ASCAP and Motown Gospel Celebrate 2026 Stellar Awards Nominees in Charlotte

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — ASCAP and Motown Gospel brought gospel music’s artists, songwriters and industry leaders together on August 13 for the 2026 ASCAP and Motown Gospel Stellar Awards Nominee Mixer at the Omni Hotel in Charlotte.

Held during Stellar Awards week, the invite-only gathering created an intimate space for nominees, creatives and executives to connect while celebrating the people and music continuing to shape gospel.

The Hype Magazine was in the building for an evening centered on community, recognition and the creators behind the music.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard Celebrates “Gracefully Broken” Milestone

One of the evening’s biggest moments came when Motown Gospel Executive Vice President Walter Thomas and the Motown Gospel team presented Grammy Award-winning artist and ASCAP songwriter Tasha Cobbs Leonard with a platinum plaque recognizing the success of her single “Gracefully Broken.”

ASCAP Vice President, Creative Membership Jonathan “JJ” Jones welcomed guests before the special presentation.

The RIAA certification recognizes more than one million certified units in the United States, marking another milestone for a song that continues to resonate with gospel audiences.

ASCAP Motown Gospel Brings Gospel Music Together in Charlotte

The room reflected the depth of gospel music’s community.

Guests included JJ Hairston, Jovonta Patton, Kim Person, Mike Teezy, Nia Allen, Maurette Brown Clark, Brandon Camphor and One Way, Dante Pride, Stan Jones and William Murphy, among others. Ricky Dillard also joined the notable gospel artists in attendance.

Beyond the recognition and awards-week excitement, the mixer gave artists, songwriters and executives an opportunity to connect away from the stage.

That sense of community made the evening especially fitting for Stellar Awards week. While the awards celebrate what audiences see and hear, gatherings like this also highlight the relationships, songwriting and creative work behind the records.

Celebrating the Creators Behind Gospel Music

ASCAP’s presence reinforced the evening’s focus on creators. The performing rights organization represents more than one million songwriters, composers and music publishers while advocating for their rights and helping ensure creators receive compensation when businesses and platforms perform their music.

Together, ASCAP and Motown Gospel created an evening that celebrated achievement and the larger creative community moving gospel music forward.

More than a mixer, the evening captured what makes Stellar Awards week special: the community behind the music showing up for one another.

As gospel’s biggest weekend unfolded across Charlotte, ASCAP and Motown Gospel created space to celebrate the songs, the people behind them and the moments that continue to move the culture forward.

And with “Gracefully Broken” reaching another milestone, Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s recognition offered a fitting reminder that when a song truly connects, its impact can reach far beyond the moment of its release.