39TH ANNUAL CEREMONY SET TO BE CO-HOSTED BY 2X EMMY AWARD WINNER LONI LOVE & RADIO PERSONALITY/COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEY
Central City Productions recently announced the nomineesin 36 categories for the 39th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards taping on Saturday, July 20th, returning to Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning TV personality and comedian Loni Love, alongside Marconi Award-winning radio/TV personality and comedian Rickey Smiley, the evening will bring together gospel music’s brightest stars for a celebration billed as “The Greatest Night in Gospel Music.” The 39th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will premiere on the Stellar Network on Saturday, August 3rd at 8PM and 10PM EST and in broadcast syndication from August 10, 2024 – September 8, 2024.
Last year, The SMG Report rode a historic heatwave to arrive front and center with your favorite gospel artists. Check out our 2023 Stellar Awards recap!
39TH STELLAR AWARDS SET TO AIR ON THE STELLAR TV NETWORK SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD AT 8PM EST AND 10PM EST AND IN NATIONAL TV BROADCAST SYNDICATION FROM AUGUST 10, 2024 – SEPTEMBER 8, 2024;
Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. commented, “The Stellar Awards has always been a beacon of hope and inspiration, celebrating the very best in gospel music. We are thrilled to have Loni Love and Rickey Smiley as our hosts this year, and we know they will bring a special touch of joy and excitement to the evening.”
Celebrated artist Kim Burrell is set to receive the Aretha Franklin Icon Award; and GRAMMY Award and multiple Stellar Award winner Tye Tribbett is set to receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tye Tribbett Tops Nominations List With 8; Pastor Mike Jr. and Ricky Dillard Earn 6 Nominations; Jonathan McReynolds and Erica Campbell Earn 5 Nominations View All Nominations, HERE
Adding to the excitement, this year’s Stellar Awards is part of the STELLAR PLUS week, a fun-filled extravaganza centered around the flagship show. From fashion and Afrobeats day events to masterclasses and more, the Stellar Plus week offers a diverse array of activities for attendees. Whether you’re a music enthusiast, fashion lover, or someone seeking inspiration, there’s something for everyone. For those planning to attend, a full list of events and ticket information is available at stellarplusexperience.com. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a part of gospel music history and celebrate the artists who inspire us all. Stellar Plus events are sponsored by: Amazon Music, Compassion, The Recording Academy and more. Stellar Plus Event tickets are available now at stellarplusexperience.com.
Stellar Awards taping Tickets are available now at www.stellarawards.com or Ticketmaster.com. Additional announcements regarding ancillary events will follow. Some of the biggest names in Gospel will be appearing as participants in this year’s show – stay tuned for future announcements and follow @thestellars on Instagram and Twitter, or Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook for the latest news and updates about the Greatest Night in Gospel Music.
This year’s Stellar Awards is Sponsored by Procter & Gamble with Presenting Sponsorship provided by AT&T, State Farm, McDonalds, Disney, Walmart, AFLAC and General Motors.
The 39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Producer and Executive in Charge of Production; Michael A. Johnson as Producer and Director, Erin Johnson as Talent Producer and Daniel Moore as Music Director.
A full list of the 39th annual nominees can be found on the official Stellar Awards website. For more information, please visit stellarawards.com and join the conversation using the hashtag #TheStellars.
Jekalyn Carrinternationally acclaimed and award-winning artist, author, actress, speaker, and entrepreneur wants to meet you in Atlanta for her fourth annual Jekalyn Carr’s You Will Win! June 21–22, 2024 at the Georgia International Convention Center. The empowering experience is your opportunity to discover purpose, break molds, shatter social & economic barriers, and win in every aspect of your life! This experience is the ideal incubator for conscientious entrepreneurs, ministers, and anyone with aspirations for greater.
Panelists from different sectors of the mainstream marketplace, including finance, healthcare, ministry, and entertainment, will instruct, counsel, and inspire attendees through instructional panels and amusing discussions. This year’s panels and learning sessions center on aspects of “Winning in the Marketplace,” “Winning in Business (Brand Development and AI),” “Winning in Faith,” “Winning in Finances,” and “Winning in Health.” You won’t want to miss a moment of the life-changing weekend, guided by Carr’s dedication to a lifestyle of fasting and prayer.
