The 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, honoring the year’s best and brightest in gospel music, will be taped live from the prestigious Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Returning for another unforgettable evening of inspiration and celebration, the sold out awards ceremony show will feature electrifying performances, heartfelt tributes, and special honors recognizing gospel legends and rising stars alike.
Adding to the excitement, August 14th – August 16th, this year’s Stellar Awards is part of the Stellar Plus Week, a fun-filled extravaganza centered around the flagship show. From Master Classes and soundstages, to fashion shows, comedy showcases and more – the Stellar Plus week offers a diverse array of activities for attendees. For more information on Stellar Plus Events visit: stellarplusexperience.com
“For 40 remarkable years, the Stellar Awards have been a beacon of excellence, celebrating the voices, vision, and victories of gospel music,” said Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. “We honor not just the genre of gospel music, but the legacy of our history, our faith, our culture, and our community that has inspired Black & African American generations for four decades with our Stellar Gospel Music Awards.”
Nineteen-time Stellar Award winner Pastor Mike Jr. and Stellar Award winner, Jason Nelson lead the field of nominees this year with nine nominations each; both landing top nominations in the key categories Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year (Nelson’s You Belong: Live in Durham; and Mike Jr.’s I Got Away EP).
With eight nominations, Cece Winans is recognized in the top categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for More Than This. Winans’ More Than This also features the single, “That’s My King.”
Other artists earning multiple Stellar nominations include: Mississippi Mass Choir, Adia, Deitrick Haddon, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kenny Lewis & One Voice, Micah Lee, Tamela Mann, Chandler Moore and FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, and Marcus Cole).
The Stellar Awards also announced nominees for the Gospel Radio of the Year Awards in six categories, including top categories Gospel Announcer of the Year, Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year, Internet Station of the Year, and Top Market of the Year.
A full list of the 40th annual nominees can be found on the official Stellar Awards website. Public fan voting took place in two categories this year, Urban Single or Performance of the Year and Praise and Worship Song of the Year, through July 18, 2025 and those votes will determine the winners of those categories.
Although the show is sold out, it will be televised later this summer. See when you can view them on TV by visiting StellarAwards.com. Follow @thestellars on Instagram and X, or Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook for the latest news and updates about the Greatest Night in Gospel Music. This year’s Stellar Awards is presented by P&G (Procter & Gamble) with additional sponsorship provided by AT&T, AFLAC, State Farm, Walmart, Olay Body, Chevy and Tide.
