By Mona Austin
Hosted by gospel artists Lonnie Hunter and Lexi, the 33rd Annaul Stellar Awards pre-show was held in Las Vegas on Friday, March 23, 2018. Sponsored by AARP, the show featured both Stellar nominated acts and artists on the rise.
Since moving from Nashville to Vegas and including more mainstream entertainers the production, the Stellars seem to have grown to the point of overflow. The format has changed so that the vast majority of the winners of the prestigious gospel music honor were announced apart from the main event.
Typically, award shows have a separate ceremony ahead of the main event to avoid exceeding their broadcasting window. Categories such as State Farm Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Choir of the Year and AT&T Artist of the Year, Albertina Female Vocalist of the Year, will be announced at the main event tonight at the Orleans Areana.have been resereved for announcement during the telecast which will be recorded tonight at the Orleans Arena.
Recap of the 33rd Annual Stellar Awards Pre-Show
Top nominee Anthony Brown & Group Therapy won 2 awards. Brown said he watched The Stellars and would never have imagined he would one day be honored at the show.
Bishop Kenneth Moales was the posthumous honoree for the 2018 AARP Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award. Acknowledging his legacy, his wife said The Stellar Awards did not exist in the 1950's , "My husband never made the charts. He never had a plaque. All over the world his song 'The War Choir' s being sung."
Jones complimented millineals saying, "Old folks have to get used to you all." He said the although their approach may be different (hair, clothes and styles) they are still lifting up Jesus. He announced the recipient of the Legend Award, Rev. Milton Biggums, that was created in his name. Biggums, was instrumental in bringing mass choirs from Georgia and Mississippi to the forefront of gospel genre.
Although he retired from BET after 32 years, Jones announced he currently airs on Saturdays and Sundays on the Impact Network.
Joshua Kagler and Harmonistic Praise, won the first Independent Artist Showcase presented on Thursday at the Pre-Stellar Awards talent showcase. Greg Dulaney and Brother to Brother was the winning qaurtet. Both groups earned an opportunity to perform at the Stellar Awards pre-show.
In the midst of acts with well choreographed steps and flashy fashion, the voice of Tasha Page Lockhart was the only thing necessary to make an impact as she delivered a soulful performance of "Over and Over" with hints of her mother singer Lisa Page Brooks' style. (Mother and daughter shared the stage at the end of the song and announced they will be going on tour together.)
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| Lonnie Hunter and Lexi host the 33rd Annual Stellar Awards Pre-Show at the Orleans Showroom in Las Vegas on March 23, 2018 |
Side bar note: Based off the numerous pauses, instructions from the stage, attendee interruptions and unscripted moments, the pre-show lacked the polish and professionalism that is expected from a production that has run for over 30 years.
Further downgrading the affair, a woman wearing a glittered red blouse walked the aisle playing double tambourines giving the event an amateurish air.
Hunter took the tambourines and she returned with another one. The woman was determiend to grab attention one way or another. When asked to take her seat she returned once again playing a wash board! Rather than worsening an already embarassing situtation by having her escorted out, the light-hearted hosts invited her backstage for "snacks" to diffused the situation.
The partial list of 2018 Stellar Award winners along with performers at the pre-show are as follows:
Opening Performers: The Walls Group
Praise and Worship CD of the Year
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise
"You Deserve It"
Best CD Packaging
Derek Blanks
"Heart Passion Pursuit" (Artist: Tasha Cobb-Leonard )
Quartet of the Year
The Williams Brothers
Youth Project of the Year
God's Soldiers Int'l Choir
Performer: Isaiah D. Thomas and Element of Praise, "Still Here"
Rap Hip Hop CD of the Year
Canton Jones
"Greatness"
Special Event CD of the Year
Greenleaf Soundtrack Season 2
Instrumental CD of the Year
Kirk Whalum
"Love Covers"
Contemporary Choir of the Year
JJ Hairston and Youthful
Praise Performer: Jason McGee and The Choir ,"Promises"
Traditional Choir of the Year
Bishop Paul S.Morton
"Legacy Live in Ne Orleans"
Music Video of the Year
Derek Blanks
"We Livin'" Tina Campbell
Urban/Inspirational Single Performance
JJ Hairston
"You Deserve It"
Traditional CD of the Year
Marvin Sapp
"Closer"
Performer: Ruth La'Ontra, "Kingdom"
Contemporary CD of Year
Tasha Cobbs-Leonard
"Heart, Passion, Praise"
Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year
CeCe Winans
"Let Them Fall in Love"
Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
Tasha Cobbs-Leonard
"Heart, Passion, Praise"
Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Marvin Sapp
"Closer"
Performer: Judah Band, "For My Good"
Performer: Jason Nelson "Forever"
Performer: "Everything I Have God Keeps Blessing Me"
Performer: Bryan Poppin, "I Got Out"
Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year
Travis Greene
Traditional Duo/Group
The Rance Allen Group
Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year
Anthony Brown & Group Therapy
Producer of the Year
Travis Greene
"Crossover Live in Music City"
New Artist of the Year
Isabel Davis
"The Call"
Group/Duo CD of the Year
Anthony Brown & Group Therapy
CD of the Year
JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise
"You Deserve It"
Performer: Tasha Page Lockhart "Over and Over"