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.