Minneapolis gospel singer Jovonta Patton is officially stellar.
On Saturday night at the 39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Las Vegas, Patton was named “new artist of the year” for his album “Established.”
“To win the first time I’ve ever been nominated made my reaction [on Saturday] have disbelief and relief,” he said Monday. “I’ve worked so hard on my career to finally be recognized feels so good after years of going unnoticed.”
By Monday afternoon, it began to sink in.
“I feel like a basketball player having an NBA championship ring. I finally got my championship ring in gospel. I’m basically LeBron James now. LOL,” he joked. “It feels so good and it’s settling in that I have a Stellar, this is the highest honor you can receive in gospel, and I have one is just mind blowing.”
Patton won for an independently released album, a feat that’s uncommon at these awards.
Released last year, “Established” featured the single “Always,” which went to No. 1 on Billboard’s gospel charts. It was his sixth chart-topper — either song or album — since 2016. Patton performed “Always” during the Stellar ceremonies.
Even though he’s been active in gospel circles for several years and attended the Stellars seven or eight times, Patton, 34, understands why he is considered a new artist nationally.
