James Fortune leads Stellar Awards nominees

Written by Eric Tiansay

Monday, 25 October 2010 03:49 PM America/New_York

James Fortune & FIYA led all nominees for the 26th annual Stellar Awards--announced at the weekend--with 10 nominations, including Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Praise & Worship CD of the Year for Encore (Black Smoke Music Worldwide/E1 Entertainment Distribution) and Song of the Year for "Encore."

Other leading nominees named for the best African-American artist in gospel music in 2010 were BeBe and CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond and Marvin Sapp with seven nods each.

Fortune & FIYA, Sapp, Hammond and the Winans were nominated in the Artist of the Year category. Besides Hammond and Sapp, the Male Vocalist of the Year nominees were Byron Cage and J. Moss. Female Vocalist of the Year nominees were CeCe Winans, Karen Clark Sheard, Lucinda Moore and Tamela Mann.

To be hosted by Donnie McClurkin, the Stellar Awards will be held Jan. 15 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, which will be taped for broadcast on the Gospel Music Channel.

Click here for a complete list of Stellar Award nominees.