How to Watch the Stellar Awards, Featuring CeCe Winans, Marvin Sapp & More

Paul Grein of Billboard Magazine


Gospel fans, rejoice! The Stellar Gospel Music Awards are set to air on BET Networks Sunday night (Aug. 23).

Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds and Koryn Hawthorne are set to co-host the two-hour virtual special, which will air at 6:00 p.m. ET, with an encore airing at 9:00 p.m. ET.

McReynolds and Hawthorne are also set to perform on the show. Other confirmed performers include CeCe Winans, J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, Travis Greene, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett, Tauren Wells, Pastor Mike Jr., Anthony Brown, James Fortune, Kierra Sheard, Zacardi Cortez, DOE and Rich Tolbert Jr.

This will be the second year in a row that BET has aired the show. This year’s special will also be simulcast on BET Her.

The Stellar Awards will be followed by the season 10 finale of BET’s Sunday Best at 8:00 p.m. ET. Following its two plays on BET, the awards show will air in national broadcast syndication in 210 markets starting Aug. 25.

Donald Lawrence Presents the Tri-City Singers leads the field of nominees with nine nominations. Other top nominees include Franklin and Tasha Cobbs Leonard (eight nods each), J.J. Hairston (seven), Bishop Paul S. Morton (six), John P. Kee (five), Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers, William Murphy and Pastor Mike, Jr. (four each) and Maranda Curtis and Fresh Start Worship (three each).

In addition to honoring the year’s top gospel artists, this year’s show will honor the late Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis and those on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.