UPDATE (July 21): Tasha Cobbs Leonard will be presented with the Aretha Franklin Icon Award at the 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which will be taped live from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, Aug. 15. Pastor Mike Jr. will receive the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award.
“This honor means more to me than I can fully express,” Cobbs Leonard, 45, said in a statement. “Gospel music has given me a place to share my faith, my testimony and every part of my journey, and I have never taken that privilege lightly. To receive the Aretha Franklin Icon Award is deeply humbling, not only as a celebration of what God has allowed me to accomplish, but also as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with this platform. I’m grateful to my family, my team, the gospel community and every person who has allowed this music to become part of their lives.”
Cobbs Leonard is also one of this year’s top Stellar Awards nominees, with six nominations.
Pastor Mike Jr., 42, shared: “I’m truly honored to receive the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award. This recognition is bigger than me, it’s a testament to God’s faithfulness and the incredible people who have supported this journey. I pray my music and ministry continue to inspire hope, faith and purpose for generations to come.”
The 41st annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will feature performances from Aaron Cole, Childlike CiCi, Darrel Walls, Kierra Sheard, Jekalyn Carr, Jevon Dewand & The Trap Starz featuring Isaac Carree and Jazze Pha, JustCordell, John P. Kee, Le’Andria Johnson, Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers, Melvin Crispell III, PJ Morton, Tye Tribbett featuring ABLAZE, and Vincent Bohanan & SOV.
The show will premiere on The Stellar Network, available on Charter Spectrum and Verizon Fios, with the broadcast debuting on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m. ET with an encore presentation at 10 p.m. ET. The celebration will make its national cable premiere on BET on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 8 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. ET before expanding to audiences nationwide through broadcast TV syndication from Sept. 5 through Sept. 27. In Charlotte, WBTV (CBS) will serve as the local television broadcast partner. Bounce TV will air the ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 1 p.m. ET.
PREVIOUSLY (June 3): John P. Kee and Kim Person are the top nominees for the 41st annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with seven nods each. Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin is set to host the show, which will be taped live at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, Aug. 15.
“It is truly an honor to return as host of the 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards,” shared Franklin in a statement. “I’m excited to join the gospel music family in Charlotte as we celebrate another historic year of excellence, innovation and ministry through song.”
Tasha Cobbs Leonard and JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise are close behind Kee and Person with six nods each. Other artists who received four or more nominations are Lisa Knowles Smith & The Brown Singers, Jekalyn Carr and Vincent Bohanan & SOV, with five nods each; and Jonathan McReynolds, Asaun Bynum, Adia and Darrel Walls, with four nods each.
Don Jackson, founder of the Stellar Awards and chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. commented, “As we celebrate the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, we are reminded that gospel music continues to be one of the most powerful forces for inspiration, healing, and hope in our communities.”
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Tickets are available now by visiting the Stellar Awards site or by visiting Ticketmaster.
This year’s Stellar Awards is part of the Stellar Plus Experience, a three-day (Aug. 12-15) event. Stellar Plus will feature Master Classes, Unplugged performances, a Songwriters Symposium, Fitness Zone, Comedy Experience and Vendor Marketplace. For more information on Stellar Plus Events, visit its website.
The Stellar Awards Pre-Show and Gospel Radio Awards will feature an evening of performances and presentations of the non-televised awards, all set to take place Friday, Aug. 14, at the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte, N.C. Tickets will be available to the general public.
The 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards is executive produced by 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.
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