Gospel music’s biggest night returned to Charlotte, North Carolina, as the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebrated another year of excellence. Hosted by 45-time Stellar Award winner and 20-time GRAMMY Award winner Kirk Franklin, the ceremony took place Saturday, August 15, at the Spectrum Center. The fitting theme was “Feels Like Home.”
The 2025–2026 Stellar Awards brought together gospel legends, contemporary stars, emerging artists and industry leaders. It recognized achievements across traditional gospel, contemporary gospel, praise and worship, radio, youth music and, prominently, rap and hip-hop gospel.
For CHH fans, two categories stood out. Lecrae won Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year for Reconstruction. JustCordell took home Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year for “Movin.”
Lecrae’s Reconstruction Wins Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year
One of the night’s biggest moments for gospel hip-hop came when Lecrae was named the winner of Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year for Reconstruction, released through Reach Records.
The award places Reconstruction among the year’s most significant projects in gospel music, recognizing hip-hop as an increasingly important part of the contemporary gospel landscape. Lecrae has spent much of his career building a bridge between gospel and hip-hop culture. The Stellar recognition gives Reconstruction another major distinction.
JustCordell Wins Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year
The other major hip-hop honor went to JustCordell, whose song “Movin” was named Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year. The song was released through Rock City Media Group.
JustCordell was also part of the evening’s performance lineup, allowing the emerging artist to represent the next generation of gospel talent on one of the genre’s biggest stages. The Stellar Awards specifically highlighted emerging artists such as JustCordell and Céjae as part of a new wave of artists carrying gospel music forward.
Darrel Walls Takes Artist of the Year
The evening’s top general honor, Artist of the Year, went to Darrel Walls for Heart of Mine, released through Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studios.
Walls also won Contemporary Male Artist of the Year, giving him two major victories during the 41st Annual Stellar Awards.
Alescia Knowles-Smith Takes Song of the Year
Alescia Knowles-Smith won Song of the Year for “Promises (Live)”, released through EvoWorld Entertainment.
Knowles-Smith was also part of one of the evening’s other major wins. She and Frederick Perry won Producer of the Year for Revival: Live in Dallas.
Jonathan McReynolds Wins Male Artist of the Year
Jonathan McReynolds was named Male Artist of the Year for “Still (Live)” featuring Jamal Roberts, released through Motown Gospel and Life Room Label.
The collaboration also won Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, making “Still (Live)” one of the night’s multi-award-winning recordings.
Lisa Knowles Smith Has a Major Night
Lisa Knowles Smith won the Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year award for Revival: Live in Dallas.
She and The Brown Singers also won Duo/Chorus Group of the Year and Quartet of the Year for the same project.
Vincent Bohanan & SOV Take Album of the Year
The coveted Album of the Year award went to Vincent Bohanan & SOV for Live in New York, released independently.
The project was one of the night’s strongest performers, also winning Contemporary Choir of the Year. It shared the Choir of the Year honor in a tie with JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, whose winning project was The Live Reunion: Washington, DC.
The Complete 41st Annual Stellar Award Winners
- Artist of the Year: Darrel Walls — Heart of Mine — Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studios
- Song of the Year: Alescia Knowles-Smith — “Promises (Live)” — EvoWorld Entertainment
- Male Artist of the Year: Jonathan McReynolds — “Still (Live)” ft. Jamal Roberts — Motown Gospel/Life Room Label
- Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year: Lisa Knowles Smith — Revival: Live in Dallas — EvoWorld Entertainment
- Duo/Chorus Group of the Year: Lisa Knowles Smith & The Brown Singers — Revival: Live in Dallas — EvoWorld Entertainment
- New Artist of the Year: Ablaze — Ablaze — Independent
- Album of the Year: Vincent Bohanan & SOV — Live in New York — Independent
- Choir of the Year: TIE — JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise — The Live Reunion: Washington, DC — Motown Gospel/Jamestown Music; Vincent Bohanan & SOV — Live in New York — Independent
- Producer of the Year: Alescia Knowles-Smith & Frederick Perry — Revival: Live in Dallas — EvoWorld Entertainment
- Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year: Jonathan McReynolds ft. Jamal Roberts — “Still (Live)” — Motown Gospel/Life Room Label
- Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year: Brandon Camphor & One Way — “In Christ Alone” — TOMii Entertainment
- Contemporary Male Artist of the Year: Darrel Walls — Heart of Mine — Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studios
- Traditional Male Artist of the Year: John P. Kee — Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee Part I — Kee Music Group/Tyscot Records
- Contemporary Female Artist of the Year: Erica Campbell — Trust and Obey – London — My Block Records Inc.
