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African American Christian
Aug 13, 202613 views2 min read

Tasha Cobbs Leonard Receives Aretha Franklin Icon Award at 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards

Tasha Cobbs Leonard received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on August 15, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The ceremony, hosted by Kirk Franklin and themed 'Feels Like Home,' also honored Pastor Mike Jr. with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award. The show will air on BET on August 30.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard Receives Aretha Franklin Icon Award at 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards
Source:The Grio

Tasha Cobbs Leonard received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on August 15, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The ceremony, hosted by Kirk Franklin and themed "Feels Like Home," recognized Cobbs Leonard for her career as one of gospel music's most prominent voices. Her catalog includes "Break Every Chain," "For Your Glory," and "Gracefully Broken."

In accepting the award, Cobbs Leonard said the honor reminded her of the responsibility that comes with her platform. She credited the gospel community and her supporters for allowing her to share her faith through music.

Pastor Mike Jr. received the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award for his contributions to the genre and his work in ministry.

Performers at the ceremony included PJ Morton, Jazze Pha, Tye Tribbett, Kierra Sheard, John P. Kee, Le'Andria Johnson, Jekalyn Carr, Isaac Carree, and Childlike CiCi.

The event was part of the three-day Stellar Plus Experience, which ran from August 12 to August 15 and included masterclasses, unplugged performances, a songwriters symposium, and a vendor marketplace.

The taped ceremony will premiere on the Stellar Network on August 29, followed by a national broadcast on BET on August 30.

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The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were taped live at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 15, 2026. Tasha Cobbs Leonard received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, and Pastor Mike Jr. was honored with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award.

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