Nashville, TN (July 18, 2023) – RCA Inspiration celebrated an incredible weekend with five wins and powerful performances at the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which was taped in Las Vegas, NV on Saturday, July 15th. The crowd and incredible talent celebrated the indelible impact, love and inspiration that live Gospel music delivers, the Gospel icons and the range of amazing new music released over the past year, with awards garnered for the hit projects Clarity by DOE (Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration), and Kingdom Book One by Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/RCA). DOE, Kirk Franklin, and Kierra Sheard-Kelly (Karew Entertainment/RCA Inspiration) also took the stage for live performances, with the weekend also featuring appearances from Koryn Hawthorne and Melvin Crispell, III.
Chart-topper DOE won three Stellar Awards for her acclaimed debut album Clarity, released in 2022 in partnership between Jonathan McReynolds’ Life Room Label and RCA Inspiration. Winning Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year Presented by Walmart, Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year (for “When I Pray”), DOE also performed in the show’s live musical tribute honoring CeCe Winans.
The award-winning live album collaboration by chart-toppers Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin won two Stellar Awards. Released in 2022, the group’s live album Kingdom Book One (Tribl Records/Fo Yo Soul/RCA Inspiration) continued its winning streak, garnering wins for Duo/Chorus Group of the Year Presented by P&G, and Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year. The album has previously won multiple awards this year with three GRAMMYs Ⓡ and an NAACP Image Award. Kirk Franklin hit the stage electrifying the crowd with a closing performance joined in a medley by Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett in a preview of The Reunion Tour, their upcoming star-studded nationwide tour that kicks off in the fall.
In a weekend of soulful celebration, chart-toppers Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Koryn Hawthorne and Melvin Crispell, III also made appearances. Sheard-Kelly kicked off the Stellar Awards with a powerhouse opening performance together with Pastor Mike Jr., featuring the songs “Miracles” and “Impossible.” Hawthorne appeared as a presenter on the Stellar Awards, and Crispell delivered a live performance on the Stellar Awards Pre-Show, which were held on Friday, July 14th, and announced many of the early winners in multiple Stellar Awards categories.
Ron Hill, SVP of A&R at RCA Inspiration says: “We are so thankful to the Stellar Awards for another amazing show, and congratulations to production and all the talent there this year! It is a blessing to celebrate the work of DOE’s solo album and Kirk Franklin’s collaboration with Maverick City on Kingdom Book One on their awards, and taking part in the show with the performances that DOE, Kirk, and Kierra gave, as well as Melvin’s on the pre-show. Creating special moments together with their fellow artists, we are proud to continue honoring God’s moving power in our lives, in showcasing and lifting up the brilliance of the Gospel.”
The 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will premiere on the Stellar Network on Sunday, July 30th at 6 pm ET (available on Charter Spectrum, Verizon Fios, and Xumo Play), and also air on BET on Sunday, August 6th at 8 pm ET, as well as Bounce TV on Sunday, September 3rd at 1 pm ET. The show will also air in national syndication from August 7th to September 10th, 2023, check local listings.
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