Panelists from around the globe will join Carr to inspire with winning strategies and formulas for your journey to success. Egypt Sherod and Mike Jackson, Prophetess Leslie Osei, Laterras R. Whitfield, Premadonna, Apostle Ryan Lestrange, Kerry Douglas, Catherine Brewton,Jeff Speaks, Ms. Skittlez, Uyi Abraham, Body By Demond, Angelina Postoev, and Dr. Jeri Godhigh are all slated as panelists and session speakers for the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, Carr will host the Honorary Winner’s Circle Gala featuring Alton Walker and Martha Munizzi. Gala attendance is limited to VIP registrants in honor of local Georgians, whose indelible contributions have profoundly impacted the lives of the communities they serve.
Nightly services are FREE and feature the ministries of Prophetess Dr. Mattie Nottage (Friday) and award-winning recording artist and pastor Travis Greene (Saturday). The Jekalyn Carr and Friends Finale Concert featuring Jonathan McReynolds, Evvie McKinney, Blanca, Aaron Cole, Emoni Wilkins, Jericho Worship, and other notable artists will cap the power-packed weekend full of empowerment and inspiration. Conference registration is ongoing at www.youwillwin.org, where you can secure entry to the conference, gala, and concert. Follow Jekalyn Carr on Instagram @JekalynCarr, Facebook, and on her website: IAMJekalynCarr.com
Together We Sing 2024 will pay tribute to the beloved Christian and Gospel recording artist Mandisa and feature performances by multi-platinum Stellar Award-winning legend Marvin Sapp, 2024 American Idol contestant Odell Bunton, Jr., Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and more.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Project Unity today announce Together We Sing, the annual musical and special event fundraiser benefiting Project Unity’s signature community programs. In its fourth year, this incredible evening of inspiring gospel and classical music will inspire unity with multi-faith musical collaborations. Tickets for the performance start at $49 and are available now at dallassymphony.org or projectunity.net.
The annual Together We Awards will return with a special award presentation to United States Senator Reverend Raphael G. Warnock, for his work to unify multi-faith leaders across our nation to leverage the power of love and empathy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Project Unity developed this honor to recognize champions who are working tirelessly to create new paths to confront and dismantle racism. Honorees will be celebrated during the Together We Awards reception at 6 p.m. and presented during the concert.
The soul-stirring performance will begin at 7 p.m., featuring multi-platinum Stellar Award-winning gospel recording artist Marvin Sapp; 2024 American Idol contestant Odell Bunton, Jr.; a special tribute to Christian and gospel sweetheart Mandisa, who recently passed away; a multi-faith musical moment; a special performance by the world-renowned Dallas Black Dance Theatre to music composed by DSO’s Vice President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact, Glyne A. Griffith II and Melvin Wellington Lightford; Hollywood-famed orchestrator and conductor Leon Lacey; the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; and the show-stopping 200-voice Unity Choir comprised of choruses from more than 20 religious and faith organizations.
Project Unity is pleased to announce its title sponsors and co-chairs from the Dallas business and philanthropy community for this year’s signature fundraiser, including:
Cheryl Alston, Dallas Employees’ Retirement Fund
Marena Gault, Dallas Symphony Association Board of Governors
Peter Gault, Dallas Symphony Association Executive Board
Carol Glendenning, Member, Clark Hill
Don Glendenning, Partner, Locke Lord
Tracey Nash-Huntley, Community Leader
David S. Huntley, Retired, SEVP and Chief Compliance Officer, ATT
Jill Scovell, Woodbine Development Corporation
Dupree Scovell, Woodbine Development Corporation
Title sponsors for the event include Communities Foundation of Texas, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Project Unity. Additional sponsors are listed here.
Together We Sing will benefit Dallas-based non-profit Project Unity, a collaborative effort of programming and events hosted in partnership with segments of the Dallas community including faith, business, civic, philanthropic, grassroots and government entities. Project Unity and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra have collaborated in multiple events, including Gospel Goes Classical in 2019, Together We Sing in 2023 and a Unity Concert presented at the Meyerson Symphony Center in 2020 that honored those who lost their lives to racial violence and injustice.
“We are very excited for our ongoing partnership with the DSO and to have the opportunity to bring performers and audience members of all backgrounds together to promote unity,” said Richie Butler, founder of Project Unity. “I can’t think of a better way to move forward in our mission of togetherness than through music.”
The partnership between Project Unity and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra blends community and music,” said Debi Pena, chief administrative officer of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. “We extend an invitation to everyone in Dallas to join us to witness the transformative force of music in fostering unity.”
