Gospel artiste Johnmark Wiggan leads this year’s Sterling Gospel Music Awards nominations with a total of eight, including Male Artiste of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Local Hit of the Year, and Video of the Year. He is nominated in four categories.
Sebastian Braham and Prince Saj are runners-up with four nominations each, while Kevin Downswell and Petra Kaye tie with three nominations each.
Rhoda Isabella, Ryan Mark, Orville Sutherland, Levy’s Heritage, Chevelle Franklyn, LeoNell Teape, Jucal Dyer, Mical Forsythe, Sara Ann Edwards Miller, Ava Gay Blair Black, DJ Rebirth, Gilead Collective, and Genesis Praise Squad, all received two nominations each.
In an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Friday, founder and director of Sterling Gospel Music Awards Basillia Barnaby-Cuff said this year’s nominees reflect a diverse blend of talent.
“We’re really excited at Sterling to see this [diversity]. It’s such a positive reflection of the Jamaican gospel music industry, and it shows that the wheels of the industry continue to move forward and thrive,” said Barnaby-Cuff.
The first staging of the event was held in 2017 at Heritage Hall in Mandeville, Manchester. Over the years, the event has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the local gospel music calendar.
This year’s staging has been set for Saturday, October 4 at Emmanuel Apostolic Church, Braeton Parkway, Portmore, St Catherine.
The programme’s host will be Mical Forsythe from NCU FM.
Organisers told the Observer that the audience can look out forward to an even more glamorous Sterling experience.
“Expect a red carpet like never before, complete with a glam cam and a few surprises,” said Barnaby-Cuff. “We’re also introducing the Elite Food Lounge, specially curated for guests who have been requesting a food experience at the show.”
“Every year we aim to make Sterling smoother and more memorable than the last, and 2025 will be no different,” she continued.
Gospel ensemble Gilead Collective is nominated for Group of the Year and Breakout Sensation of the Year. Group member Ramario Ricketts said he was humbled by the nominations.
“We are truly… grateful for the way God’s favour has been evident in this ministry. People are being drawn to the message of Jesus Christ through the ministry, and our mission remains to share His love and the gospel through our gifts and talents. Gilead is a place of healing through music, and… God has given us to point people to Jesus,” Ricketts told the Observer.
LeoNell Teape, who secured nominations in the categories Album of the Year (for his project
Step Out) and Collaboration of the Year (for
March On featuring Coopy Bly), told the Observer that a lot of work went into creating the project.
“Step Out originated through biblical inspiration, revelation, and personal experiences based on my faith walk with Christ… For this project, myself and the audioTeape team decided to do a live album, which is not quite the norm for a reggae, dancehall gospel artist. We employed the artistry of quality musicians, such as my Jamaican music director Gregory Palmer and his band, and my road music director Timothy “Solo” Solomon and his band to manoeuvre the live music,” said Teape.
He continued: “Fellow renowned artistes joined in to help make the project a success, including DJ Nicholas, who collaborated on two songs, the legendary Prodigal Son, Emrand Henry from St Lucia, Jasmine Karima from USA, and my bigger brother Verdeain Teape, who is also a songwriter and BGV for the project.”
Multi-nominee Sebastian Braham said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be nominated in four categories for the awards! …Being acknowledged for my work is always rewarding, and I’m overjoyed by this news…”
His EP Fight This Battle For Me is nominated for EP of the Year.
“This EP was a true labour of love… After a 13-year hiatus from recording it took immense dedication, countless late nights, and extensive travel to make it happen. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the talented Kamar ‘Danx’ Forrest and an exceptional team of musicians and vocalists who helped bring this vision to reality. All glory to God for seeing me through it all,” said Braham.
Also in the running for EP of the Year is I Did it Anyway by Minister Blessed.
“While I have lived overseas for the last 8 years, I have made it a point of duty to consistently release music in the local space and stay connected with my Jamaican audiences and peers. I intentionally launched my EP physically in Jamaica last summer as I felt the impact in reconnecting with the fans would be greater than simply releasing it online,” said Minister Blessed, who secured his second nomination, having been on the ballot in 2020 for Video of the Year.
Some of the nominations in the 2025 Sterling Gospel Music Awards are:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
His Goodness – Carey Sayles
Step Out – LeoNell Teape
Milestone – Ryan Mark
Let Kingdom Come – David Sutton
South Wind Vol 1 – Chevelle Franklyn
Journey – Junior Tucker
EP OF THE YEAR
I Did It Anyway – Minister Blessed
Obedience – CAG (Clayon)
Fight This Battle For Me – Sebastian Braham
In Christ – Perry Cummings
Slingshot — Canute Neil Ellis
MALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
JohnMark Wiggan
Prince Saj
Kevin Downswell
Sebastian Braham
FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Petra Kaye
Audia Spencer-Brown
Chevelle Franklyn
Rhoda Isabella
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Levy’s Heritage
Unity Singers
Genesis Praise Squad
H.U.M.B.L.E.
Gilead Collective
BREAKOUT SENSATION OF THE YEAR
Gilead Collective
Trezegaye
Minister D Brown
Genesis Praise Squad
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Nuh More Dan Wi – Johnmark Wiggan & Prince Saj
Champion – Johnmark Wiggan & Kevin Downswell
Yes He Did – Sebastian Braham ft Petra Kaye
Jesus Is The Rock – Ryan Mark ft Johnmark Wiggan
March on – LeoNell Teape ft Coopy Bly
LOCAL HIT OF THE YEAR
My Year – Kevin Downswell
Nuh more dan Wi – Johnmark Wiggan & Prince Saj
Do It Again – Petra Kaye
Fight This Battle For Me – Sebastian Braham
Confidence – Johnmark Wiggan
The Recipe – Levy’s Heritage
Jehovah You Reign – Rhoda Isabella
Caribbean Medley – Roxanne Robinson
Ten A Dem – Orville Sutherland
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Nuh more dan wi – Johnmark Wiggan & Prince Saj
My Year – Kevin Downswell
Ten a Dem – Orville Sutherland
Confidence – Johnmark Wiggan
