Sep 15, 2004 • 1 min read

Gospel groups object to Kanye West's Stellar Awards nomination

Some US gospel groups have objected to Kanye West's nomination for the Stellar Awards for The College Dropout, and organisers will reissue ballot papers with some changes.

Here's a fun one. Some gospel groups in the US have expressed concern after rapper/producer Kanye West was included on the ballot for the Stellar Awards, an awards programme that exists to honour the best gospel artists and performers.

The rapper is up for nomination for his album 'The College Dropout', most probably for its specifically Christian rap 'Jesus Walks'. However, some in the gospel community have said it is an inappropriate album to appear on the ballot because other tracks have lyrics that might offend a congregation.

One Stellar Academy member, Jadda Gunn, told reporters: "It just seems that it shouldn't have gotten through. For this to be the Stellar Awards they should have known Kanye West, Roc-A-Fella records, that's not a gospel album."

Organisers of the Stellar Awards have said they will be reissuing ballot papers to their Academy with some changes, though they wouldn't confirm whether one change was the removal of the West album. Awards organiser Erma Davis simply explained that 'The College Dropout' had been included because her committee often picks artists who have popular albums on the music charts.

After the new ballot is issued Academy members will vote - with a final shortlist announced at the end of Oct and the awards themselves staged in Houston on 15 Nov.

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