The women of Gospel held their own in 2011, but who was the best? The first annual Digital Gospel Music Award, presented by Elev8 for the Best Female Gospel Artist of 2011 goes to … Le’Andria Johnson! She received the overwhelming majority of the 1640 votes submitted with 36%.

Le’Andria received competition from a highly accomplished and respected field artists like Yolanda Adams, CeCe Winans, Maurette Brown-Clark, Martha Munizzi, Kim Burrell, Karen Clark-Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Beverly Crawford and Lisa Page Brooks finished second through tenth, respectively. While Jessica Reedy, Kierra Sheard and Shirley Caesar received the most write-in votes.

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The ceremony will be telecast as a special on the Gospel Music Channel Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 7 p.m.; an encore presentation will air at 8:30 p.m.

BeBe & CeCe Winans’ “Close to You” was named BMI’s Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year. Written by BeBe Winans and published by Music of Everhits, the song also earned the 2010 Dove Award for Urban Recorded Song of the Year. BeBe & CeCe Winans celebrated the honor with a blazing performance of “Close to You.”

Donnie McClurkin co-hosted the musical tribute to Pastor Caesar, which featured spine-tingling musical performances by Arnetta Murrill, Ledisi, Lucinda Moore, Beverly Crawford, and Kim Burrell.

Kim Burrell also anchored the homage to Commissioned. A commanding musical tribute was delivered by Dawkins & Dawkins, Men of Standard, Parkes Stewart and Deitrick Haddon, The Clark Sisters, and Marvin Sapp with The Soul Seekers.

The original members of Commissioned gathered on stage for the finale, marking the group’s first performance together in over a decade. They were greeted with a standing ovation by the audience of gospel music’s premier songwriters and recording artists, executives, and legends.

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The wonderfully talented and Pastor Shirley Ceasar stopped by The Light studio to break bread or rather have cake in celebration for her birthday. Shirley was giddy and in bright spirits as fans phoned in the send their many well wishes. Pastor Ceasar will also have a much bigger party this even with family and friends, one of which joined her as she stopped thru our station, the lovely Kim Burrell. Kim even stepped up the mic and serenaded a sweet birthday ballad exclusively for our listeners dedicated to the great Pastor.

After all the auditions were over BET’s gospel competition has chosen it top 20 finalists, which will perform this Sunday at 8pm.

This is the 3rd season of Sunday Best, Hosted by Kirk Franklin, and new judges Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams joining Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary.

You can look for Kim Burrell to share her talent as this seasons contestant mentor.

And the Top 20 are:  

Bethany Devine – Little Rock, AR   
Brian Smith – Chicago, IL     
Brittney J. Dear – Madison, MS        
David E. Wilford – Millsboro, DL    
Davon Fleming – Baltimore, MD      
Dathan Thigpen – Ridgeland, MS     
Durward Davis – Tulsa, OK  
Fumni Oduyemi – Lagos, Nigeria     
Franklin Davis, IV – New Orleans, LA         
Goldwire McLendon – Philadelphia, PA      
Jonte Thomas – New Orleans, LA     
Lamesha “Mesie” Augustine – Indianapolis, IN        
Leandria Johnson – Orlando, FL       
Martha Buries – Houston, TX           
Orlando Wright – Cincinnati, OH     
Quiana Pettigrew – Cleveland, OH   
Robert Hatcher – Brooklyn, NY       
Tawanna Tarvin – Monroe, LA         
Tiffany Carlin-Laird – Baton Rouge, LA      
Vernell Payton – New Orleans, LA