Nashville, Tenn. –The 24Th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were handed out tonight at the legendary Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Leading the list of winners is chart-topping traditional gospel singer Marvin Sapp with seven awards including “Artist of the Year,” Song of the Year,” Male Vocalist of the Year,” and “CD of the Year.” Gospel’s newest star, Jonathan Nelson nabbed three Stellar statues including “Contemporary CD of the Year,” “Group/Duo of the Year” and “Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year” for the CD “Right Now Praise,” from Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose. The ladies shined bright this evening with Jessica Green taking home the “New Artist of the Year” award and The Clark Sisters winning in the “Special Event of the Year” category.

Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions, brought the prestigious award show back to Nashville, Tenn. for the 4th consecutive year, bringing excitement, anticipation and gospel music’s brightest stars to Music City. Super stars of music, film and television came out in support of the show’s 24th year, including “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd, actors Sheryl Lee Ralph and Clifton Davis, R&B Singer Mario of “Dancing with The Stars.” Stellar performances came from the always energetic Tye Tribbett, this year’s “Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance CD of the Year” winner Kirk Franklin and last year’s Rap Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year” winner, Da’ T.R.U.T.H.

24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

SONG OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp and Matthew Brownie, “Never Would Have Made It” – Thirsty, Zomba Label Group

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Dorinda Clark-Cole, Take it Back, Zomba Label Group

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose, Right Now Praise, Integrity Music

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jessica Greene, 4 the World, Habakkuk Music

CD OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Ricky Dillard & New G, The 7th Episode: Live in Toronto, NuSpring Records/EMI Gospel

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Aaron Lindsey, Thirsty, Zomba Label Group

CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
-Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose, Right Now Praise, Integrity Music

TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
- The Canton Spirituals, Driven, Verity/Zomba Label Group

CONTEMPORARY MALE OF THE YEAR
-Byron Cage, Live at the Apollo: The Proclamation, Gospocentric/Zomba Label Group

TRADITIONAL MALE OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- CeCe Winans, Thy Kingdom Come, PureSprings Gospel

TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF THE YEAR
- Beverly Crawford, Live from Los Angeles, JDI Records

CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
- Jonathan Nelson featuring Purpose, Right Now Praise, Integrity Music

TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
- Kirk Franklin, “Declaration: (This is it)” – The Fight of My Life, Fo Yo Soul/Gospocentric/Zomba Label Group

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- Marvin Sapp, “Never Would Have Made It”, Verity/Zomba Label Group

TRADTIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Bishop Paul Morton & The Full Gospel Baptist Church Choir, Embracing the Next Dimension, Light Records/Tehillah

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
- Ricky Dillard & New G., The 7th Episode: Live in Toronto, NuSpring Records/EMI Gospel

INSTRUMENTAL GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- Angella Christie, The Breath of Life, ACSM Music

SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
- The Clark Sisters, The Best of the Clark Sisters Encore, Dexterity Sounds

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
- Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Open Book, Cross Movement Records

CHILDRENS PROJECT OF THE YEAR
- Kaira Miller, In God’s Time/It Ain’t Over, GFM Entertainment

QUARTET OF THE YEAR
- Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’S, So Much to be Thankful for, MCG Records

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
- Michelle Lukianovich, Art Direction & Design; Keith Major, Photography, Marvin Sapp – Thirsty, Verity/Zomba Label Group

PRAISE AND WORHSIP CD OF THE YEAR
- Shekinah Glory Ministry, Jesus, Kingdom Records