Pastor Mike Jr. thoroughly dominated the 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which was taped live at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville on Saturday, Aug. 16. He won in all nine categories in which he was nominated. Pastor Mike Jr. won artist of the year for the fourth time, which allows him to pull ahead of Kirk Franklin and Marvin Sapp as the top winner in the history of the category. Franklin and Sapp have each won three times.

These nine awards ups Pastor Mike Jr.’s total of Stellar Awards to 28. Pastor Mike Jr., 41, is a contemporary gospel singer, public speaker, and pastor from Birmingham, Alabama. The artist, born Michael McClure Jr., is the founder of Rock City Church, which has four churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

There are just 30 categories at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, so Pastor Mike Jr. won nearly one-third of the awards presented on the night. He won five awards, including album of the year, for his EP I Got Away, which reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart in May 2024. He won four awards, including song of the year, for “Amen,” which reached No. 4 on Hot Gospel Songs in January 2025.

Cece Winans was runner-up, with three awards. The Group Fire, Ricky Dillard and Dorinda Clark-Cole each won two.

Jason Nelson, who had tied with Pastor Mike Jr. for the most nominations (nine) won just one award, contemporary album of the year for You Belong: Live in Durham. Nelson had the misfortune of going up against Pastor Mike Jr. in six categories.

ADIA took the award for new artist of the year.  Don Jackson, founder of the Stellar Awards and chairman of Central City Productions, Inc., received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Stellar Awards also announced winners for the Gospel Radio of the Year Awards in six categories.

This year marked the show’s first time in Nashville since 2021, following stints in Atlanta (2022) and Las Vegas (2023-24). This year’s Stellar Awards capped STELLAR PLUS week, which ran from Aug. 14-16.

The 40th Stellar Gospel Music Awards show was executive produced by Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as producer and executive in charge of production; Michael A. Johnson as producer and director, Erin Johnson as talent producer, and Daniel Moore as music director.

Here’s the full list of nominations for the 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, with winners marked.

Artist of the Year

CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Kenny Lewis & One Voice; The Healing Project; PureSound Muzik Group

WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

Tamela Mann; Live Breathe Fight; TillyMann

Song of the Year

WINNER: “Amen,” Michael McClure Jr., Adia Andrews, Terrell Anthony Pettus, Andrea Crouch, & David “DLo” Outing; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

“Clap My Way,” Fred Jerkins III, Alvin Garrett, & Micah Lee; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

“I Prayed for You (said a prayer),” Major Johnson Finley, Brunes Charles, & Jeshua Williams; MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK

“That’s My King,” Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks, & Jess Russ; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

“Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III; Danni Baylor, Jason Nelson, Jerome Baylor, & Johnnie Huntley Steele III; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Male Artist of the Year

Chandler Moore; Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; TRIBL

Deitrick Haddon; One Night in California; DH Visions

Doc McKenzie; Run On; Blockbuster Records/Milbert McKenzie Music Group

Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year

ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group

WINNER: CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records

Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel

Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music

Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records

FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Records

Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide

WINNER: The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East

New Artist of the Year

WINNER: ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group

Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group

Josh Bracy and Power Anointed; Favor; Josh Bracy Muzic

Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

Montrae Tisdale and The Friends Chorale; The Faith Journey; Tisdale Nation Entertainment

Album of the Year

WINNER: I Got Away EP; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann

More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group

You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Choir of the Year

Bishop S.Y. Younger; Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)

Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records

WINNER: Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel

The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Producer of the Year

Dana Sorey; Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Marcus Cole, Paul Wright III and Ray Hammond; FK&M (Fred Hammond, Keith Staten and Marcus Cole); Time Capsule – The Trilogy; 3Brothers/Dare Records

J. Drew Sheard; Karen Clark-Sheard; Still Karen; Motown Gospel

WINNER: Michael McClure Jr., & David “DLo” Outing II; Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

Stan Jones, Jerry Mannery, Jerry Smith, & David R. Curry Jr.; The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

