The Greatest Night in Gospel Music, 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Honors Legends CeCe Winans, Dr. Bobby Jones, and Rev. Dr. Milton Biggham

Performers Include Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Naomi Raine, Pastor Mike Jr., Maranda Curtis, Tim Bowman Jr. & Faith City Music, Doe, Dorothy Norwood, Zacardi Cortez, HLE, and Lena Byrd Miles

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards telecast will return to BET airing Sunday, August 6 at 8 PM ET/PT.

LAS VEGAS, NV (July 6, 2023) - The annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, the most highly anticipated event in Gospel music, will celebrate its 38th edition on Saturday, July 15, 2023. The prestigious live award ceremony will tape at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, promising an unforgettable evening of soul-stirring performances and well-deserved accolades. Co-hosted by Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, the Stellar Awards will pay tribute to three remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to the Gospel music industry. The ceremony will also return to BET airing Sunday, August 6 at 8 pm ET.

CeCe Winans, an iconic figure in the genre, will be honored with the esteemed Aretha Franklin Icon Award, recognizing her exceptional talent and enduring impact. Additionally, Rev. Dr. Milton Biggham will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his lifetime dedication to spreading the uplifting message of Gospel music. Dr. Bobby Jones, a true legend in Gospel music, will be honored with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award, acknowledging his outstanding contributions and influential career.

The lineup of performers at the 38th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will feature powerhouse performances by Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Naomi Raine, Pastor Mike Jr., Maranda Curtis, Tim Bowman Jr.& Faith City Music, DOE, Dorothy Norwood, and Zacardi Cortez. The Emerging Voices Stage will showcase the incredible talents of HLE and Lena Byrd Miles, providing a platform for these rising stars. Additional performers and presenters are to be announced.

The Stellar Awards Red Carpet Special pre-show will be televised on the newly launched Stellar Network on Sunday, July 30 at 5 pm ET, followed by The Stellar Gospel Music Awards telecast at 6 pm ET. The Stellar Network can be found on Charter Spectrum and Verizon Fios. Viewers may check with their local provider for availability in their area. Both shows will be available on-demand via Xumo Play at a later date. The telecast will run in national syndication from August 7 through September 10, 2023.

Tickets for the Stellar Awards Red Carpet Special pre-show and the 38th Stellar Awards are now available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com.

In addition to the main awards ceremony, the Stellar Gospel Music Awards is excited to introduce the Stellar+ Experience (Stellar+EXP). This brand-new, 3-day ultimate fan event will provide attendees and participants with an immersive experience, featuring concerts, discussions, master classes, and much more. A multi-generational, interactive weekend-long event, Stellar+EXP will both heighten and extend the Stellar Awards festivities, creating a unique atmosphere of faith, fellowship, music, family and fun. Now, Gospel lovers can enjoy three full days of activities, offering engagement opportunities with their favorite artists and immersion into the world of Gospel music.

The Stellar+ Experience events will take place at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, from Wednesday, July 12, to Friday, July 14, 2023. Limited edition passes are now available for purchase, ranging from $60 to $250, at www.eventbrite.com. For the full event schedule and more information, visit stellarplusexperience.com.

The 38th Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Executive in Charge of Production and Producer. Michael A. Johnson will produce and direct this year's award show.

For more information about the 38th Stellar Gospel Music Awards, please visit www.stellarawards.com. For the latest news and updates about the Greatest Night in Gospel Music, follow @thestellars on Instagram and Twitter, and Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook.

About the Stellar TV Network

For over 50 years in television programming targeted to Black audiences, Central City Productions has become the most recognized and respected media company in the Faith-based community. Going forward, we are excited about the continued success we will enjoy in the launch of our Stellar Network. The Stellar Network fills the void for a family-friendly entertainment and lifestyle network targeting Black audiences. Stellar TV Network is the first in uplifting content with positive, inspirational and entertainment programming.

About The Stellar Gospel Music Awards

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards is the first and only Gospel Music award show in the country, honoring Gospel Music artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry. The Stellar Awards ranks high in status as the only Gospel Music television awards program, syndicated in over 140 markets nationwide. For more information, please visit www.thestellarawards.com.

About Central City Productions, Inc.

Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. is a national broadcast television producer and syndicator of its exclusively owned African-American programming. Celebrating over 50 years of broadcasting Black excellence with uplifting and entertaining original television content, CCP's award-winning television programs include the Black Music Honors (www.blackmusichonors.com), Stellar Tribute to the Holidays, Black College Quiz Show series (www.blackcollegequiz.com), Black History Honors, America's Black Forum (www.americasblackforum.com), Mentoring Kings (www.mentoringking.com), and Mentoring Queens (www.mentoringqueen.com), among many others. For more information, visit www.stellartv.com.

About BET Media Group

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA; PARAP), is the world's largest media company dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Black audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is a thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international.

For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements, follow us on social @BET_PR.