26th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Premieres on GMC Saturday, March 5th, 2011.

THE Stellar Awards, the premier Gospel music event that recognizing and honoring African American artists, airs its 26th annual awards show with all-star performances by Marvin Sapp, Beverly Crawford, Deitrick Haddon, Nevel Sisters, JJ Hairston, VaShawn Mitchell, Joshua's Troop and New Artist of the Year nominee Forever Jones. Hosted by Donnie McClurkin, this year the show honorsKirk Franklin, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Donald Lawrence with special awards/tribute performances by The Soul Seekers, The Williams Brothers, The Rance Allen Group and Voices of Destiny (Verizon "How Sweet the Sound" winners).

Also in attendance is Gospel music powerhouse James Fortune and Fiya (leading this year's nominee with eight nods) and presenters Andrae Crouch, Dorinda Clark Cole, Hezekiah Walker, Omari Hardwick, Shirley Caesar, Vickie Winans, J. Moss, Dr. Bobby Jones, Jessica Reedy, DeWayne Woods, Lisa Page Brooks, Wess Morgan, and Yvette Nicole Brown among others.

GMC TELECAST: Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 8 p.m. EST (Gospel Music Channel)


AFFILIATE STATION AIR-DATES:

New York: (MNT) WWOR Sun. 1/30 at 3:00p.m


Atlanta: (FOX) WAGA Sat. 1/29 at 4:00p.m.

Chicago: (CW) WGN Sat. 3/12 at 10:00p.m.


Washington, DC: (CW) WDCW Sun. 2/13 at 3:00p.m.

Philadelphia: (MNT) WPHL Sat. 2/5 at 8:00p.m. & Sun. 2/20 at 3:00p.m.


WFMZ Sat. 3/5 at 8:00p.m.


Detroit: WADL Sat. 2/5 at 8:00pm



Raleigh-Durham: (ABC) WTVD Sun. 2/20 at 2:00p.m.



Baltimore: (CW) WNUV Sun. 2/13 at 3:00p.m.

St. Louis: (MNT) WRBU Sun. 2/20 at 11:00a.m.

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose: (ABC) KGO Sat. 2/19 at12:00p.m.


**The show will air in national syndication from January 22, 2011 toMarch 13, 2011. Check local listing for additional air-date(s) in other cities or visit www.thestellarawards.com for more information.**