Tree Creative/Malaco

CATEGORY #16
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR

  • –  A Long Way from Sunday, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
  • –  Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel
  • –  Crossover Live in Music City, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #17
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR

  • –  I Got Out, Bryan Popin, Little Boy Wonder Music/Flaydo Music
  • –  Let Them Fall in Love, CeCe Winans, Pure Springs Gospel
  • –  Close, Marvin Sapp, Verity/RCA Inspiration
  • –  10, Ricky Dillard & New G, Entertainment One

CATEGORY #18
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

  • –  Trust in You, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
  • –  You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  I’m Getting Ready, Tasha Cobbs Leonard ft. Nicki Minaj, Motown Gospel
  • –  You Waited, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #19
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

  • –  Byron Purnell, You – The Dolly Express (Jermaine Dolly), By Any Means Necessary
  • –  Derek Blanks, We Livin – It’s Still Personal (Tina Campbell), Gee Tree Creative/Malaco
  • –  Terrance Crowley, I’ve Seen Him Work – Sunday Song (Anita Wilson), Reflection Media, Inc/Entertainment One
  • –  Terrance Crowley and Ted Winn; Grateful – Stand In Awe (Ted Winn), Shanachie Entertainment Corp.

CATEGORY #20
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR

  • –  Bishop Paul S. Morton, Legacy Live in New Orleans, Tehillah Music Group/Entertainment One
  • –  Charles Butler & Trinity, The Blood Experience, Entertainment One
  • –  Ricky Dillard & New G, 10, Entertainment One
  • –  Vincent Bohanan & The Sound of Victory Fellowship Choir, We Win, Independent

CATEGORY #21
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR

  • –  Dr. F. James Clark Presents the NextGeneration Choir, Sure. Focused. Centered, City of Peace Music
  • –  GEI, Bishop J. Drew Sheard Presents: GEI LIVE, Karew Records
  • –  JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
  • –  The Miami Mass Choir, The Miami Mass Choir Live: At The Adrienne Arsht Center, MaJo Records

CATEGORY #22
INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR

  • –  Ben Tankard, CanTANKerous, BEN-Jamin’ Universal Music
  • –  Daniel Weatherspoon, The Langley Park Project, Longlife Ent. Inc.
  • –  Kirk Whalum, #LoveCovers, Top Drawer Records
  • –  Tim Bowman, Into the Blue, I.M. Records

CATEGORY #23
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR

  • –  A Kenny Lattimore Christmas, Kenny Lattimore, Motown Gospel
  • –  Greenleaf Soundtrack Season 2, Various Artists, RCA Inspiration
  • –  Legacy Live in New Orleans, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Tehillah Music Group/Entertainment One
  • –  Live from San Francisco, The Rance Allen Group, Tyscot Records

CATEGORY #24
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR

  • –  Crowns & Crosses, Bizzle, God Over Money LLC
  • –  Greatness, Canton Jones, Radar Live/Cajo Records
  • –  Reflection, Derek Minor, Reflection Music Group /Entertainment One
  • –  The Waiting Room, Trip Lee, Reach Records

CATEGORY #25
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR

  • –  God’s Little Soldiers International Boys Choir, Through the Years, DIR/Motor City Praise
  • –  Kelontae Gavin, Higher, Marquis Boone/Tyscot Records
  • –  Pure N Heart, Change the World, Music2ChangeU
  • –  The Children Speak, Gibbs Ave, HOLY-wood Records

CATEGORY #26 QUARTET OF THE YEAR

  • –  Men of Gods Heart, Men of Gods Heart, Men of Gods Heart, LLC
  • –  The Group Fire, Join the Praise Party, Jet Records North / East
  • –  The Williams Brothers, Timeless, Blackberry Records
  • –  The Williams Singers, In Real Time, Blackberry Records

CATEGORY #27
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR

  • –  Derek Blanks, Dear Future Me (James Fortune & FIYA), Fiya World Music/Entertainment One
  • –  Derek Blanks, 10 (Ricky Dillard & New G), Entertainment One
  • –  Derek Blanks, Heart. Passion. Pursuit (Tasha Cobbs Leonard), Motown Gospel
  • –  Tim Parker, Close (Marvin Sapp), Verity/RCA Inspiration

CATEGORY #28
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR

  • –  Crossover Live in Music City, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
  • –  Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel
  • –  Sounds of Revival II: Deeper, William McDowell, Delivery Room Music/Entertainment One
  • –  You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One

GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR

  • –  KHVN Heaven 97, 970AM, Dallas, Carmina Barnett
  • –  WGRB-AM 1390AM (Inspiration 1390), Chicago, Sonya Blakey
  • –  WIGO – AM 1570, Atlanta, Larry Young
  • –  WPRS-FM, PRAISE 104.1, Washington, DC, Ron Thompson

LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR

  • –  WBBP 1480, Memphis, Tracy Morgan
  • –  WDEM Radio 98.5FM, Memphis, Towanna Murphy
  • –  WJXY 103.5FM/937FM, Myrtle Beach, Reggie Dyson
  • –  WOKB 1680AM, Orlando/Central Florida, Shanti Persaud

MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR

  • –  WFMI 100.9, Virginia Beach, Mike Chandler
  • –  WNNL 103.9FM – The Light, Raleigh-Durham, Jerry Smith
  • –  WREJ, Richmond, Randy Johnson
  • –  WYLD -AM 940, New Orleans, Dr. Loretta Petit

SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR

  • –  KSYB 1300AM, Shreveport, Rhonda Phillips- Sanders
  • –  WEHA – Gospel 88.7 &100.3 FM, Atlantic City, William & Elaine Hawkes
  • –  WHBT 98.3 FM/1410 AM, Tallahassee, Darius Baker
  • –  WIMG 1300 AM, Trenton, Vennie Stansbury

INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR

  • –  Gospel Central Radio, www.thegospelcentral.com, Michael Stewart
  • –  SOAR Radio, www.soarradio.com, Justin Francis
  • –  uGospel Radio, uGospel.com, Khalif M. Townes
  • –  Yes Lord Radio, www.yeslordradio.com, Rodrick Warren & Howard Young

GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR

  • –  Liz Black, 1190AM WLIB, New York City, NY
  • –  Sonya Blakey, WGRB – Inspiration 1390, Chicago, IL
  • –  Randi Myles, WPZR-FM PRAISE 102.7, Detroit, MI
  • –  Jerry Smith, WNNL Radio 103.9 The Light, Raleigh, NC