The forces in gospel music showed up in their Sunday best at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House Theatre for the taping of the industry’s premier event, The 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
Multi-Grammy Award-winning My Block/Columbia recording artists Mary Mary kicked off the New Year with two Stellar Music Award wins. Recognized at Gospel music’s biggest night, Mary Mary took home awards for “Group/Duo of the Year” and “Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year.”
The red carpet was peppered with stars including Tina Campbell (Mary Mary), Teddy Campbell, Dr. Bobby Jones, Earnest Pugh, Byron Cage, James Fortune, Richard Smallwood, Dottie Peoples, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, actress-producer Kim Fields, Regina Bell, Shirley Murdoch, Trin-I-Tee 5:7, Wess Morgan, top winner of the night, EMI Gospel artist Vashawn Mitchell and more.
Hosted by Marvin Sapp and Dorinda Clark Cole, the show kicked off with an electrifying performance from Kirk Franklin. Other performers included Fred Hammond, Martha Munizzi, Kim Burrell, Jessica Reedy, Le’Andria Johnson, Lecrea, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., and Canton Jones gave an exciting collaborative performance.
Special awards recipients Vy Higginsen, Dorothy Norwood and John P. Kee were all present to be honored. Additional celebrities in attendance were gospel music icons Cece Winans and Donnie McClurkin, actress Carmen Ejogo (Lackawanna Blues, Sparkle), and baseball-player-turned-gospel-artist, Todd Dulaney. –yvette caslin
