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Get ready for the biggest night in gospel music! The Stellar Gospel Music Awards is gearing up to be an unforgettable celebration of faith, excellence, and musical legacy. This year, the prestigious event is making a historic move to the Queen City. The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be taped live at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 15, 2026 +1.

The main ceremony will serve as the crown jewel of a multi-day celebration known as Stellar Plus Week, scheduled for August 12-14, 2026. Fans can look forward to an immersive experience featuring master classes, soundstages, fashion shows, comedy showcases, and other exciting activities leading up to the big night .

Operating under this year’s powerful theme—“OUR MUSIC, OUR VOICE, OUR CULTURE”—the ceremony has officially unveiled a breathtaking roster of performers and presenters that will grace the stage.

Fans are especially thrilled to see worship powerhouse Todd Dulaney and the electrifying Lisa Knowles-Smith added to the performance lineup. Both artists have been delivering incredible ministry this year, and their upcoming Stellar Awards appearances are highly anticipated.

They will be joining an already massive list of gospel music royalty and contemporary favorites set to perform, including:

• Jekalyn Carr 
• John P. Kee with New Life Community Choir 
• Jonathan McReynolds
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard
• Pastor Mike Jr.
• Donnie McClurkin
• Jason Nelson
• Tramaine Hawkins
• Dottie Peoples
• William Murphy
• Melvin Crispell III
• Tasha Page-Lockhart
• Lisa Page Brooks
• MAJOR.
• Adia
• Jamal Roberts
• Nathan Davis Jr.
• Pastor Mike Todd & Transformation Worship
• New Direction Gospel Choir of Tennessee State University

Beyond the incredible musical performances, the 41st Stellar Awards will feature a fantastic lineup of special guest presenters handing out the night’s top honors. The presenter list includes actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery, actress Dominique Perry, worship artist Dante Bowe, gospel star Isaac Carree, and television personality/singer Trina Braxton, with more names expected to be announced closer to the show.

Founded in 1985 by Central City Productions CEO Don Jackson, the Stellar Awards continue to celebrate excellence in gospel music. The 41st iteration of the show will air nationwide on television networks including BET, Bounce TV, and the Stellar Network .

Stay tuned to iPraiseRadio.com as we continue to bring you the latest updates, ticket information, winner announcements, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Charlotte!

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Joyful news is ringing throughout the gospel music community! Bishop Marvin Sapp, the beloved gospel singer and pastor, has officially tied the knot with Dr. La’Boris Cole in early 2026.

Fans of the “Never Would Have Made It” singer know his powerful testimony well. Sapp has always been transparent about his journey as a widower following the tragic passing of his late wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp, who lost her battle with colon cancer in 2010 . For over a decade, Bishop Sapp devoted himself entirely to raising their children. Now that his children are adults—with the two eldest already married and starting families of their own—God has granted the legendary singer the desire of his heart to find love and companionship once again .

The beautiful union between Bishop Sapp and Dr. Cole is built on a remarkably solid foundation. The two were close friends for more than ten years before they began a private courtship, keeping their relationship out of the public eye until they were certain of its direction . Their journey to the altar was marked by a heartwarming surprise engagement, beautifully orchestrated by Sapp’s own children under the guise of a birthday party. Surrounded by both of their families, Sapp got down on one knee and presented Dr. Cole with a stunning diamond ring to commemorate their commitment to one another .

The wedding celebrations and stunning photos of the couple in their wedding attire began surfacing across social media and news outlets in early April 2026, showing the newlyweds glowing with happiness as they celebrated their union

+1. The gospel community, fans, and fellow artists have been pouring out love and congratulations for the couple as they step into this new season of life and ministry together

.

Join us here at iPraiseRadio.com and the Gospel Newsroom in sending our warmest congratulations and prayers to Bishop Marvin Sapp and Dr. La’Boris Cole on their beautiful marriage! May God bless their new chapter together.

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It has been a monumental week in the world of Gospel music! From the lingering excitement of the 2026 Grammy Awards to viral Super Bowl halftime show campaigns and major tour announcements, here is your weekly roundup of what your favorite artists are up to:

Donnie McClurkin The legendary Donnie McClurkin was recently honored with the prestigious Icon Award at the Black Music Honors ceremony in early March. The high-profile event celebrated his incredible impact on the music industry and featured tribute performances by fellow gospel legends.

John P. Kee Pastor John P. Kee has been making waves this month. He recently delivered a highly praised Tiny Desk Concert and dropped a new “Church Medley” that is quickly gaining traction on gospel radio stations nationwide.

Deitrick Haddon Deitrick Haddon is breathing new life into a fan favorite. He recently released an updated version of his classic hit, now titled “Chainbreaker 2.5,” and has been actively promoting the track across various gospel media outlets.

Jason Nelson Congratulations are in order for Jason Nelson! He recently hit a major career milestone by topping the Mediabase gospel radio charts for the first time with his latest single.

Kierra Sheard Kierra Sheard is climbing the charts! Her powerful single “Yes The Lord Will” recently entered the overall Mediabase Internet Radio chart, hitting the #22 spot as of March 3, 2026.

JJ Hairston JJ Hairston is gearing up for a busy season on the road. He was recently announced as a headlining performer for several upcoming gospel events, including the highly anticipated ChoirFest at Sea cruise scheduled for later this year.

