Gospel artiste and producer Jermaine Edwards is the leading nominee for the sixth annual Sterling Gospel Music Awards, scheduled for October 8 at The Ambassadors (Hagley Park Road).

The nominations were revealed September 8 on the event’s social media platforms.

Edwards snagged six nominations in four categories — Male Artiste of The Year, Collaboration of The Year, Local Hit of The Year, and Local Hit Producer of The Year.

DJ Nicholas secured four nominations, while singjay Orville Sutherland secured three. Other multiple nominees include Rhoda Isabella, Chozenn, DJ Zeal and Victor Brown.

Sutherland was in high spirits when the Jamaica Observer spoke to him.

“I must say that I am filled with gratitude. To be among some of Jamaica’s best acts for the second year in a row is a blessing. Truly, God has been faithful,” said Sutherland.

He earned nods for Male Artiste of The Year, Collaboration of The Year (Serious Times featuring Edwards), and Video of The Year for Nothing But The Blood.

DJ Nicholas was just as ecstatic when he learned of his nominations — Album of The Year (Decibels), Male Artiste of The Year, and Collaboration of The Year (Dance Off featuring Jason Mighty, and Mek ah Way featuring Sherwin Gardner).

“It’s always a good feeling to get acknowledged for your work. It’s a great feeling of appreciation,” he said.

O’Shane McHugh, a teacher at Kingston College and an emerging gospel act, was nominated in the Breakout Sensation of The Year category. He enjoyed a good year, scoring radio hits such as Don’t Worry and Second Chance.

“When I got the news about the nomination, it was a feeling of shock because I didn’t know that I would have been nominated and now, I’m just extremely happy and overwhelmed,” said McHugh.

Singer Victor Brown is nominated for EP of The Year (Heartwork) and Breakout Sensation.

“When I heard about the nominations, my reaction was what?…wait..WHAT! I was asleep and woke up after 1:00 am and saw congratulatory messages on my phone. I honestly thought it was a scam/prank at first because I have some crazy friends but when I opened Instagram and saw the Sterling IG page tagged me in a post, that’s when it hit. I had to sit down because my hands started shaking a little from shock,” said Brown.

Nominated for Female Artiste of The Year is Petra-Kaye Linton. Last year she released the album, Sing Praises.

“I am feeling very good, for God’s grace is upon me to be nominated and also for the fact that I was nominated among such other great ministers in that category,” Linton disclosed.

The other nominees for Female Artiste of The Year are Marion Hall, Rhoda Isabella and Marvia Providence.

Levy’s Heritage, Unity Singers and Perpetual Sounds of Praise will compete for Group of The Year, while Samuel Medas, Blessed Messenger, Positive, Emrand Henry and Jaron Nurse are up for Caribbean Artiste of the Year.

In the category International Artiste of The Year, nominees are Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Minister GUC and Elevation Worship.

The Sterling Gospel Music Awards was first held in 2017. It was held virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to restrictions resulting from COVID-19. Basillia Barnaby-Cuff is the event’s organiser.

“After two years of not having a physical staging and having it virtually, I must say though that our fans are amazing. The past two years were different, but very fun and engaging for our fans. We’re glad we’ll be able to see people in person,” she said, adding that, “Persons can just expect a high level of excellence, as usual, in terms of our production and how we put the event together. They can expect ministry, soul-stirring music as we just highlight gospel music excellence over the past 60 years. Yes, it’s a diamond celebration of gospel music in Jamaica.”