Pastor Mike Jr. Earns Top Honors at the 35th Annual Stellar Awards
Pastor Mike Jr. emerged as the top victor on the grandest stage of gospel music. As the curtain fell on the 2023 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, this year's show opener walked away with an astounding eight wins for his EP "Winning."
The singer also made Stellar history after being awarded “Artist of the Year” 3 years in a row. The “Amazing Testimony” artist also took home “Song of the Year,” “Male Artist of the Year,” and many more.
“To go from watching the Stellar Awards for years to opening the show with Kierra Sheard is mind-blowing! I am proof that God is still doing the impossible,” Pastor Mike Jr. said in a statement regarding his win.
The event, co-hosted by gospel stars Jonathan Mcreynolds and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, aired on Sunday, August 6, following its July 30 taping at the Las Vegas Orleans Arena.
The evening also featured several performances by some of the biggest names in the industry, including “Aretha Franklin Icon Award” honoree CeCe Winans who performed her classic record “Goodness of God.”
Kierra Sheard Kelly performed “Miracles” along with evening winner Mike Jr. who also sang the track “Impossible” from the award-winning album.
Here is the complete list:
Artist of the Year: Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Song of the Year: “Impossible”; Pastor Mike Jr., James Fortune & JeVon Hill; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Male artist of the year: Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Albertina Walker female artist of the year: DOE; Clarity; Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration
Duo/chorus group of the year: Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin; Kingdom Book One; Tribl Records / Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA Inspiration
New artist of the year: Lena Byrd Miles; Brand New; My Block Inc.
Album of the year: Winning; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Choir of the year: Brent Jones; Nothing Else Matters (INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING, PRAISE HIM); JDI Entertainment
Producer of the year: Tye Tribbett & Joseph Bethea; All Things New; Motown Gospel
Contemporary duo/chorus group of the year: Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin; Kingdom Book One; Tribl Records / Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA Inspiration
Contemporary male artist of the year: Pastor Mike Jr.; Winning; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Traditional male artist of the year: Zacardi Cortez; Imprint; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Contemporary female artist of the year: DOE; Clarity; Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration
Contemporary album of the year: Winning; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Traditional album of the year: Imprint; Zacardi Cortez; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Urban/inspirational single or performance of the year: “When I Pray”; Doe; Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration
Music video of the year: “Mr. McClure”; Michael McClure, Andre Rudolph & Antonio Minifield; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Special event album of the year: T.D. Jakes Presents “Finally Loosed”; Various Artists; Dexterity Sounds
Rap hip hop gospel album of the year: Church Clothes 4; Lecrae; Reach Records
Youth project of the year: Detroit Youth Choir; Rockspell; Confidential Records
Quartet of the year: Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson; Restructure, Renew Reunion; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Recorded music packaging of the year: All Things New; Mike McKesey & Trent Nicholson; Motown Gospel
Praise and worship album of the year: Hymns; Tasha Cobbs Leonard; TeeLee Records/Motown Gospel
Praise and worship song of the year: “You’ve Been Good to Me”; Zacardi Cortez; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Rap/hip hop song of the year: “Blak Sheep”; Pastor Mike Jr.; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
James Cleveland lifetime achievement award: Rev. Milton Biggham
Aretha Franklin icon award: CeCe Winans
Thomas A. Dorsey most notable achievement award: Dr. Bobby Jones
Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones legends award: Dottie Peoples
Gospel radio of the year winners:
Major market of the year: WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta
Large market of the year: WHAL-FM 95.7, Memphis
Medium market of the year: WXHL 89.1 FM Reach Gospel Radio, Wilmington
Small market of the year: WWLD-HD2 98.3FM, Tallahassee
Internet station of the year: WVTC Gospel Radio Network, http://www.wvtcradio.com
Gospel announcer of the year: Melanie Pratt, WPZS Praise – “Melanie in the Midday”