Kirk Franklin Hosts 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Charlotte
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards took place August 15, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Kirk Franklin serving as host. The event, billed as 'Gospel Music's Biggest Night,' featured performances from John P. Kee, Tye Tribbett, Le'Andria Johnson, and others. City officials expressed hope that Charlotte will become a long-term home for the awards.
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards took place August 15, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kirk Franklin hosted the ceremony, which organizers billed as "Gospel Music's Biggest Night."
The event operated under the theme "Feels Like Home" and drew performers including John P. Kee, Tye Tribbett, Le'Andria Johnson, Jekalyn Carr, Kierra Sheard, PJ Morton, Isaac Carree, and Childlike CiCi.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, and Pastor Mike Jr. was honored with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award.
The awards were part of the broader Stellar Plus Experience, a three-day celebration that ran from August 12 to August 15. Programming included masterclasses, unplugged performances, a songwriters symposium, a fitness zone, a comedy experience, and a vendor marketplace.
A pre-show and the Gospel Radio Awards were held on August 14 at the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte.
Stellar Awards founder Don Jackson and Charlotte city officials said they hope the city will serve as a permanent home for the event, pointing to its growing arts and entertainment sector.
Local artists and organizations receiving nominations included Pastor John P. Kee, Melvin Crispell III, the North Carolina A&T Gospel Choir, and Charlotte radio station Praise 102.5.
The ceremony was taped for later broadcast. It will premiere on the Stellar Network on August 29 and air nationally on BET on August 30.
