Gospel music’s most energized and spirited awards show arrives in Music City U.S.A. with an all-star line-up of industry heavy hitters, and the return of a glitz and glamour Red Carpet event that kicks-off the Stellar Awards celebration on Friday, January 11th, 2008.

Undoubtedly one of the industry’s most anticipated gospel music award shows, the 23rd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards is slated Saturday, January 12th, 2008 at the historic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. This year’s co-hosts are a trio of Stellar Awards favourites, representing urban, contemporary and inspirational gospel genres, Kirk Franklin, CeCe Winans and Byron Cage.

In addition to sharing co-hosting duties, both Franklin and Winans are scheduled to deliver moving performances, while Winans is also tapped to receive the Chevrolet Most Notable Achievement Award for pioneering work in song writing, outstanding performances and record sales success in the gospel music industry.

Performers scheduled to lift the house to its feet include Beverly Crawford, DeWayne Woods, Marvin Sapp, Ricky Dillard and the Rance Allen Group, along with the legendary Clark Sisters, the gospel urban sounds of Fred Hammond and Smokie Norful.

As in previous years, the Stellar Awards will recognize Gospel royalty, this year saluting Tramaine Hawkins with the distinguished James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, introduced by renowned actor and dancer Ben Vereen and presented by Edwin Hawkins. The James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to an artist or group who has made a major impact in the development and advancement of gospel music. Also, the awards show will introduce a new award, the Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, to be announced the night of the event and presented by Gospel diva Vickie Winans.

Sure to be one of the most highly buzzed events of the New Year, the Stellar Gospel Music Awards has confirmed a number of other celebrity presenters and guests, including actor and funnyman Anthony Anderson; J. Moss, who leads in Stellar Award nominations this year; the legendary Shirley Caesar; Richard Smallwood; gospel trio Trinitee 5:7; David and Tamela Mann; Everybody Hates Chris actress Tichina Arnold; Kim Stratton; gospel hip hop artist LP; Maurette Brown Clark; Myron Butler; songstress Regina Belle; The View co-host and comedienne Sherri Shepherd; Shirley Murdock; gospel music newcomer Spendra Bailey; actress Tasha Smith; Bishop Noel Jones; Canton Jones, and Deitrick and Damita Haddon and more.

“The calibre of performers and presenters appearing on this awards show proves that Gospel music continues to grow and shares a message of encouragement and faith,” said Don Jackson, CEO of Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. & Executive Producer of the Stellar Awards. “We have an incredible line-up of enthusiastic hosts and some of the most noted performers in gospel music. No other show brings together the balance of traditional established artists with the most talented and vibrant young artists of today like the Stellar Awards. This is expected to be yet another great awards show.”