JFH News: Tune-In to the 34th Stellar Awards to Premiere on BET Easter Sunday, April 21

THE 34TH STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS PRESENTS INAUGURAL ARETHA FRANKLIN ICON AWARD TO QUEEN OF SOUL’S FAMILY WITH TRIBUTE PERFORMANCE BY ERICA CAMPBELL, KELLY PRICE & REGINA BELLE

The Biggest Night in Gospel Music Premieres on BET Easter Sunday, April 21st at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT Top Winner Jonathan McReynolds Takes Home Eight Stellar Awards Performances by Host Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, Brian Courtney Wilson, Koryn Hawthorne, Todd Dulaney, Charles Jenkins and Jekalyn Carr

Jonathan McReynolds performs "Not Lucky, I'm Loved"

NEWS SOURCE: Cr8 Agency
April 15, 2019

(Las Vegas, NV) - April 15, 2019 –The 34 ^th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will premiere on BET Network on Easter Sunday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT. Produced by Central City Productions, the biggest night in gospel music, hosted by Kirk Franklin, will be the key program for the networks family focused line-up for the day.

Taped live at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV, the stand-out highlight of the evening was an emotional tribute performance by Kelly Price, Erica Campbell and Regina Belle honoring the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin . Family members of the late-legend Brenda Corbett, Jordan Franklin and Kecalf Franklin were presented with the inaugural Aretha Franklin ICON Award to give posthumous recognition of her profound impact on the Gospel music genre and unforgettable contributions.

The undeniable breakout winner of the annual show was performer Jonathan McReynolds , who swept the awards taking home eight Stellar Awards including AT&T Artist of the Year , State Farm Song of the Year , Male Vocalist of the Year , CD of the Year , Producer of the Year , Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year , Contemporary CD of the Year and Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year . Jekalyn Carr received three awards for Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year. The Walls Group were awarded twice as Duo/Chorus Group of the Year and Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year.

A special award presentation was also given to honor gospel legend Delores Washington Green of The Caravans with the Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award. Gospel star Yolanda Adams and Stellar Awards Founder, Chairman & CEO Don Jackson inducted James Robinson Jr. (Malaco Gospel), Jackie Patillo (GMA) and Phil Thornton (RCA Inspiration) into the Stellar Honors Hall of Fame.

This year’s sensational line-up of performances included an energetic opening number by Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Franklin stirring the audience to their feet performing new music and a rousing medley by Phil Thompson, Kelontae Gavin and Maranda Curtis . Other performers included Brian Courtney Wilson , Koryn Hawthorne , Todd Dulaney , Charles Jenkins and Jekalyn Carr.

The show will continue to air around the country in broadcast syndication from April 27 through May 26 (check local listings). For more information visit us at www.thestellarawards.com

About Central City Productions

Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. produces and distributes original programming targeting African American audiences. CCP's award- winning television programs include the Black Music Honors, Stellar Tribute to the Holidays, The Black College Quiz Show Series, Mentoring Kings, Stellar Sunday, among many others. For more information, please visit www.stellartv.com.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

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