24TH Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Nominees Announced

Stellar Awards veteran, Vickie Winans will receive this year’s “Most Notable Achievement Award.” Former Tramaine Hawkins music director, Daryl Coley will be on hand to receive the “James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award,” sponsored by Allstate and “The Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award,” sponsored by Walgreens, will go to last year’s “Quartet of the Year,” The Rance Allen Group.

The Stellar Awards press conference was sponsored in part by RushmoreDrive.com. RushmoreDrive.com is the official search engine for the 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Go to www.RushmoreDrive.com for exclusive airing of the Stellar Awards Pre-Show, for the FIRST time ever. RushmoreDrive.com is also sponsoring the Stellar Award/RMD Fan Based Award Weekend Get-a-way, in which one lucky fan will win an opportunity to PRESENT a Stellar Award! Log on to www.RushmoreDrive.com for details.

For a complete listing of all nominations, please visit www.thestellarawards.com.

The 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Show will be held, once again, at the historic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on January 17, 2009. The awards show will be co-hosted by comedian Sinbad and others to be announced. Performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT CENTRAL CITY PRODUCTIONS
The Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) produces the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. It has been 23 years since the first awards show was taped at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago, and the Stellar Awards has now become the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors African American artists. This one of a kind award show has showcased top Gospel artists and many television and film stars.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, produced by Barbara Wilson for Central City Productions. Michael Johnson will direct this year’s award show, and Jennifer Jackson is the Executive in Charge of production. Erma Gray Davis is the President and Chief Operations Officer of Central City Productions. Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions is a distributor of original programming to television and cable networks. Please visit www.thestellarawards.com for more information.