Anthony Brown & group therApy made history on Saturday night, Feb. 20 as their album, “Everyday Jesus,” captured 10 trophies during the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards at the Las Vegas Orleans Arena. In a Stellar Awards first, the gospel songwriter-turned-singer and his group won each of its 10 nominations.
The Grammy-nominated Anthony Brown & group therApy kicked-off the show with a spirited, crowd-pleasing medley consisting of “Bless the Lord” and their Billboard Gospel Airplay chart-topping hit “Worth.” Their performance brought the packed house to their feet.
During the live show, Anthony Brown & group therapy took home trophies in the much sought-after categories of Artist of the Year, State Farm Song of the Year (“Worth”) and Male Vocalist of the Year.
The wins secured their spot as the overall winner of the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards and rounded out their pre-show award accolades, which included Group/Duo of the Year, CD of the Year, Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, Producer of the Year (Anthony Brown and Justin Savage) and Record Music Packaging (Denise Trotman and Conni Treantefeles).
When accepting his award for Male Vocalist of the Year, Brown said, “As a baritone, as a lower voice, as a raspy voice person, I never felt good enough to sing, period. I always felt like my voice was a curse. And then one day God told me I gave you what I wanted to give you. And I want you to use it for my glory.”
“There’s a system to God’s order. He finds you in the pasture,” the State Farm Song of the Year recipient also proclaimed. “He finds you in the pasture where you serve. He doesn’t just find you on stage. He finds you while you are serving. We have to serve our way into the kingdom.”
The Stellar Awards also honored Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago’s “Any Given Sunday” with four awards, with Tasha Cobbs rounding out the top three recipients with three honors for her album, “One Place Live.”
The Allstate James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by award-winning producer songwriter Byron Cage and the reigning queen of Gospel Pastor Shirley Caesar posthumously to Grammy Award-winner O’landa Draper with riveting tribute performances by his true disciples Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker and Ricky Dillard.
Joe Ligon, founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy, also received the Chevrolet Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, which was presented by Dr. Bobby Jones who accepted on his behalf.
Hosted by comedian and syndicated radio and TV personality Rickey Smiley (Dish Nation, Rickey Smiley For Real), and actress and TV personality Sherri Shepherd (Ride Along 2, The View),the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – the biggest night in Gospel Music – premieres on TV One on Sunday, March 6 at 6 p.m. ET with encores at 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET.
The two-hour taped telecast, produced by Central City Productions, will also be broadcast in syndication on 150 stations in more than 125 markets throughout the country from March 12-April 10. For more information on syndicated airings of the show, visit www.thestellarawards.com
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