- Traditional Female Artist of the Year: Blanche McAllister-Dykes — Words — Platoon
- Contemporary Album of the Year: Fred Hammond Presents Sensere — The Soul Of Future Worship Vol. II — Sensere — Wrightsound M&E
- Traditional Album of the Year: Jekalyn X The Legends — Jekalyn Carr — Waynorth Music
- Urban Single or Performance of the Year: Adia — “On The Way Remix” ft. Erica Campbell — Rock City Media Group
- Music Video of the Year: Deitrick Haddon — “Find Jesus” — ManHaddon Ministries/Tyscot Records
- Traditional Choir of the Year: John P. Kee & New Life — Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee Part I — Kee Music Group/Tyscot Records
- Contemporary Choir of the Year: Vincent Bohanan & SOV — Live in New York — Independent
- Traditional Artist of the Year: Jekalyn Carr — Jekalyn X The Legends — Waynorth Music
- Special Event Album of the Year: Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents — Almost Home – A Ramp Record with Friends — Ramp Records, under exclusive license to MNRK Records LP
- Rap Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year: Lecrae — Reconstruction — Reach Records
- Youth Project of the Year: Pure N Heart; Alphaeus Anderson Presents — Pure N Heart Celebrate Jesus 20yrs — Music2ChangeU
- Quartet of the Year: Lisa Knowles Smith & The Brown Singers — Revival: Live in Dallas — EvoWorld Entertainment
- Recorded Music Packaging of the Year: PJ Morton — Heart of Mine — Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studios
- Praise and Worship Album of the Year: Todd Dulaney — Promises — DulaneyLand Music/FairTrade Services
- Praise and Worship Song of the Year: Jovonta Patton — “Your Name” — Newton Street Entertainment/Integrity
- Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: JustCordell — “Movin” — Rock City Media Group
- HBCU Choir of the Year: The Fort Valley State University Choir ft. Loren Michelle & Tiffany Boone.
Gospel Radio of the Year Winners
The Stellar Awards also recognized excellence in gospel radio:
- Top Market of the Year: WPZE Praise 102.5 — Atlanta
- Medium Market of the Year: WXHL 89.1 FM Reach Gospel Radio — Wilmington
- Small Market of the Year: WWDA FM 101.9 — Clarksville
- Internet Station of the Year: WTRC Praise 98.3
- Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year: Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell — Erica Campbell with Arlen “Griff” Griffin & Cheryl Jackson
- Gospel Announcer of the Year: Trey Nickelson — WBZF-FM — Glory 98.5.
A Night Filled With Gospel’s Biggest Stars
The awards ceremony featured a wide-ranging collection of performances that reflected the diversity of today’s gospel music. Aaron Cole performed alongside Tenroc and Jonathan McReynolds, while Céjae and JustCordell represented the emerging generation.
The ceremony also featured Darrel Walls, Maranda Curtis, Marvin Sapp, Melvin Crispell III, PJ Morton, William Murphy, Vincent Bohanan & SOV, and others.
Among the evening’s major collaborations were Jekalyn Carr with Karen Clark Sheard and Yolanda Adams; Jevon Dewand & The Trap Starz with Isaac Carree, Jazze Pha, Gaz Money and Johnny Gill; John P. Kee with Zacardi Cortez; Kelontae Gavin with Melvin Williams and Paul Porter; and Tye Tribbett featuring ABLAZE.
Additional performances came from Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers, Maranda Curtis, Marvin Sapp, Melvin Crispell III, PJ Morton, William Murphy and Vincent Bohanan & SOV.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Receives the Aretha Franklin Icon Award
One of the ceremony’s most significant honors went to Tasha Cobbs Leonard, who received the prestigious Aretha Franklin Icon Award.
The honor recognizes her extraordinary career, influence, and contributions to gospel music. Her recognition alongside the evening’s competitive award winners underscored the Stellar Awards’ broader mission of honoring both current achievements and the artists who have helped shape the genre.
Pastor Mike Jr. was also honored, receiving the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award for his impact on gospel music and his continued work expanding the reach of the genre through music and ministry.
Gospel Music’s Greatest Night Comes to Television
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards marked a new chapter for the long-running celebration, bringing Gospel Music’s Greatest Night to Charlotte’s Queen City.
The ceremony was the culmination of the Stellar Plus Experience, a multi-day celebration that brought gospel fans, artists and industry leaders together for live performances, emerging artist showcases, industry programming, comedy, community events and more.
For viewers who couldn’t be in Charlotte, the celebration will premiere on The Stellar Network on Saturday, August 29 at 8 p.m. ET, with an encore presentation at 10 p.m. ET. The show will then receive its national cable premiere on BET Sunday, August 30 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by an additional airing at 10:30 p.m. ET.
The ceremony will also reach audiences through broadcast television syndication from September 5 through September 27, 2026, with Bounce TV airing the show Saturday, September 5 at 1 p.m. ET.
After 41 years, the Stellar Awards continue to demonstrate just how broad the gospel music landscape has become. Traditional choirs, praise and worship leaders, contemporary stars, independent artists, radio personalities and hip-hop artists all shared the spotlight in Charlotte.
For additional updates, visit StellarAwards.com.
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