Internationally acclaimed and award-winning artist/author/actress/speaker/entrepreneur – has announced the 2024 plans for her fourth annual Jekalyn Carr’s You Will Win! Conference. The event will be held June 21 – 22, 2024 in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia International Convention Center. Registration is now open and available at www.youwillwin.org.
Jekalyn Carr’s You Will Win! Conference is a natural extension of Carr’s ministry – designed for conscientious entrepreneurs and serves as a tool to empower people to break molds, shatter social & economic barriers, and to win in every aspect of their lives. The conference is the ideal incubator for those with the will to win. During this two-day conference, Carr will equip attendees with lessons from all sectors of the industry with knowledgeable experts, instructors, entrepreneurs, influencers, label executives, film, health, music, business owners, and more, who are leaders of their industry. The family-friendly conference will feature live music and panels like “Winning in the Marketplace,” “Winning in Entrepreneurship,” “Winning in Faith,” “Winning in the Family,” and “Winning in Health.” All are invited to take part in this life-changing weekend, which is guided by prayer.
Jekalyn Carr’s You Will Win! Conference will also feature the Honorary Winner’s Circle Gala where Carr will present awards to several individuals in honor of their contributions to the communities they serve. The selected honorees have made indelible contributions to the global communities of music, ministry, and marketplace. The conference announcement comes upon the heels of an extremely successful season for Carr – who recently earned her eighth #1 single as a writer and producer with “Live Again” as performed by Kelontae Gavin. Jekalyn Carr’s current self-titled offering, JEKALYN, is available for streaming and purchase at all major digital retailers now. Follow Jekalyn Carr on social media using the handle @JekalynCarr, visiting Facebook and on the You Will Win website at: www.youwillwin.org.
One woman’s quest to end youth violence through the arts has taken on a new meaning after a deadly shooting on the west side of Fort Worth. ShaVonne Davis is a Theatre Teaching Artist concerned with the way youth in Fort Worth “act.” This goes well beyond behavior, but the expression of their aspirations as well as frustrations. Davis began her “Conflict Resolution Through Theatre” workshops as a pathway to deter youth from fighting and gun violence that affect both school time and after-school interactions. Following a drive-by shooting on the city’s west side, Davis is again acting with compassion.
Neighbors in the Las Vegas Trail neighborhood said they’re shaken up and worried about everyone’s safety following the shooting Wednesday night.
ShaVonne Davis talks about her conflict resolution workshop in the Las Vegas Trail area of Fort Worth.
The surge in peer-to-peer violence has revealed a startling truth: both the victims and the perpetrators are younger than before. The “Conflict Resolution Through Theatre” workshop recognizes the need for intervention and works to prevent future violence by teaching young people conflict-resolution techniques that resolve disputes in safe and non-violent ways. Juvenile deaths from gun violence outnumber those from auto accidents, suicide, and other forms of homicide. No life is expendable and, with a renewed sense of the preciousness of life, students may find themselves working to help preserve life instead of harming each other.
Upon returning from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts, the Fort Worth native taught in the Fort Worth, Dallas, and Grand Prairie School Districts. While teaching, she realized the potency with which she could reach her students through her love of Theatre Arts. Mrs. Davis has led numerous community initiatives that provide citizens with access to food, clothing, toys, life skills, and much more. Maroon 9 Community Enrichment Organization and Acting With Mrs. Davis regularly collaborate to host programs to avert juvenile delinquency and steer youth in the direction of a future replete with possibilities for life beyond high school.
Davis’ youth acting troupe, “Kids Acting with Purpose” is preparing for a production of “Harriet Tubman: Take My Hand and Follow Me” written by Kathryn Schultz-Miller this summer and is still riding high on the heels of four sold-out shows of “Bone Soup: A Kwanzaa Story” at Fort Worth’s historic Jubilee Theater. When asked what drives her passion and desire to reach youth through theatre arts, Davis said, “There are so many life skills to be learned from the study of Theatre. It is not only acting, but public speaking, critical thinking, team building, culture, and self-confidence are all by-products of the academia of Theatre.”
In 2023, Davis held a symposium on teen violence at Southwest High School which gave students a chance to speak with law enforcement and community leaders about the rise in violent crime among teenagers. Davis began this year teaching her conflict resolution workshop at LVT Rise community center in the area where the shooting happened and looks forward to continuing programming throughout the city.
For more information about Kids Acting With Purpose or how to bring the “Conflict Resolution Through Theatre” workshop to your school, community center, or church, contact Mrs. ShaVonne Davis at 682-200-9261
