The 2025 Stellar Awards Winners List, announced live on August 16, 2025 in Nashville, highlights every major honoree from gospel’s biggest night, including Pastor Mike Jr.’s record-breaking nine wins, CeCe Winans’ continued reign, and breakthrough artist ADIA’s career-defining moment. The 40th annual ceremony at the prestigious Schermerhorn Symphony Center delivered history-making achievements, unforgettable performances, and surprises that will shape gospel music conversations for years to come. We offer you the full and complete breakdown of the list. 

This achievement brings Pastor Mike Jr.’s career total to an astounding 28 Stellar Awards, cementing his position as one of gospel music’s most decorated artists.

ELEV8 Magazine

Pastor Mike’s Clean Sweep – 2025 Stellar Awards Winners List

The Pastor Mike Jr. Makes History with Record-Breaking Sweep

This 2025 Stellar Awards winners list is headlined by Pastor Mike Jr., who went nine-for-nine—winning every category he was nominated in and capturing nearly one-third of all awards presented. It’s a clean sweep, a career milestone, and a history-making moment. One that cements him as the night’s biggest winner.

Breaking Kirk Franklin’s Artist of the Year Record

With a fourth Artist of the Year trophy, the Birmingham standout now passes Kirk Franklin and Marvin Sapp (three each) to set a new benchmark. Anchored by his “I Got Away” EP, Pastor Mike Jr.’s run blends authentic ministry with top-tier musicality—resonating with industry voters and everyday listeners alike.

I personally think that this recognition validates the power of authentic gospel music. The kind that speaks directly to people’s hearts and struggles. It goes without saying, Pastor Mike Jr. is clearly very important to the genre. 

People love gospel music. It’s calming. It’s soothing. It gets right to the point of whatever you’re dealing with.

— Yolanda Adams, Gospel Artist

Pastor Mike Jr. – I Got Away (2025 Stellar Awards Winners List)

Complete List of Pastor Mike Jr.’s 2025 Wins

The scope of Pastor Mike Jr.’s victory becomes even more impressive when examining his complete sweep:

• Artist of the Year (4th time winner)
• Male Artist of the Year
• Contemporary Male Artist of the Year
• Album of the Year for “I Got Away EP”
• Song of the Year for “Amen”
• Producer of the Year (with David “DLo” Outing II)
• Urban Single or Performance of the Year for “Amen”
• Music Video of the Year for “Amen”
• Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year for “Amen”

This achievement brings Pastor Mike Jr.’s career total to an astounding 28 Stellar Awards, cementing his position as one of gospel music’s most decorated artists.

Pastor Mike Jr. – Amen (2025 Stellar Awards Winners List)

Major Category Winners and Breakthrough Artists

While Pastor Mike Jr.’s historic sweep dominated headlines, the 2025 Stellar Awards winners list included several other remarkable achievements that highlight the diversity and depth of contemporary gospel music.

CeCe Winans Claims Three Major Awards

Gospel legend CeCe Winans proved her enduring relevance by securing three significant victories, including the prestigious Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year award. Her “More Than This” album earned recognition in both Contemporary Female Artist of the Year and Praise and Worship Album of the Year categories, demonstrating the continued appeal of her mature, spiritually-rich artistry.

I believe that CeCe Winans continues to set the standard for excellence in gospel music. Her ability to evolve while maintaining authenticity is refreshing and much needed.

Through my music, I tell my story. We hear other people’s stories and connect on the most intimate level because we’re connecting at the cross with what the faithfulness of God has meant to them.

— CeCe Winans, Stellar Award Winning Gospel Artist

ADIA Takes New Artist of the Year Honor

Perhaps the most exciting breakthrough of the evening came with ADIA’s New Artist of the Year victory. Her “On the Way” project represents the fresh voices entering gospel music, bringing contemporary sounds while maintaining the genre’s spiritual foundation. This recognition positions her as an artist to watch in the coming years.

Adia – RISE (2025 Stellar Awards Winners List)

Complete 2025 Stellar Awards Winners List by Category

Understanding the full scope of gospel music awards categories requires examining each winner’s achievement within the broader context of the ceremony’s 30 award categories.

