Knowles-Smith and Walls Lead Winners at 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards

Lisa Knowles-Smith and Darrel Walls dominated this year’s Stellar Gospel Music Awards, taped Saturday at Charlotte’s Spectrum Centre and hosted by Kirk Franklin.

Knowles-Smith claimed five trophies, four tied to her album Revival: Live in Dallas with The Brown Singers. She took female artist of the year, group and quartet honours with the group, producer of the year alongside Frederick Perry, and song of the year for “Promises (Live),” which climbed to No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart earlier this year.

Walls picked up artist of the year and contemporary male artist of the year, both for Heart of Mine.

Vincent Bohanan & SOV secured three wins for Live in New York, including album of the year and a tied choir of the year win with JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise. Jonathan McReynolds, John P. Kee, Jekalyn Carr and The Brown Singers each won twice, while top nominee Kim Person left empty-handed despite matching Kee’s seven nods.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, and Pastor Mike Jr. was honoured with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award.

The ceremony airs on The Stellar Network from 29 August, with a BET premiere following on 30 August.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​