Deitrick Haddon ft. Damita & Tasha Page-Lockhart; Hold On 2 Your Faith; ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records

Red Hands; The Three (EP); Black Suit Music / Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records

Ted & Sheri; You’ve Been So Faithful (Groove); Ted & Sheri LLC / Black Smoke Music Worldwide

WINNER: The Group Fire; About Last Night; Jet Records North/East

Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year

WINNER: Brandon Camphor & One Way; Hymn Medley; Tomii Entertainment

Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group

Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records

Contemporary Male Artist of the Year

Jason Nelson; You Belong: Live in Durham; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Micah Lee; Clap My Way; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

WINNER: Pastor Mike Jr.; I Got Away EP; Rock City Media Group

Vincent Bohanan; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent

Traditional Male Artist of the Year

Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records

Brent Jones; Live Your Best Life; JDI Entertainment

WINNER: Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

Kenny Lewis; The Healing Project; PureSound Muzik Group

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year

ADIA; On the Way; Rock City Media Group

Bobbi Lane; Unmatched Grace; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group

WINNER: CeCe Winans; More Than This; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

DOE; Heart of a Human; RCA Inspiration / Provident Entertainment

Keyla Richardson; Home; Uncle G Records

Traditional Female Artist of the Year

Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records

Lasha Knox; Right There; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

WINNER: Lisa Page Brooks; The Grateful Chant; FlowNeeNee Music

Terri McConnell; He’ll Get Me Through This; Royal T Records

Contemporary Album of the Year

Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; Chandler Moore; TRIBL

Live Breathe Fight; Tamela Mann; TillyMann

Still Karen; Karen Clark-Sheard; Motown Gospel

WINNER: You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Traditional Album of the Year

WINNER: Determined; Dorinda Clark-Cole; Malaco Records

Live in Detroit, Pt 1; The Victorius Army ATL Feat. Vincent Bohanan; Independent

The Healing Project; Kenny Lewis & One Voice; PureSound Muzik Group

We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records

Urban Single or Performance of the Year

WINNER: Amen; Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

Clap My Way; Micah Lee; Darkchild Gospel/ MicahLeeMusic

I Prayed for You (said a prayer); MAJOR.; NowThatsMAJOR / MNRK

Without You ft. Zacardi Cortez; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records

Music Video of the Year

WINNER: “Amen,” Pastor Mike Jr., Tony “Mr.YNOT” Minifield, Drae Rudolph & Kevin “Krispy” Key/Moon Men; Rock City Media Group

“Deserve to Win,” David Mann; TillyMann

“For My Good,” Jekalyn Carr; Waynorth Music

“Never Be the Same,” Deitrick Haddon & Terrance Church; DH Visions

Traditional Choir of the Year

Chicago Mass Choir; Greater Is Coming; New Haven Records

Christopher L. Ervin & Abraham’s Descendants; Recover; CervinMusiq

WINNER: Ricky Dillard; When I Think; Motown Gospel

The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Contemporary Choir of the Year

Alphaeus Anderson Presents The USC Upstate Gospel Choir; Already Done; Music2ChangeU

Charles Butler & Trinity; Live in Washington DC; Red Alliance Media

Johnny Sanders Featuring Faith on Full; Christmas Everyday; Third Century Development Corp/Johnny Sanders Presents, LLC

WINNER: Vincent Bohanan & SOV; VBSOV Summer Jam; Independent

Traditional Artist of the Year

Bishop Calvin Norton; Hold Me Beyond Rear View EP; Blockbuster Records

WINNER: Dorinda Clark-Cole; Determined; Malaco Records

Earnest Pugh; Worthy Is the Lamb; Blacksmoke Music Worldwide

The Mississippi Mass Choir; We Still Believe; Malaco Records

Special Event Album of the Year

WINNER: Bishop S.Y. Younger Presents Worship in Brazil; Bishop S.Y. Younger; Ramp Records (exclusively distributed by Haus Records)

Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

Red & Green; Jonathan McReynolds; Life Room Label, Motown Gospel

The Gift Deluxe Edition; The Group Fire; Jet Records North/East

We Still Believe; The Mississippi Mass Choir; Malaco Records

Rap/Hip Hop Gospel Album of the Year

WINNER: Canton Jones and CAJO Records Presents the Free Life Experience; The Free Life Experience; CAJO Records

Let Go Let God: The EP; 1K Phew; Reach Records

Meet Me in Miami; Otis Kemp; Revive 5.0 Entertainment

Without You: There Would Be No Me; Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records

Youth Project of the Year

AMG Kidz x Boston Arts Academy; The Kidz at North Station; Anderson Music Group / TAMLA Records

WINNER: Brent Jones presents The Fire; Brent Jones presents The Fire; JDI Entertainment

Janessa Smith; Sounds of Joy; Inspired Recording

Nina Symmone & Noah Alexander; God’s Way; The Big Moment / Anderson Music Group

Quartet of the Year

Blest By Four; Only Believe The EP; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

WINNER: Men Of Prayze; Live: in the Red; EvoWorld Entertainment, Inc

The Flint Cavaliers; The Fellowship (Psalms 133:1); The Flint Music Group

Tim Woodson & The Heirs of Harmony; Try Me; Blackberry/Marxan Records

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year

Covered Vol. 1; Brianna Dowd & Melvin Crispell III; RCA Inspiration, Provident Label Group LLC

Meet Me in Miami; Blair Monique; Revive 5.0 Entertainment

Red & Green; Jonathan McReynolds & Trent Nicholson; Life Room Label, Motown Gospel

WINNER: Still Karen; Justin Foster; Motown Gospel

Praise and Worship Album of the Year

Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles; Chandler Moore; TRIBL

WINNER: More Than This; CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

One; Jordan G. Welch; JordiG Music

You Belong: Live in Durham; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Praise and Worship Song of the Year

“Light in a Dark Place,” Bobbi Lane; Blockbuster Records/ Taylor Music Group

WINNER: “Overflow” ft. Todd Dulaney; Transformation Worship; Represent Records, Re: Think Music

“That’s My King,” CeCe Winans; Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

“Yahweh” ft. Melvin Crispell III; Jason Nelson; Jaelyn Song / Tyscot Records

Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year

WINNER: “Amen,” Pastor Mike Jr.; Rock City Media Group

“Blessings,” Otis Kemp; Revive 5.0 Entertainment

“Fa REAL… Fa Real,” Jevon Dewand and The Trap Starz; Black Smoke Records

“Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah” ft. Lisa Page Brooks; Dante’ Pride; iAmDantePrideMuzik

James Cleveland Lifetime Achievment Award

WINNER: Don Jackson

Gospel Radio of the Year Nominees

Top Market of the Year

WINNER: WBBP 1480 AM, Memphis

WBGX 1570 kHz, Chicago

WFTB FM 104.1, Nashville

WGRB 1390AM, Chicago

WPZS 100.9, Charlotte, N.C.

Medium Market of the Year

WAGR 102.5 FM, Lexington, Miss.

WEUP Worship 94.5, Huntsville, Ala.

WJNI 106.3FM, Charleston, S.C.

WINNER: WXHL 89.1 FM, Wilmington, Del.

Small Market of the Year

WBZF-FM 98.5, Florence-Myrtle Beach, S.C.

WHLH 95.5, Jackson, Miss.

WKTT 97.5 FM, Salisbury, Md.