Lecrae Lecrae continues to bridge the gap between hip-hop and faith. He recently earned a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for his project Reconstruction. Additionally, his collaboration “Headphones” (featuring Killer Mike and T.I.) was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

Forrest Frank Breakout artist Forrest Frank had a massive showing at the 2026 Grammys. His album Child of God II was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, and his hit single “Your Way’s Better” was up for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

Elevation Worship Elevation Worship took home Grammy gold! The group won the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for their powerful track “I Know a Name,” which features Chris Brown and Brandon Lake.

Israel & New Breed Israel Houghton and New Breed are officially Grammy winners once again! The group captured the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for their vibrant project, Coritos Vol. 1.

Shirley Caesar The First Lady of Gospel, Pastor Shirley Caesar, added another Grammy to her legendary collection. She won the 2026 Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song as a featured vocalist on CeCe Winans’s moving track, “Come Jesus Come”.

Jonathan McReynolds Jonathan McReynolds was celebrated at the 2026 Grammys with a nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song for his live rendition of “Still (Live),” performed alongside Jamal Roberts.

Lisa Knowles-Smith Lisa Knowles-Smith and The Brown Singers are making history! They recently celebrated a historic Billboard #1 with their anthem “Promises,” becoming the first all-female Gospel quartet to reach the top spot on both the Billboard and Mediabase Gospel Airplay charts. They were also highlighted at the 2026 Soar Awards in Chicago on March 2.

Otis Kemp Otis Kemp is receiving major recognition for his music. He was nominated for Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the 40th Annual Stellar Gospel Awards for his track “Blessings”.

Kenny Lewis Kenny Lewis continues to deliver powerful traditional gospel music. He was recently listed as a Traditional Male Artist nominee at the Stellar Awards for his impactful project, The Healing Project.

Tauren Wells Tauren Wells is maintaining his incredible momentum. With over one billion worldwide streams and multiple platinum singles (“Known,” “God’s Not Done With You”), he recently added to his accolades with a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Let the Church Sing.

CeCe Winans The legendary CeCe Winans is having an incredible 2026. Fresh off winning the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song for “Come Jesus Come” alongside Pastor Shirley Caesar, Winans is gearing up to kick off the final leg of her record-breaking “More Than This” world tour. The tour resumes with three highly anticipated shows at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville starting March 29. Furthermore, she leads the 40th Annual Stellar Awards with eight nominations, including Artist of the Year.

Darrel Walls & PJ Morton The dynamic duo is still riding high after taking home the 2026 Grammy for Best Gospel Album for their soul-stirring collaborative project, Heart Of Mine. The pair, who were also nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Amazing,” were recently announced as featured performers for the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration.

Kirk Franklin Kirk Franklin has the internet buzzing this week! The gospel icon sparked a massive viral conversation online by proposing a “Gospel Avengers” Super Bowl Halftime show. Fans and media outlets have been eagerly compiling dream lineups featuring Kirk alongside other gospel heavyweights, hoping to bring a Sunday revival to the NFL’s biggest stage.

Fred Hammond Speaking of heavyweights, Fred Hammond was recently honored at the 2026 SOAR Awards in Chicago on March 2. Additionally, his new supergroup FK&M (featuring Keith Staten and Marcus Cole) is climbing the charts. Their single “Change Your Mind” recently broke into the Billboard Gospel Top 10 and earned them Stellar Award nominations. Hammond is also a top fan pick for Kirk Franklin’s proposed Super Bowl show.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard Following her 2026 Grammy nominations for her album Tasha and the hit song “Church” (featuring John Legend), Tasha Cobbs Leonard delivered a standout performance at the 40th Annual Stellar Awards. She is currently preparing for a massive 50-city tour supporting her King of Hearts project throughout 2026.

Pastor Mike Jr. Pastor Mike Jr. continues to shine. After earning a 2026 Grammy nomination for his track “Amen”, he hit the stage as a headline performer at the 40th Annual Stellar Awards. He recently took to social media to tease fans about upcoming music, declaring, “The Blessing is coming in 2026 & it Got Your NAME ON IT!!!”.

Yolanda Adams Yolanda Adams celebrated a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album for her project Sunny Days. In exciting theatrical news, the powerhouse vocalist is slated to make her highly anticipated Broadway debut this year. She is also frequently mentioned in the viral “Gospel Super Bowl” halftime show discussions.

Tamela Mann Tamela Mann is having a stellar season. She earned a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album for Live Breathe Fight and recently secured multiple Stellar Award nominations, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.

Tye Tribbett Tye Tribbett received a 2026 Grammy nod for Best Gospel Album for his energetic project Only On The Road (Live). Known for his unmatched stage presence, Tribbett has been heavily fan-cast in the viral “Gospel Super Bowl” halftime show discussions sweeping social media this week.

Maverick City Music Maverick City Music continues to dominate streaming platforms, recently releasing a collaborative video for their worship anthem “Jireh” alongside Elevation Worship. Group member Chandler Moore also picked up multiple Stellar Award nominations this season.

Dr. Ricky Dillard The legendary choir master Dr. Ricky Dillard remains a staple in the culture. Alongside his peers, Dillard has been repeatedly named by fans and media outlets as a top choice for a potential gospel-focused Super Bowl halftime performance, proving his choir-directing energy is exactly what the world wants to see on a global stage.