The nominees for the 2011 BET Awards have been announced. Here are the nominees for the “Best Gospel Artist” category:

BeBe & CeCe Winans
Mary Mary
Deitrick Haddon
Karen Clark-Sheard
Byron Cage

Each of these artists have had a fine year. If someone other than Mary Mary or BeBe & CeCe Winans wins, I will be surprised. Who would you chose to win?

In case you didn’t know Malaco records is one of the top Gospel labels in the country. The label is home to artists like Bebe & Cece Winans, Mississippi Mass Choir, The Caravans and Dorothy Norwood.

I will post additional updates if I get any additional information. I’m sure you’re wondering what the future holds for some of your favorite Gospel artists. To be honest, I don’t have a legitimate answer for that. Please keep the Malaco records staff and their families in your prayers.

Best Gospel Performance
Forever Jones-He Wants It All
VaShawn Mitchell-Nobody Greater
Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway-He’s Been Just That Good
Israel Houghton-You Hold My World
BeBe & CeCe Winans-Grace

Best Gospel Song
Beautiful Things-Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)
Better Than Hallelujah-Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)
It’s What I Do-Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)
Our God-Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Return to Sender-Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album
Church Music-David Crowder Band
For Those That Wait-Fireflight
Beautiful Things-Gungor
Rehab-Lecrae
Hello Hurricane-Switchfoot

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Beauty Will Rise-Steven Curtis Chapman
Love God. Love People.-Israel Houghton
Pieces Of A Real Hart-Sanctus Real
Mosaic-Ricky Skaggs
Tonight-TobyMac

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album
Times Like These-Austins Bridge
The Reason-Diamond Rio
Expecting Good Things-Jeff & Sheri Easter
Journey On-Ty Herndon
Live At Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River-Karen Peck & New River

Best Traditional Gospel Album
The Experience-Vanessa Bell Armstrong
A City Called Heaven-Shirley Caesar
Downtown Church-Patty Griffin
Here I Am-Marvin Sapp
All In One-Karen Clark Sheard

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
Get Ready-Forever Jones
Love Unstoppable-Fred Hammond
Triumphant-VaShawn Mitchell
Aaron Sledge-Aaron Sledge
Still-BeBe & CeCe Winans

So, there you have it. What do you think about the nominatins?

[img credit: treehugger.com]

In my opinion, Donnie McClurkin did a good job serving as host for the evening. I really didn’t expect anything different. In addition to hearing about the 2011 Stellar Award nominees, we got see a concert that featured a couple of different artists from the gospel industry. 

The performances from Vashawn Mitchell, Joe Pace and Lucinda Moore were all good. However, in my opinion, Jessica Reedy delivered the performance of the night. Her performance of God Has Smiled on Me was so unique and inspiring. She is definitely bringing a special sound to gospel music. 

Another highlight from the evening was a tribute to the late Gospel legend Albertina Walker. Don Jackson offered some very kind words regarding the life and legacy of this gospel pioneer.

Here is a list of the nominees for the 2011 Stellar Awards.

Artist of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA 
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Marvin Sapp
Fred Hammond 

Female Vocalist of the Year
Karen Clark Sheard
CeCe Winans
Lucinda Moore
Tamela Mann

Male Vocalist of the Year
J. Moss
Byron Cage
Fred Hammond
Marvin Sapp

Song of the Year
Best In Me, Marvin Sapp
Close to You, BeBe Winans
Encore, James Fortune, C. Fortune and T. Vaughn
They That Wait,  Fred Hammond, Calvin Rodgers, Phillip Feaster, Ericka Warren, Michael Bethany and Dynna Wells

Choir of the Year
James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Victory Cathedral Choir
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

New Artist of the Year
Forever Jones
Kristina Halloway
Travis Greene
Victory Cathedral Choir

Traditional CD of the Year
Won’t It Be Wonderful, James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Here I Am, Marvin Sapp
A City Called Heaven, Marvin Sapp
The Experience,Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Contemporary CD of the Year
Still, BeBe and CeCe Winans
Love Unstoppable, Fred Hammond 
Just James, J.Moss  
Encore, James Fortune and FIYA 

Producer of the Year
James Fortune, Terrance Vaughn and Ayron Lewis, Encore
Aaron Lindsey, Here I Am
Donald Lawrence, The Experience
Fred Hammond, Love Unstoppable

Group/Duo of the Year
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Forever Jones
James Fortune & FIYA
The Anointed Pace Sisters

Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year
Byron Cage
Fred Hammond
J. Moss
James Fortune

Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Alvin Darling
Darrell Hines
Marvin Sapp
Marvin Winans

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
CeCe Winans
Karen Clark Sheard
Lisa Page Brooks
Tamela Mann

Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year
Fredericka Faison
Lucinda Moore
Shirley Caesar
Vanessa Bell Armstrong

Contemporary Choir of the Year
God’s Little Soldiers International
Myron Butler & Levi
Youth for Christ
Youthful Praise featuring J.J. Hairston

Traditional Choir of the Year
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
James Hall & Voices of Citadel
Victory Cathedral Choir
Wilmington Chester Mass Choir

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Forever Jones
James Fortune & FIYA
Trin-i-tee 5:7

