When the nominations for the 25th Annual Stellar Awards were announced at a downtown Nashville press conference on Thursday, October 29, EMI Gospel emerged with 7 total nominations, with artists Smokie Norful and Kierra Sheard each being multiple nominees.

GRAMMY® Award winning vocalist, writer and producer Norful has been recognized in the categories of Male Vocalist Of The Year (a category he previously won in 2003), Contemporary Male Of the Year and CD Of The Year for his latest album Smokie Norful Live (EMI Gospel/Tre’ Myles Music). Originally released on April 7, with a subsequent August 25th Deluxe DVD Edition release, Smokie Norful Live is the GRAMMY Award winning artist’s first live album and has spawned the current Top 5 Gospel radio hit, “Justified”.

GRAMMY® nominated and previous Stellar winner for Contemporary Female Vocalist Of The Year, Kierra Sheard was recognized in four categories, including Female Vocalist Of The Year, Contemporary Female Of The Year and Contemporary CD Of the Year for her 2008 release, Bold Right Life (EMI Gospel). Most notably, however, is Sheard’s first-time Artist Of The Year nomination. “I appreciate everyone who has believed in me by showing their love and support,” says Sheard of the nominations. “I hope that above all I am an inspiration to many that living for God is the best, and in honoring him some crazy unexpected things can happen!”

Sheard was also recognized in the category of Special Event CD Of The Year for her contribution, along with The Clark Sisters and J. Moss, to the Barantera Music Group release Silky Soul Music… A Tribute to Maze.

The 25th Annual Stellar Awards will be take place at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, January 16, 2010. Hosts for this year’s ceremony are Kirk Franklin, Vickie Winans and Donnie McClurkin. Further information about this year’s show, including ticket sales and a full list of this year’s nominees can be found at www.thestellarawards.com.