Celebration of Gospel Hall of Fame

They gave us hope and stirred our spirit.

Celebration of Gospel Hall of Fame - Over the years, we've saluted a number of gospel luminaries. Here's a brief view of who those luminaries are.(Photos from Left: Keystone/Getty ImagesBettmann/Corbis , Moses Robinson/Getty Images for The Stellar Awards)

1 / 6

Celebration of Gospel Hall of Fame - Over the years, we've saluted a number of gospel luminaries. Here's a brief view of who those luminaries are.(Photos from Left: Keystone/Getty ImagesBettmann/Corbis , Moses Robinson/Getty Images for The Stellar Awards)

56667345JMH003_Show

2 / 6

Andraé Crouch (2016) - This year we're honoring the late, great Andraé Crouch — a man whose legacy has poured into our hearts and other genres (including R&B). (Photo: John M. Heller/Getty Images)

Richard Smallwood - Richard Smallwood has been a fixture in gospel since the 1970s as a vocalist, composer and writer. Smallwood, this year's Celebration of Gospel honoree carefully crafts praise and worship songs that act as the soundtrack to Sunday services across the nation. Classics such as "Center of My Joy" and "Total Praise" uniquely position Smallwood atop the list of gospel greats. (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BET)

3 / 6

Richard Smallwood (2014) - What else would we expect from a Howard University alum who double majored in vocal performance and piano? Not to mention that he graduated cum laude. Six Grammy-Award nominations and six Stellar Award wins, it was only right that we honored this great musician who continues to make hits.(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BET)

James Cleveland (2013) - Cleveland was responsible for mixing blues and jazz into gospel music. (Photo: Jim Sherry/Bettmann/Corbis)

4 / 6

James Cleveland (2013) - Cleveland was responsible for mixing blues and jazz into gospel music. (Photo: Jim Sherry/Bettmann/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Jim Sherry/Bettmann/Corbis

96e/45/fott/5162/16

5 / 6

Mahalia Jackson (2012) - We honored the Queen of Gospel in 2012. Known for her contralto voice, some would say that Jackson was the voice of the civil rights movement.(Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)

51297839PB396_WorldMusicSho

6 / 6

Whitney Houston (2012)  - In 2012, we paid homage to the late Whitney Houston, whose voice crossed genres and warmed hearts throughout the world.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)