41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards Announces 2026 Nominees; Kirk Franklin Returns to Host Gospel Music’s Biggest Night

The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards is officially set to return this summer, bringing together the biggest names in gospel music for a celebration of excellence, faith, and inspiration. Central City Productions has unveiled the nominees for the 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which will be taped live at Charlotte's Spectrum Center on Saturday, August 15. Widely regarded as the premier awards show in gospel music, the Stellar Awards will honor the year's most impactful artists, songwriters, musicians, producers, and industry leaders across 31 award categories and six Gospel Radio categories. Gospel icon Kirk Franklin will return as host for the highly anticipated ceremony, continuing his longstanding connection with the event and helping lead an evening dedicated to celebrating the transformative power of gospel music. This year's show carries the theme "Feels Like Home," reflecting the sense of community, faith, and fellowship that has defined the Stellar Awards for more than four decades. Leading the nominations in the marquee Artist of the Year category are Darrel Walls, Jekalyn Carr, Kim Person, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Tye Tribbett, representing some of the most influential voices in contemporary gospel music. Artist of the Year Jekalyn Carr Kim Person Darrel Walls Tasha Cobbs Leonard Tye Tribbett Song of the Year "Able" (feat. Kim Burrell) - Paul Sylvester Morton Jr. "Come Jesus Come" - Stephen McWhirter, Tara McWhirter, Hank Bentley & Bryan Fowler "On the Way (Remix)" (feat. Erica Campbell) - Adia Andrews and collaborators "Promises (Live)" - Alescia Knowles-Smith "Your Love" - Kim Person Male Artist of the Year Asaun Bynum Darrel Walls John P. Kee Jonathan McReynolds (feat. Jamal Roberts) Tye Tribbett Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year Adia Jekalyn Carr Kim Person Lisa Knowles Smith Maranda Curtis Tasha Cobbs Leonard Duo/Chorus Group of the Year Asaun Bynum feat. LeekGoHard CeCe Winans & Pastor Shirley Caesar Jason Clayborn x Melvin Crispell III Jonathan McReynolds feat. Jamal Roberts Lisa Knowles Smith & The Brown Singers New Artist of the Year Ablaze Asaun Bynum Bishop Charles Ellis & Greater Grace Worship Choir United Music & Arts Conference Choir feat. Beverly Crawford & Craig Hayes Album of the Year Heart of Mine - Darrel Walls Live in New York - Vincent Bohanan & SOV Reflections - Kim Person TASHA - Tasha Cobbs Leonard Choir of the Year B. Chase Williams & Shabach JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise John P. Kee & New Life Vincent Bohanan & SOV Quartet of the Year Lisa Knowles Smith & The Brown Singers The Flying Clouds of South Carolina The Gospel Legends Tim White Traditional Album of the Year Jekalyn X The Legends - Jekalyn Carr Sweet, Sweet Spirit - Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard The Live Reunion: Washington, DC - JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise Throwback: An Evening With John P. Kee Part I - John P. Kee & New Life HBCU Choir of the Year (New Category) Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University Morgan State University Choir North Carolina A&T Fellowship Gospel Choir Southern University Gospel Choir The Fort Valley State University Choir Gospel Radio Categories Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell The Bobby Parker Show The Tracy Morgan Show Willie Moore Jr. Gospel Announcer of the Year Anna Johnson Neiko Flowers Pam Dixon Trey Nickelson Most-Recognized Nominees Among the artists appearing across multiple major categories are: Jekalyn Carr Kim Person Darrel Walls Tasha Cobbs Leonard Tye Tribbett Jonathan McReynolds Asaun Bynum Lisa Knowles Smith John P. Kee The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be hosted by Kirk Franklin and taped live on August 15, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.