Anthony Brown and Group therAPy swept the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards at the Las Vegas Orleans Arena this past weekend. Making Stellar Awards history, the group’s album “Everyday Jesus” swept the Stellars by winning all 10 of their nominated awards. According to The Front Page Firm, the last sweep occurred back in 2009 when Marvin Sapp won all 7 of his nominations. It was often stated during red carpet interviews that nominees hoped they weren’t nominated in the same category as the group (they were well aware of the group’s likelihood of winning). As the night unfolded, it would reveal that their premonitions were correct.
During one of his many moving acceptance speeches, Mr. Brown expressed that not too long ago nobody knew his name. He and Group Therapy uprooted their lives, moved to Florida, and lived in an apartment together based on a vision that God had given to the singer/songwriter. Now, he is a Grammy-nominated and history-making Stellar Award Winner.
The night was a star studded event hosted by actress and TV personality Sherri Shepard and comedian and syndicated Radio/TV personality Rickey Smiley. Special guests included gospel honorees Yolanda Adams and gospel music legend Lady Tramaine Hawkins who both received Stellar Honors Awards; a special award and medallion celebrating excellence. Other Stellar Honors recipients included Jonathan Slocumb and Bishop Marvin Sapp.
Other familiar faces that strolled the red carpet include Radio/TV personality Lexi, nominee Pastor Jason Nelson, and performers Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, and Brian Courtney Wilson. Nominee Erica Campbell, and her sister Tina Campbell, winner of Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year also graced the red carpet; Tina’s husband, Teddy Campbell, accompanied her. Atlanta was also well represented with “Sunday’s Best” contestant Zebulon Ellis and winner Dathan Thigpen. The legendary Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones and Richard Smallwood made appearances as well. Also in attendance were more contemporary artists such as new comer Janice Gaines, nominee Jonathan McReynolds (“Pressure”) and performer Travis Greene (“Intentional”).
Other events for the weekend included the Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show held on February 19th that celebrated non-televised award winners and the ASCAP Morning Glory Breakfast which occurred the morning of February 20th where ASCAP and Motown Gospel honored the 2016 Stellar Awards Nominees.
The 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will air on tvOne on March 6th. For a full-list of dates and times you can click HERE
We’ll have full coverage of the 31st Edition of the Stellar Awards in our next issue in just a weeks’ time! Below is the list of this year’s winners.
-Alisha J
CATEGORY #1
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #2
SONG OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN, WORTH – EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #3
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #4
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL
CATEGORY #5
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #6
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- CASEY J., THE TRUTH, MARQUIS BOONE/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #7
CD OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #8
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL
CATEGORY #9
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN & JUSTIN SAVAGE, EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #10
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #11
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, CELEBRATE, TYSCOT
CATEGORY #12
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #13
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES JENKINS, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL
CATEGORY #14
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL
CATEGORY #15
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- TINA CAMPBELL, IT’S PERSONAL, GEE TREE CREATIVE
CATEGORY #16
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
- ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #17
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
- TINA CAMPBELL, IT’S PERSONAL, GEE TREE CREATIVE
CATEGORY #18
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- KIRK FRANKLIN, WANNA BE HAPPY? (SINGLE), FO YO SOUL RECORDINGS/RCA RECORDS
CATEGORY #19
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES JENKINS & THE SPIN SINGERS, #WAR – ANY GIVEN SUNDAY(CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO), INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL
CATEGORY #20
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL
CATEGORY #21
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- J.J. HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE, I SEE VICTORY, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC
CATEGORY #22
INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR
- BEN TANKARD, FULL TANK 2.0, BENJAMIN UNIVERSAL MUSIC
CATEGORY #23
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
- VARIOUS ARTISTS, WOW GOSPEL 2015, RCA INSPIRATION
CATEGORY #24
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- DEREK MINOR, EMPIRE, REFLECTION MUSIC GROUP/EONE MUSIC
CATEGORY #25
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- GOD’S GIFT AND SOLDIERS YOUTH CHOIR, THROUGH THE FIRE AND FLOOD, DIR/MOTOR CITY PRAISE RECORDS
CATEGORY #26
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, CELEBRATE, TYSCOT
CATEGORY #27
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- DENISE TROTMAN & CONNI TREANTEFELES, EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT
CATEGORY #28
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
- TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL
JAMES CLEVELAND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
- O’LANDA DRAPER (POSTHUMOUSLY)
AMBASSADOR DR. BOBBY JONES LEGEND AWARD
- WILLIE JOE LIGON
THOMAS A. DORSEY MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
- DR. MARABETH GENTRY & THE THOMAS A. DORSEY FOUNDATION
STELLAR HONORS
- TRAMAINE HAWKINS
- YOLANDA ADAMS
- MARVIN SAPP
- JONATHAN SLOCUMB
GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR
- PRAISE 104.1 WPRS, WASHINGTON, DC, RON THOMPSON
LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR
- HEAVEN 600 – WCAO – AM, BALTIMORE, LEE MICHAELS
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR
- PRAISE 104.7 FM WPZZ 104.7, RICHMOND, REGINALD BAKER
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR
- WIMG 1300 AM, TRENTON, NJ, ED LONG
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
- ALL NATIONS RADIO, ALLNATIONSRADIO.NET, BISHOP SAMUEL MCGILL III
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR
- TRACY BETHEA BODIE, WHAL – MEMPHIS, TN