Artist Categories and Male/Female Winners

The artist recognition categories showcased the remarkable diversity within gospel music:

Traditional Artist Recognition:

• Traditional Artist of the Year: Dorinda Clark-Cole (“Determined”)
• Traditional Male Artist: Earnest Pugh (“Worthy Is the Lamb”)
• Traditional Female Artist: Lisa Page Brooks (“The Grateful Chant”)

Contemporary Excellence:

• Contemporary Album of the Year: Jason Nelson (“You Belong: Live in Durham”)
• Contemporary Female Artist: CeCe Winans (“More Than This”)

Album, Song, and Producer Recognition

The creative categories highlighted both established and emerging talent:

• Traditional Album of the Year: Dorinda Clark-Cole’s “Determined”
• Praise and Worship Song of the Year: “Overflow” ft. Todd Dulaney by Transformation Worship
• Recorded Music Packaging of the Year: “Still Karen” (Justin Foster design)

Choir and Group Category Champions

Collective artistry received significant recognition:

• Choir of the Year: Ricky Dillard (“When I Think“)
• Traditional Choir: Ricky Dillard (double winner)
• Contemporary Choir: Vincent Bohanan & SOV (“VBSOV Summer Jam”)
• Duo/Chorus Group: The Group Fire (“About Last Night”)
• Quartet of the Year: Men of Prayze (“Live: in the Red”)

To me personally, the choir categories have always represented the heart of gospel music tradition. These winners demonstrate how collective worship continues to inspire and unite communities.

Choirs are ministries, not performances. Voices joined together in worship help us glimpse the heart of the gospel more profoundly than any solo ever could.

— Keith Getty, Christian Composer, Worship Leader

Ricky Dillard – When I Think (2025 Stellar Awards Winners List)

Gospel Radio and Industry Recognition Awards

The 2025 Stellar Awards also celebrated the crucial role of gospel radio in spreading the genre’s message across America.

Radio Station Winners Across Markets

• Top Market: WBBP 1480 AM, Memphis
• Medium Market: WXHL 89.1 FM, Wilmington, Delaware
• Small Market: WTSK – Praise 93.3/790 AM, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Internet Station: GODRadio1.com
• Syndicated Show: Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell
• Gospel Announcer: Melissa Wade (WNNL, The Light 103.9)

Lifetime Achievement and Special Honors

Don Jackson, founder of the Stellar Awards, received the prestigious James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his four decades of dedication to celebrating gospel music excellence. This honor acknowledges his vision in creating the first major gospel music awards ceremony.

GOD Radio 1 (2025 Stellar Awards Winners List)

Nashville Venue and 40th Anniversary Significance

The return to Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center marked the ceremony’s first appearance in Music City since 2021, following successful runs in Atlanta (2022) and Las Vegas (2023-24). This 40th anniversary celebration emphasized gospel music’s deep roots in Tennessee’s musical heritage while showcasing the genre’s continued evolution.

I really like how symbolic and nostalgic this edition of the Stellar Awards was. Bringing the Stellar Gospel Music Awards back to Nashville for the 40th anniversary just felt right. It connected everyone involved to the city’s incredible musical legacy while celebrating Gospel’s bright future.

Nashville is a city that embraces its history and looks towards the future.

— Brad Paisley, Country Artist

The three-day STELLAR PLUS week (August 14-16) provided additional opportunities for industry networking, educational workshops, and community engagement, reinforcing the awards’ role beyond simple recognition to active industry development.

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How to Understand the 2025 Stellar Awards Winners List

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Looking Ahead: Gospel Music’s Bright Future

The 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards winners represent more than individual achievements—they showcase a genre that continues to innovate while honoring its foundational principles. From Pastor Mike Jr.’s contemporary approach to traditional artists like Dorinda Clark-Cole, this year’s ceremony demonstrated gospel music’s remarkable range and enduring relevance.

As the gospel music community celebrates these achievements, the foundation has been set for another year of spiritual inspiration, musical excellence, and community building that defines this uniquely powerful genre.

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FAQ — 2025 Stellar Awards Winners List

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