Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Pastor Mike Jr to be honored at 2026 Stellar Awards

The chart toppers and gospel hitmakers will be honored with awards highlighting not only their career achievements but also their influence as worship leaders and their role in spreading the power of Gospel music through music and ministry.

The upcoming Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be a momentous one for Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Pastor Mike Jr.

The longtime gospel stars will receive the Aretha Franklin Icon Award and the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award at the 41st annual celebration of gospel’s biggest night on August 15 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Aretha Franklin Icon Award will be bestowed upon Cobbs Leonard in recognition of a career that has made her one of gospel’s leading voices and one of the most prominent gospel stars of her generation. From “Break Every Chain,” “For Your Glory” and “Gracefully Broken,” Leonard has taken chart-topping success and welded it with her influence as a worship leader.

For her, the award is “deeply humbling.”

“This honor means more to me than I can fully express,” Cobbs Leonard shared in a statement. “Gospel music has given me a place to share my faith, my testimony and every part of my journey, and I have never taken that privilege lightly.”

She added, “To receive the Aretha Franklin Icon Award is deeply humbling, not only as a celebration of what God has allowed me to accomplish, but also as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with this platform. I’m grateful to my family, my team, the Gospel community and every person who has allowed this music to become part of their lives.”

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Cobbs Leonard is nominated for Artist of the Year, Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year for “TASHA.” She earned two Grammy nominations for “TASHA,” one for Best Gospel Album and one for her single “Church” featuring John Legend.

Pastor Mike Jr.’s Dorsey Award honor recognizes his chart success and his groundbreaking contributions to the genre while also expanding the reach of Gospel music through music and ministry.

“I’m truly honored to receive the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award,” he shared in a statement. “This recognition is bigger than me. It’s a testament to God’s faithfulness and the incredible people who have supported this journey.”

He added, “I pray my music and ministry continue to inspire hope, faith and purpose for generations to come.”

The 41st annual ceremony will be hosted by 19-time Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin and feature appearances from PJ Morton, John P. Kee, Le’Andria Johnson, Aaron Cole, Jekalyn Carr, Childlike CiCi, Melvin Crispell III, and Tye Tribbett with ABLAZE. Jevon Dewand & The Trap Starz, along with Isaac Carree and Jazze Pha.

The ceremony will air on The Stellar Network on August 29 before airing on BET the next day, August 30.