WINNER: WTSK – Praise 93.3/ 790 AM, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Internet Station of the Year

Black Gospel Radio, https://BlackGospelRadio.net

WINNER: GODRadio1.com, https://godradio1.com

Hands Up Radio WHUR, https://handsupradio.org/

Power of Worship Radio, https://powerofworship.net

Syndicated Gospel Radio Show of the Year

“Early Morning Praise Party with Sherry Mackey,” Sherry Mackey

WINNER: “Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell,” Erica Campbell with Griff & Cheryl Jackson

“The Big Redd Radio Show,” Big Redd

“The Tracy Morgan Show,” Tracy Morgan

Gospel Announcer of the Year

Destiny Diggs; WXHL – Reach Gospel Radio/ “Say So Radio Show with Destiny”

WINNER: Melissa Wade; WNNL, The Light 103.9/ “Melissa Wade in the Midday”

Micha “ML6” Logan; WEUP, 103.1 FM/ “The Midday Shift”

Sherry Mackey; WHAL, 95.7 Hallelujah FM/ “Early Morning Praise Party with Sherry Mackey”

Morgan Wallen brought out another surprise guest for the walk-out moment at the opening night of his I’m the Problem tour stop in Cleveland.

The 32-year-old country star made a dramatic entrance during the first of two sold-out shows at Huntington Bank Stadium on Friday (Aug. 15), flanked by Kid Rock, 54, who wore a statement-making fur coat with the word “Cowboy” emblazoned across the back.

The moment was captured in a clip shared on Wallen’s Instagram, soundtracked fittingly by Rock’s 1999 anthem “Cowboy.” In the video, the two artists greet each other backstage as Rock shows off his signature style — a wide-brimmed hat, black sunglasses, white tank top and blue jeans — before heading toward the stage together. The clip ends with Wallen embracing Rock and greeting the roaring Cleveland crowd.

“Cowboy, baby,” Wallen captioned the post.

Wallen’s walk-out moments have become a signature feature of his live shows, often featuring surprise celebrity guests like Drake, Travis Kelce, Troy Aikman, David Spade, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Earlier this year, Rock spoke about his connection to Wallen during an episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast. When asked about the song “Still Somethin’,” from his 2022 album Bad Reputation, Rock revealed that Wallen had co-written the track alongside Mitchell Tenpenny, Andy Albert and Jordan Schmidt.

“This is before Morgan Wallen blew up. I remember somehow I got a demo of it, I can’t remember what, and I just couldn’t get over the voice on it,” Rock said. “I was like, ‘Who the f—k is singing this demo?’ It was Morgan Wallen.”

Since then, the two artists have struck up a friendship. During Wallen’s Houston show in June, he was spotted wearing a Kid Rock T-shirt while walking out alongside Drake and baseball legend Roger Clemens.

Wallen’s latest album, I’m the Problem, has been on a hot streak, recently scoring its 10th nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Watch Wallen’s walk-out with Kid Rock on Instagram here.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

From Sarah McLachlan and Van Halen, to Blackpink (featuring Selena Gomez), musicians have sung about the joys of ice cream for decades. Now there’s something new to sing about with the launch of the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi Ice Cream Maker.

The latest product to go viral from the kitchen appliance brand, Ninja’s newest innovation gets you an at-home ice cream maker that can make both scooped ice cream and soft serve, in addition to dozens of other offerings.

Similar to the original Ninja CREAMi, which went viral over the pandemic as people made their own ice cream at home, the new Ninja Swirl lets you mix and match your own flavors and ingredients to create hard ice cream, frozen custard, frozen yogurt, sorbets, milkshakes and more.

But the Ninja Swirl takes it one step further, with the ability to make soft serve ice cream, with all the smooth and creamy goodness you remember as a kid. The soft serve is then dispensed straight from the machine, with the soda shop-style pull handle. As the name connotes, the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi dispenses your ice cream in a nostalgic swirl design, perfect for cones and cups alike.

The new ice cream maker has 13 one-touch programs in total, giving you frozen treats with the push of a button. Ninja says this is six additional programs and options compared to the older Ninja CREAMi model.

