Obama Tribute by Dionne Warwick, Performances by Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett & G.A., Donnie McClurkin with Karen Clark Sheard, Heather Headley & Other Top Artists Highlight 2009 Stellar Awards

Premiers Sunday, March 1 @ 7:00 P.M. ET on Gospel Music Channel

Sinbad, Dorinda Clark Cole & Donnie McClurkin Co-Host

Contact: Phyllis Caddell, 626-737-7477, pcpub@earthlink.net; Jim Weiss, Gospel Music Channel, 770-692-4579, jim@gospelmusicchannel.com

ATLANTA, Feb. 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Gospel Music Channel (GMC) will telecast The 2009 Stellar Awards, the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors Gospel artists, on Sunday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET (Encore at 9 p.m. & 11 p.m. All times Eastern.) Sinbad, Dorinda Clark Cole and Donnie McClurkin co-host.

The Stellars 2009 will feature both rousing and moving performances, kicked-off by an intensely creative performance of "Stand Out" from Stellar Award nominees Tye Tribbett and Greater Anointing. Other performance highlights will include: Music legend Dionne Warwick performing "Glory Glory Hallelujah" as a special tribute to President Barack Obama; Heather Headley singing "The Lord Will Make A Way" from her newly-released gospel effort; Donnie McClurkin teaming with Karen Clark Sheard; Rapper Da T.R.U.T.H. performing his hit single "That Great Day"; Three-time Stellar Award winner Jonathan Nelson and Purpose; the Quartet of the Year winners Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's; 21:03 and more. A moving musical tribute to the Rev. Timothy Wright, who was critically injured last year in a car crash that killed his wife and grandson, is led by Kirk Franklin.

GMC, the fastest-growing network in television today, will re-air the show throughout March. Visit http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/schedule for complete listings.

Gospel Music Channel will also premiere a new series "The Best of the Stellars" in April. The exclusive new series, hosted by Gospel great Vickie Winans, will spotlight the most memorable moments, performances and interviews from the first 23 years of The Stellar Awards. The Stellar Awards and The Best of The Stellars on GMC are part of a new multi-year licensing agreement between GMC, Central City Productions (CCP) and Don Jackson, CEO of CCP and Stellar Awards executive producer.

Gospel Music Channel is the nation's first and only all music television network devoted to the uplifting, inspiring and diverse music that is Gospel music. GMC is the fastest-growing network in television today and can be seen in more than 41 million homes on various cable systems and nationwide on DIRECTV channel 338.

The Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) produces the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. It has been 24 years since the first awards show was taped at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. The Stellar Awards has now become the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors African American artists. This one of a kind show has showcased top Gospel artists as well as many television and film stars. The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is produced by Barbara Wilson for Central City Productions. Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions is a Producer, Syndicator and Distributor of original programming on television and cable networks.