2016 Stellar Awards

The 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

Dubbed the greatest night in Gospel music, the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas turned "Sin City" into "Salvation City." Celebrating 31 years, the Stellar Awards was co-hosted with comedic flair by Rickey Smiley("Dish Nation," Rickey Smiley For Real) and Sherri Shepherd (Ride Along 2, The View) during the 2-hour taped telecast premiering. The Stellar Awards recognizes the year's best performances in the genre, honors Gospel music icons and acknowledges the accomplishments of individuals instrumental in advocating for the industry.

The 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards' winners are selected by online voters who recognize the year's best performances in the genre, honor Gospel music icons and acknowledge the accomplishments of individuals instrumental in advocating for the industry. The 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards premieres on TV One on Sunday, March 6 at 6 p.m. ET with encores at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. The two-hour taped telecast, produced by Central City Productions, will also be broadcast in syndication on 150 radio stations in more than 125 markets throughout the country from March 12-April 10.

For more information on TV One's airing of the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards - the biggest night in Gospel Music - viewers can join the conversation by visiting the network's companion website at www.tvone.tv and connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tags#StellarAwards and #Represent. Additional information and updates are also available by following the Stellar Awards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Launched in January 2004, TV One (www.tvone.tv) serves 57 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult black viewers. In December 2008, the company launched TV One High Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is owned by Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK; www.radio-one.com], the largest radio company that primarily targets Black and urban listeners.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, Produced by Deborah Byrd for Central City Productions with Barbara Wilson serving as Executive Consultant. Michael Johnson will direct this year's award show and Jennifer Jackson is the Executive in Charge of Production. Erma Gray Davis is the President and Chief Operations Officer of Central City Productions. Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. is a distributor of original targeted programming to television and cable networks. CCP's award- winning television programs include the Stellar Tribute to the Holidays and Tribute to Mother's Day, The Black College Quiz Show Series, Hispanic College Quiz, Our World with Black Enterprise and Women of Power, among many others. For more information, please visit www.ccptv.com.