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
James Greer & Company
The Anointed Pace Sisters
The Christian Angels
The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Quartet of the Year
Reverend F.C. Barnes & Company
The Christian Angels
The Golden Wings Quartet
The Mighty Clouds of Joy

Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Entermission, DJ Official 
Outtadisworld, Everyday Process
Lions and Liars, Sho Baraka
Between Two Worlds, Trip Lee

Music Video of the Year
Close to You, BeBe and CeCe Winans 
Make Me a Believer, Kirk Whalum 
Playground In Heaven, Shirley Caesar 
If I Be Lifted Up, The Anointed Pace Sisters

Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Still, BeBe & CeCe Winans
Get Ready,Forever Jones 
Encore, James Fortune & FIYA
Here I Am, Marvin Sapp

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Cameron Hilson and Mark Neubauer for Get Ready
Denise Trotman for Here I Am
Derek Blanks and Ken Barboza for Still
Jeff Gilligan for Love Unstoppable

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Darwin Hobbs Live: Champion, Darwin Hobbs
Encore, James Fortune & FIYA  
Place of Worship, Phil Tarver
Access Granted, The Anointed Pace Sisters 

Special Event CD of the Year
Still, BeBe and CeCe Winans
Are You Listening, Kirk Franklin
CoCo Brother Live Presents Stand 2010, Various Artists 
WOW Gospel 2010, Various Artists 

Children’s Project of the Year
Soldier Story, God’s Little Soldiers International 
Kingdom Kids Worldwide Volume 1, Kingdom Kids Worldwide
While We Still Have Time, The Velasquez Family Singers
Thanks In Advance, Youth for Christ

After 911 and Hurricane Katrina, I was looking for the Gospel community to come together to record a song, but it never happened. I’m not saying that Gospel artists were obligated to create a song for these events. I know that many artist made numerous contributions to many of the parties affected by these incidents. I must admit, songs like “We Are the World” and “We’re All in The Same Gang” set a certain level of expectation in my mind.

The Gospel Music Channel is reporting that a number of Gospel artists have come together to record a song in response to the earthquake in Haiti. During this past weekend, while in town for the Stellar Awards, Kirk Franklin spearheaded the efforts to record a song entitled “A Song For Pain”. Joining Kirk on this project are many other well-know Gospel artists like Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, Donald Lawrence, BeBe & CeCe Winans, David & Tamela Mann, Natalie Grant, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Bishop Paul Morton and many more.

I personally love collaborations. I hope this ends up being one of the highest grossing songs of all time! I don’t know when the release date is, but I will definitely keep you posted.

I am fully aware that one song will not magically change what is going on in Haiti. However, the money that is raised will help. I commend each of these artists for utilizing their gifts and talents to benefit those in need.

What do you think? Do you think this is a good way for these artists to make a contribution?

Double click the arrow below to hear “Still”.
[audio:Still.mp3]

Want more BeBe & CeCe Winans? Check out the Still album sampler. This video features new images of BeBe & CeCe set to soundtrack clips from the new album Still. Enjoy!

Get the entire Still album or download a couple of tracks on:
iTunes
Amazon.com

Now, I’m much more mature and my total outlook on Gospel music is different. I recently listened to BeBe & CeCe’s latest release entitled Still. After listening to the CD, I ended up having a different appreciation for the music that I neglected years ago.

A friend of mine labels BeBe & CeCe (the duo) as extremely ambiguous. You can listen to many of their songs and not know who they are singing about. Since they are BeBe & CeCe we know that they are singing about God. However, someone who is not familiar with them can easily be led to believe that they are singing about a man or a woman. Personally, when I listen to Gospel, I prefer the message to be clear. However, I am mature enough to listen to their lyrics and make the proper connection.

If you were a BeBe & CeCe fan in the past, then you will absolutely love Still. It is everything we are accustomed to hearing from BeBe & CeCe plus more. Most of the tracks were written by BeBe. Mervyn Warren, Mario Winans and Warren Campbell each produce tracks on the album, so the production and instrumentation is high quality.

Aside from not having the words “God”, “Jesus”, or “Lord” in them, the songs “Still” and “Close To You” have very good messages that speak to our connectedness with the Lord.

The album Still also included  a couple of guest appearances by Marvin Winans and Mary Mary. They lent their voices to the songs “Things” and “Let It Be” respectively. Both songs were very well done and the vocal performances did not disappoint at all.

A Quick Note to CeCe Winans Fans
CeCe Winans has been a solo artist for the last 15 years. During that time her style has evolved and she has developed a unique following. In my opinion, the CeCe Winans you have been hearing over the last couple of years is different from the CeCe Winans you’ll hear on the Still album. I’m not saying that one is better than the other.

Still does not have an emotionally charged ballad like “Alabaster Box” or high energy songs like “Pray” or “Hallelujah Praise”. The tracks on this album are much more laid back and mellow.

The Bottom Line
Like I said before, if you loved BeBe & CeCe Winans 15 years ago, you will absolutely love Still. Overall, I think this is an extremely solid project. While I found some of the rhythms to be similar in sound, the messages are positive and uplifting. Fifteen years from now I don’t think we’ll be referring to Still as a timeless CD. However, if you buy it, you definitely will not be disappointed.

Get your copy of Still by BeBe & CeCe Winans HERE. Let me know what you think about the CD once you listen to it.