Richard Smallwood’s Family Calls Out Stellar Awards After Gospel Icon Is Left Out Of Main Show

Richard Smallwood's family is publicly expressing its disappointment after the late gospel legend received no formal recognition during the main presentation of the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

In a strongly worded statement released jointly with The Small Rich Foundation, the family said it was "deeply concerned" that Smallwood's "extraordinary life, legacy, and contributions to Gospel music were not acknowledged" during the televised ceremony.

"We remain deeply concerned that a legacy of this magnitude was not acknowledged during the main show," the statement declared.

The controversy carries an added sting because Smallwood was hardly a peripheral figure in gospel music. The composer, pianist, singer and choir director helped shape the genre over a career spanning nearly five decades. His songs-including "Total Praise," "Center of My Joy" and "I Love the Lord"-became modern worship standards, performed in churches around the world and recorded by artists such as Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child and Boyz II Men.

Smallwood died on December 30, 2025, at the age of 77 following complications from kidney failure. He had received numerous Stellar Awards during his lifetime, eight Grammy nominations, three Dove Awards and induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

A tribute did take place during the Stellar Awards pre-show, where Jamal Roberts, MAJOR. and Adia reportedly led the audience in Smallwood's beloved anthem "Total Praise." However, that tribute was not included in the main televised ceremony-a distinction that appears to sit at the heart of the family's frustration.

For many supporters, relegating the salute to the pre-show simply was not enough for a musician whose work helped build the very gospel tradition the Stellar Awards exists to celebrate.

The main ceremony, hosted by Kirk Franklin and taped August 15 at Charlotte's Spectrum Center, aired on The Stellar Network on August 29 and BET on August 30. Its heavily promoted honorees included Tasha Cobbs Leonard, who received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, and Pastor Mike Jr., recipient of the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award.

Against that backdrop, Smallwood's absence from the broadcast became even more conspicuous. Social-media users began questioning why one of gospel's most important composers did not receive a substantial main-stage tribute, particularly during the first Stellar Awards held following his death.

The family acknowledged the outpouring of concern, saying it had seen the comments, read the messages and felt the love behind them.

"We understand and share the disappointment expressed by so many," the statement continued. "While we continue to process this disappointment, we remain equally committed to ensuring that Richard's music, ministry, impact, and extraordinary contributions to Gospel music are never forgotten."

The family also thanked those who continue to sing Smallwood's songs, share his music and tell his story. Through The Small Rich Foundation, it plans to preserve his legacy while creating educational and creative opportunities for future generations.

As of publication, the Stellar Gospel Music Awards and producer Central City Productions had not issued a widely reported public response addressing the family's complaint.

But the uncomfortable question is already reverberating throughout the gospel community: if Richard Smallwood's towering legacy did not warrant a place in the main show, whose does?