Lisa Knowles-Smith, Darrel Walls & More Win Big at 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards: Full Winners List

The Story

Lisa Knowles-Smith and Darrel Walls were the big winners at the 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which were taped live from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday (Aug. 15). Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin hosted the show.

Knowles-Smith, 42, won five awards, four of them for the hit album Revival: Live in Dallas, which she recorded with The Brown Singers. Knowles-Smith won the Albertina Walker female artist of the year award; duo/chorus/group of the year and quartet of the year alongside The Brown Singers; producer of the year in tandem with Frederick Perry; and song of the year for “Promises (Live),” which she wrote under her real name, Alescia Knowles-Smith. The song reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart in June.

Walls, 35, won two awards: artist of the year and contemporary male artist of the year, both for Heart of Mine.

Vincent Bohanan & SOV won three awards, all for their album Live in New York: album of the year, choir of the year (in a tie with JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise), and contemporary choir of the year.

Other artists with two wins were Jonathan McReynolds, John P. Kee, Jekalyn Carr and The Brown Singers.

Kim Person had tied with John P. Kee for the most nominations this year (seven each), but she was not a winner on the night.

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

The show will premiere on The Stellar Network, available on Charter Spectrum and Verizon Fios, with the broadcast debuting on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 8 p.m. ET with an encore presentation at 10 p.m. ET. The celebration will make its national cable premiere on BET on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 8 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. ET before expanding to audiences nationwide through broadcast TV syndication from Sept. 5 through Sept. 27. In Charlotte, WBTV (CBS) will serve as the local television broadcast partner. Bounce TV will air the ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 1 p.m. ET.

The 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards is executive produced by Don Jackson (founder of the Stellar Awards and chairman of Central City Productions, Inc.) with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as producer and executive in charge of production; Michael A. Johnson as producer and director, Erin Johnson-Pressley as talent producer, and Daniel Moore as music director.

Here’s the full nominations list, with winners marked.

WINNER: Darrel Walls; Heart of Mine; Tyscot Records / Gumbo Studios

Jekalyn Carr; Jekalyn X The Legends; Waynorth Music

Kim Person; Reflections; Blockbuster Records/KLP Music Enterprise

Tasha Cobbs Leonard; TASHA; Motown Gospel. TeeLee Records

Tye Tribbett; Only on the Road (Live); Motown Gospel, Freligious Music

“Able” ft. Kim Burrell ~ Paul Sylvester Morton Jr.~ Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studios

“Come Jesus Come” ~ Stephen McWhirter, Tara McWhirter, Hank Bentley, and Bryan Fowler ~ Pure Springs Gospel/Fair Trade Services

“On the Way” Remix ft. Erica Campbell ~ Adia Andrews, Karl Powell, Michael McClure Jr., Jeremy James, Jaicko Raphael Lawrence, Israel Allen, & Erica Campbell ~ Rock City Media Group

WINNER: “Promises (Live)” ~ Alescia Knowles-Smith ~ EvoWorld Entertainment

“Your Love” ~ Kim Person ~ Blockbuster Records/KLP Music Enterprise

Asaun Bynum ~ True to Him ~ Blockbuster Records/LRAE Entertainment

Darrel Walls ~ Heart of Mine ~ Tyscot Records/Gumbo Studios

John P. Kee ~ Throwback: An Evening with John P. Kee Part I ~ Kee Music Group/Tyscot Records

WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds ~ Still (Live) ft. Jamal Roberts ~ Motown Gospel, Life Room Label

Tye Tribbett ~ Only on the Road (Live) ~ Motown Gospel, Freligious Music

Adia ~ On the Way EP ~ Rock City Media Group

Jekalyn Carr ~ Jekalyn X The Legends ~ Waynorth Music

Kim Person ~ Reflections ~ Blockbuster Records/KLP Music Enterprise

WINNER: Lisa Knowles Smith ~ Revival: Live in Dallas ~ EvoWorld Entertainment

Maranda Curtis ~ Worship Restored ~ ButterflyWorks/Red Alliance Media

Original report

Billboard

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