NASHVILLE (January 17, 2009) – Gospel Music Channel will premiere this year's Stellar Awards, the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors gospel artists, on Sunday, March 1 at 7 pm et.

Gospel Music Channel, the fastest-growing network in television today, will present an instant encore of the Stellar Awards March 1 at 9 pm and will re-air the show throughout March. Visit www.gospelmusicchannel.com/schedule for information.

Gospel Music Channel will also premiere a new series "The Best of the Stellars" in April. The exclusive new series 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 Gospel Music Channel are part of a new multi-year licensing agreement between GMC, Central City Productions (CCP) and Don Jackson, CCP CEO and Stellar Awards executive producer.

Gospel Music Channel will also present the world television premiere of the 2009 BMI Trailblazers Tribute to Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans in late February (date/time TBA).

Gospel Music Channel (http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the nation's first and only all music television network devoted to the uplifting, inspiring and diverse music that is gospel/Christian music. Gospel Music Channel is the fastest-growing network in television today can be seen in more than 40 million homes on various cable systems and nationwide on DIRECTV.

The Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) produces the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. It has been 23 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.

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