Gulf Coast Gospel Music Awards

They sing for glory, but not their own. Now, it’s time for them to shine.
Former WXXV Search for a Superstar winner Lekeisha Cotten pitched the idea for the first ever Gulf Coast Gospel Music Awards Festival. Now it’s set to take center stage at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs on Saturday, September 2nd.
Twenty-five local gospel music artists will receive awards and be recognized for their contributions to the industry.
Cotten has garnered many awards and accolades for her gospel music and career. She tells News 25 this is the chance to help others build and advance their own music and careers. “I was nominated for five different awards in five different states as a local gospel artist or aspiring gospel artist. I’ve never been nominated for a music award in my own state, never been recognized on that level here on the Gulf Coast. I know so many artists, so many song writers, so many musicians and singers right here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast who I sing with every day, work with every day and I wanted to honor them because a lot of them don’t get that opportunity.”
The Inaugural Gulf Coast Gospel Music Awards is a black tie formal event with a red carpet walk at 2:30 p.m. that day followed by the awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $20 and can be purchased at the Mary C. or online at www.gcgma.com. The public is invited to attend.