Lawrence, Walker & Winans Lead Stellars 25th

Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker and Vickie Winans are all vying for the #1 and #2 top Stellar Awards for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year at the 25th annual gospel awards scheduled to tape at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on January 16 before airing in syndication in more than 125 markets. Produced again by Don Jackson and his Central City Productions, the Stellars will be hosted by Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin and Vickie Winans.

Winans and Lawrence, in fact, have the majority of nominations with nine apiece. Hezekiah Walker and Phillip Carter & SOV each have six nominations while Kierra Sheard grabs five, including one for her collaboration with The Clark Sisters and J. Moss on Silky Soul Music…A Tribute to Maze. Claiming four each are Mary, Mary and Crystal Aikin; three bids each were given to newcomer Niyoki, Shari Addison, Smokie Norful, Lisa Knowles & the Brown Singers and Israel Houghton.

Special Awards to be handed out at the 25th Anniversary Awards celebration will include the presentation of “The James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award” to Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC’s. “The Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award” will be bestowed upon the Mississippi Mass Choir for a decade of excellence, and Edwin Hawkins will be presented with this year’s “Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award,” celebrating his 40-plus years’ contributions to contemporary gospel.