@ourfavoritefinds

HOW GOOD IS THE NINJA SWIRL?? 🍦 #ninjaswirl #ninjakitchen #ninjacreami #ourfavoritefinds

♬ original sound – Logan Nathanson

The Ninja Swirl has quickly gone viral on social media, with creators showing the versatility of the ice cream maker to make things like protein shakes and vegan treats as well. Simply fill the included pint with your preferred type of milk, ingredients and flavoring, and then pop it in the freezer for a few hours. Once it’s hardened, stick it back into the machine to let it churn.

This Amazon deal gets you the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker, two 16 oz. pints, lids, paddle, swirl press and recipe book. An Amazon bestseller, get it while it’s still in stock here. Ninja products often sell out so we recommend adding to cart while the Swirl by CREAMi is still available.

Prefer the original Ninja CREAMi? The popular ice cream maker is on sale for $228 on Amazon here.

Most music stocks posted gains this week as markets absorbed falling consumer sentiment and the producer price index’s fastest rate of increase in three years.  

iHeartMedia was the week’s greatest gainer, rising 40.6% to $2.25. The radio giant’s stock rose 25% on Tuesday after its Q2 earnings showed the company beat revenue guidance and managed a small improvement in revenue. CEO Bob Pittman referenced “a still uncertain macro environment,” but a 13% gain in digital revenue helped offset declining broadcast radio advertising revenue.  

Shares of Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) jumped 15.5% to $25.55 following the company’s Q2 earnings release on Tuesday (Aug. 12). TME’s revenue jumped 18% as subscribers improved 6.3% to 124.4 million, and the company said it has over 15 million subscribers to its Super VIP tier. Nomura raised its price target to $31 from $21.50 and maintained its “buy” rating. Daiwa Capital Markets upgraded TME to “outperform” from “neutral.”

The Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) rose 4.2% to 3,104.37, marking the third time the index has closed above 3,000. The BGMI is now just 0.4% below the all-time high of 3,117.20 from the week ended June 30, and its year-to-date gain improves to 46.1%. Twelve of the index’s 19 stocks were winners this week, while seven lost ground. The index dropped to 19 companies after Believe stopped trading on the Euronext Paris in late July.

Other indexes gained, but didn’t fare as well as music stocks. In the U.S., the Nasdaq composite rose 0.9% and the S&P 500 improved 1.0%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.5%. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index rose 0.5%. China’s SSE Composite Index gained 1.7%. 

SiriusXM jumped 7.5% to $23.03. The market could be betting that Howard Stern will return to SiriusXM after the conclusion of his five-year contract at the end of this year. A promo running during his show claims that Stern will speak on the matter on Sept. 2. Stern, who first signed with SiriusXM predecessor Sirius Satellite Radio in 2004 and started broadcasting on the service in 2006, was integral to the company’s early growth and remains a marquee talent as SiriusXM adds new voices such as podcaster Alex Cooper.

Live Nation, still glowing after a strong Q2 earnings report a week ago, reached an all-time high of $162.95 on Thursday (Aug. 14) and ended the week up 5.1% to $160.93. The concert promoter and ticketing company released earnings on Aug. 7 that showed a 16% revenue gain and record second-quarter concert revenue. Numerous analysts raised their price targets in the wake of the earnings. 

Spotify, the index’s largest component, rose 3.8% to $732.81. The music streamer is well below its all-time high of $785.00 set on June 27, but it has risen over $100 per share in the last two weeks and recaptured the value lost after the company’s Q2 earnings caused the stock to drop 11.6% in a single day. 

Sphere Entertainment Co. fell 1.0% to $39.87 but finished the week strong after the stock dropped 3.4% following the company’s earnings release on Monday (Aug. 11). Morgan Stanley lifted its price target to $40 from $35 and maintained its “equalweight” rating.

The week’s biggest loser was MSG Entertainment (MSGE), which fell a modest 3.1% after the company’s fiscal year earnings report on Wednesday (Aug. 13) showed a 74% drop in profit due in large part to the conclusion of Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden residency in July 2024. Morgan Stanley is optimistic about MSGE’s future, however, and raised its price target to $44 from $41.