Following the release of the nominees in the 2024 Sterling Gospel Music Awards last week Sunday, the three top three have expressed pleasure at the nominations.

Vocalist Johnmark Wiggan, who took home a handful of awards at last year’s event, received seven nominations this year.

“I feel like God is lifting me and I am humbled by it. I am absolutely amazed, I am taken aback, blown away, don’t know how else to put it. Multiple nominations! I do feel seen, recognised and absolutely honoured by being mentioned here and thanking God, my team, and the Sterling Gospel Music Awards committee,” Wiggan told the Jamaica Observer shortly after the nominations were revealed.

“These nominations suggest that significant impact was made by the work that was done; people are being blessed as well. What God had told me about the ministry and about the music is true and proves yet again to me that He is not a liar and Sterling has acknowledged that,” he added.

Wiggan is nominated twice in the category Collab of the Year for Champion featuring Kevin Downswell and Run Me Dung featuring Blessed Messenger. His album Validation competes in the Album of the Year category, while the video for Validation is nominated for Video of the Year.

Wiggan also copped nods in the categories Male Artiste, Local Hit for the song Work and Local Hit Producer for Work.

Validation features production work by a number of producers, including Crosslinks Production, Ears Music, Pioneer Music, Kevin Downswell Records, Riff Raff Music, and Action Records.

Singer Petra Kaye said the nominations are a result of the hard work that she and her team put in over the past year.

“These nominations signify that the hard work is paying off. Nothing that is being done for the glory of God [was] done in vain, to God be the glory,” said Petra Kaye.

Her name appears in four categories: Female Artiste, Video of the Year (The Prayer Medley and Rock Medley featuring Oshane Mais), Collab of the Year (Rock Medley), and Local Hit of the Year (Rock Medley).

Petra Kaye spoke about collaborating with Mais.

“Oshane had reached out to me for some time wanting to do a collaboration, so I told him, ‘Mi bredda, when you’re ready, I am ready. Once you’ve completed the draft hit me up,’ which he did. His producer along with mine went into the studio and God showed up. Producer Kamar Forrest was instrumental on that project with the playing of the drums and also directing my part in studio,” said Petra Kaye.

“The ministry is being heard. That’s one of the things I’m grateful for. The fact that the word and works of God is being injected into the lives of the saved and unsaved through my vocals, it brings joy. Being awarded on the different platforms also brings joy because it’s not just the singing, it’s really the power of God that comes forth.” Petra Kaye added.

Singer Jai Kingston is nominated in the categories Local Hit Producer, Local Hit, Collab of the Year, and Video of the Year for No Hanky Panky featuring Radic. He is also up for Album of the Year for Validation and Male Artiste.

Last year he released the often-delayed album His Voice Save Me, which features production work from Rhon Matthison, Kamar “Danx” Forrest, Brinton Haughton Jr, Keneil “Slogo Drums” Delisser, Jerome “Spangy” Small, Nyerere Thomas, and Levoy Paul.

“Taking the fact that I have been doing gospel music for close to 25 years, it hasn’t always been easy. There have been a lot of roadblocks. I feel like the work has just started, I feel like there’s more left in me. Being noticed after all these years brings out a spark in me and I’m still inspired to do more,” Jai Kingston told the Jamaica Observer.

He also shared that a lot of work went into creating the album.

“This is an album that I have been trying to produce for the past 10 years. A lot of stuff got denied. I was planning on releasing it in 2020, but held it off because of COVID,” said Jai Kingston.

He continued: “It feels good to be publicly acknowledged for your work. God be praised forever.”

Vocal outfit H.U.M.B.L.E., Kevin Downswell, Prince Saj, Oshane Mais, and Radic each garnered three nominations.

Other multiple nominees include C.A.G. Family, DJ Marc, Blessed, Jucal Dyer, Sara-Ann Edwards Miller, Trevelle Clarke Whyne, and Ava Gay Blair Black.

The eighth staging of the annual awards will take place on Saturday, October 5, at Emmanuel Apostolic Church on Slipe Road.

Petra Kaye.