The 22nd Annual Stellar Awards, gospel music�s premiere awards show, will be taking place this Saturday.

The program will be held at the world-renowned Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville where gospel artists from around the United States will be attending. The showcase is a time for gospel music to gain exposure as well as for the industry to ready itself for the upcoming year.

�The Stellar Awards are a very important event for the gospel community,� Tina Campbell of the group Mary Mary explained to the City Paper. �It helps increase awareness of the music and what people don�t realize is that there�s so much more happening than just the ceremonies.�

�There are meetings, conferences, events, and you get to hear a lot of great music that doesn�t otherwise get exposed, plus it also helps us as an industry. We gain strength through our associations and fellowship with other artists.�

Three co-hosts will lead the event - long-time performer Kirk Franklin and rising stars Mary Mary and Tye Tribbett.

Leading the nominations for awards are Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers in seven categories followed by Tye Tribbett, who received six nods. With four nominations each are The Williams Brothers and Myron Butler & Levi.

The music categories come in a variety of styles including traditional, contemporary, urban, rap, hip hop, and jazz. Artists are nominated in a number of categories such as Artist of the Year, Choir of the Year, Contemporary CD of the year and Music Video of the Year, to name a few.

29 states will be broadcasting the awards show which will begin at 5:30 p.m. CST. The Stellar Awards website, www.thestellarawards.com, has a complete list of stations as well as other information on the event.