Central City Productions proudly unveils the nominees for the 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, presented by Procter & Gamble, honoring excellence in gospel music across 36 categories. Celebrating four decades of inspiring artistry, this milestone event will be taped live on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the esteemed Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN.
Returning for what promises to be an unforgettable night of worship, inspiration, and celebration, the 2025 ceremony will feature dynamic live performances, touching tributes, and special honors spotlighting both gospel legends and emerging voices. Tickets are now available at StellarAwards.com.
Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc., shared:
“For 40 remarkable years, the Stellar Awards have been a beacon of excellence, celebrating the voices, vision, and victories of gospel music. 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.”
This year’s nominations spotlight some of the brightest talents in gospel music. Leading the field with nine nominations each are Pastor Mike Jr., a 19-time Stellar Award winner, and Jason Nelson. Both are recognized in top categories including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year — for Nelson’s You Belong: Live in Durham and Mike Jr.’s I Got Away EP.
CeCe Winans follows with eight nominations, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for More Than This, which features the powerful single, “That’s My King.”
Other multiple nominees this year 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 recognizes outstanding achievements in gospel broadcasting, announcing nominees across six Gospel Radio of the Year categories, including Gospel Announcer of the Year, Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year, Internet Station of the Year, and Top Market of the Year.
Adding to the excitement, the show anchors STELLAR PLUS, a multi-day celebration from August 14–16, sponsored by Chevy and Aflac. This immersive experience offers fans and attendees a wide array of events—from masterclasses and soundstage sessions to fashion shows, comedy showcases, and more. For details and tickets, visit StellarPlusExperience.com.
In addition, public fan voting will determine the winners in two categories this year:
Urban Single or Performance of the Year
Praise and Worship Song of the Year
Voting, powered by Tide, runs from June 16 through July 18, 2025.
The 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be executive produced by Don Jackson, with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Producer and Executive in Charge of Production. Additional key production staff includes Michael A. Johnson (Producer/Director), Erin Johnson (Talent Producer), and Daniel Moore (Music Director).
Presented by Procter & Gamble, the Stellar Awards also receives support from sponsors including AT&T, AFLAC, State Farm, Walmart, Olay Body, Chevy, and Tide.