The Stellar Awards, the premier Gospel music event recognizing and honoring African-American artists, airs its 27th annual awards show. Find out when it will be airing in your city.

The 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards have announced an all-star lineup of Gospel music's finest performers, including Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, James Fortune & FIYA, Ricky Dillard & New G, Earnest Pugh, Richard Smallwood & Vision and William McDowell.

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Friday Night Live Pre-Stellar Late Night Extravaganza, January 13th with James Hall, Wess Morgan, LeJeune Thompson, San Franklin, Bubby Fan and the list goes on.

According to members of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church family, Bishop Eddie Long has apparently returned after a month-long absence. The senior pastor had announced that he was stepping away from the pulpit to spend time with his family – an attempt to save his marriage with Vanessa Long, who has recently filed for divorce.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary in 2012 of Franklin's founding of his first major choir recording group (The Family) in 1992, and the extraordinary path that his life's work has taken him with his choirs and as a solo artist, THE ESSENTIAL KIRK FRANKLIN presents the first full-length, 28-song, double CD overview of his entire career.

Universal Music Christian Group/Fontana recording artist LeJuene Thompson is set to release her third album, The Evolution of Me, in the spring of 2012. The lead single from the CD, “Let God Do It,” will impact gospel radio this month.

The Malaco Music group is proud to announce the signing of Alexis Allen professionally known as “Lexi.”

A few surprises for the top ten line up on Billboard’s Gospel Chart. Starting with Gospel recording artist Shirley Caesar who re-enters the chart this week at #4 with Ultimate Collection. William McDowell’s Arise takes over the #1 spot as Kirk Franklin moves to #2 with Hello Fear.

Dr. Lance D. Watson, senior pastor of St. Paul’s Baptist Church and one of the Members at Large, will be heading up the Peaceful Demonstration at the Federal Reserve Bank in downtown Richmond, VA .

Trumpet Awards founder Xernona Clayton brought firepower to help her ring in the 20th anniversary of the civic awards program at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.

The latest installment in the WOW music series is set for release January 24, 2012. WOW Gospel 2012 is two discs full of gospel songs from top artists such as Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Marvin Sapp, Wess Morgan , Earnest Pugh and the Together We Stand Community Choir featuring Mali Music.

Musician and actress Dolly Parton stars as a choir singer in the upcoming film "Joyful Noise." She's now championing real church choirs as a spokesperson for National Choir Appreciation Sunday this weekend.