MOTOWN GOSPEL EARNS 10 NOMINATIONS for the 2015 STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS

Motown Gospel celebrates (10) ten Stellar Gospel Music Award nominations across 9 categories for 5 artists including Smokie Norful, Anita Wilson, Kierra Sheard, Sheri Jones – Moffett, Micah Stampley, and Derek Blanks.

Smokie Norful, received nominations for Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year for his hit album, FOREVER YOURS. The album, released last summer, peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and also produced the Top 10 radio smash single “No Greater Love.” In addition to the Stellar Award nod, Smokie is also nominated for 2 Grammy Awards this year.

Soulful songstress Anita Wilson received 2 Stellar Award nominations in the categories of Female Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year. Released last year, Anita’s sophomore album, VINTAGE WORSHIP debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums Chart and recently garnered Anita a Grammy-nomination for Gospel Album of the Year

Stellar Award-winning artist and Reality TV star Kierra Sheard earned a Stellar Award nomination for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year. Kierra released her anticipated new album GRACELAND to the top of the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart upon its release last summer.

The release of the live album POWER & AUTHORITY: LIVE IN MEMPHIS, from the award-winning Sheri Jones-Moffett garnered her a Stellar Award nomination for Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year. Sheri’s album boasted 2 Billboard Top 20 radio singles “Shine” and “Faith to Believe.”

Award-winning worship leader Micah Stampley received a Stellar Award nomination in the category of Praise and Worship Album of the Year for his Billboard Top 10 album LOVE NEVER FAILS that produced the Top-10 radio hit “Our God.”

American photographer, illustrator, director and producer Derek Blanks received a Stellar Award nomination for Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for Anita Wilson’s Vintage Worship album.

The upcoming 30th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will take place at a new venue for 2015, with a live taping at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on March 28, 2015, and will air on TV One on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.