Review: ASCAP AND MOTOWN GOSPEL HONORS STELLAR AWARD NOMINEES at Omni Hotel

ASCAP And Motown Gospel Honors Stellar Award Nominees

At A Star-Studded Cocktail Mixer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the first time, the Stellar Awards, the longest-running African American gospel music awards show, made its way to Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing some of the industry's most celebrated gospel artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals to the "Queen City". 

ASCAP And Motown Gospel Partner For An Evening Celebrating Gospel Music's Finest

Among the featured events during Stellar Awards Week was the Stellar Award Nominee Mixer, held Thursday, August 13, at the Omni Hotel Uptown Charlotte. The elegant cocktail reception was hosted by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) in partnership with Motown Gospel.

ASCAP, one of the leading performing rights organizations in the music industry, advocates for and protects the rights of songwriters, composers, and music publishers while helping ensure that creators are appropriately recognized and compensated for their work.

The mixer provided an intimate and celebratory environment for industry professionals and Stellar Award nominees to connect, network, and celebrate their accomplishments.

Among the invited gospel favorites honored and recognized during the evening were Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Pastor Mike Jr., Ricky Dillard, William Murphy, and Kim Person. I was especially excited to see two of my personal favorites in attendance, Maurette Brown Clark and J. J. Hairston.

The atmosphere inside the venue was nothing short of electrifying. Conversations flowed throughout the room as artists, executives, songwriters, and music professionals celebrated not only individual accomplishments but also the significance of bringing the Stellar Awards to a new city.

There was a palpable sense of excitement surrounding what many viewed as the beginning of a new chapter for gospel music in Charlotte, NC.

A Special Moment For Tasha Cobbs-Leonard

One of the evening's most memorable moments came when Walter Thomas, Executive Vice President of Motown Gospel, along with the Motown Gospel team, presented Grammy Award-winning gospel artist and ASCAP songwriter Tasha Cobbs-Leonard with a platinum plaque commemorating the success of her powerful single “Gracefully Broken.”

The presentation was a fitting tribute to an artist whose music has resonated with audiences around the world.

For me, the moment carried an additional layer of significance. As a theatre artist and author who understands the power of storytelling through "The Arts", it was inspiring to witness the music industry pause to recognize the creative work behind a song that has touched so many lives.

Celebrating the Power of Collaboration

Together, ASCAP and Motown Gospel created a spectacular evening that celebrated individual accomplishments while also reinforcing the broader mission of the Stellar Awards—to honor some of the most talented and inspirational gospel artists in the industry, including singers, songwriters, producers, and other creative professionals.

This partnership was an exemplary demonstration of what happens when industry organizations come together to celebrate creativity, achievement, and the people behind the music.

The mixer also served as an exciting precursor to the main event—the Stellar Awards, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

As the evening came to a close, one thing was abundantly clear:

The Stellar Awards had arrived in Charlotte—and the Queen City was ready to celebrate!

The ASCAP and Motown Gospel cocktail mixer was not simply a gathering of nominees. It was a celebration of gospel music, creativity, collaboration, achievement, and the extraordinary artists whose gifts continue to inspire audiences around the world.

And if the energy at the mixer was any indication, the 2026 Stellar Awards Week was destined to be a memorable chapter in Charlotte's growing legacy as a destination for world-class entertainment and the performing arts.

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