Meet Our 2026 Nominees!
We want to recognize the outstanding individuals and organizations nominated for this year’s Freedom Awards Gala. These nominees have made significant contributions to gospel music, community leadership, and advocacy. Discover their inspiring stories and achievements, and support them as they strive for excellence.
Youth/Young Adult Vocalist Of The Year
- Micheal Garner – Forrest City, AR
- Mariah Phillips – Forrest City, AR
- Dedric Trice – Lexa, Arkansas
- Myron Stewart – Marion, AR
- Nakiya Peals – Jonesboro, AR
- Noah Rodgers – Forrest City, AR
Church Choir Of The Year
- Spring Grove MB Church – Haynes AR
- Lighthouse Voices Of Deliverance Church Choir – Earle, AR
- The Fire Choir – “Temple Of Refuge Church” – West Memphis, AR
- Silver Cloud MB Church Choir – Helena, AR
- United Christian MB Church Choir – Forrest City, AR
- Mt. Moriah East MB Church Choir – Memphis, TN
- 15th Street COGIC – West Memphis, AR
Mid-South Region Sorority Of The Year
- FC Area Alumnae Chapter Of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Forrest City. AR
- Pi Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – West Memphis, AR
- Xi Sigma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority – Forrest City, AR
- Kappa Nu Omega Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – Jonesboro, AR
- WM Alumnae Chapter Of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – West Memphis, AR
Radio Announcer Of The Year
- Lamont Swanigan – Brinkley, AR
- Elder Maurice Tatum – Little Rock, AR
- Robert Craig – Little Rock, AR
- Elijah Monday – West Helena, AR
- Dewayne Benton – “Memphis, TN”
- Ceola Bailey – “Little Rock, AR”
Southern/Alternative & CCM Vocalist Of The Year
- Eli Adams – Forrest City. AR
- Jamie Andrews – Forrest City, AR
- Michael Garner – Forrest City, AR
- Noah Rodgers – Forrest City, AR
- Kayleigh Simpson – Palestine, AR
- Denton Trail Machen – Wynne, AR
Restaurant Of The Year
- Betty B Smokehouse BBQ – Forrest City. AR
- Legacy Café – Forrest City, AR
- Sizzling Skillet Restaurant – West Memphis, AR
- Delta Q & Deli – Forrest City, AR
- Mikes Paradise BBQ & Grill – Forrest City, AR
Community Service/Leader Of The Year Award
- Bonnie Baker – Forrest City, AR
- Lamont Swanigan – Brinkley, AR
- Justin Reeves – Forrest City, AR
- Angela Wilburn – Forrest City, AR
- Coach Jim Bailey – Forrest City, AR
- Vanessa Brayboy – Marianna, AR
Youth/Young Adult Group/Ensemble Of The Year
- The McFadden Sisters – Madison, AR
- The Brown Four – Memphis, TN
- Unique 4 – Jonesboro, AR
- Prosperity Youth/Young Adult Choir – Forrest City AR
- Freedonia Youth/Young Adult Choir – Forrest City, AR
- St. Paul MB Church Youth/Young Adult Choir – Marion AR
Organization Of The Year
- AARP #3502 Crittenden County – West Memphis, AR
- Eureka Social & Civic Club – Forrest City, AR
- Rock Center/Success – Forrest City, AR
- Forrest City Rotary Club – Forrest City, AR
- The Flourish Center – Forrest City, AR
Praise Team/Ensemble Of The Year
- Connect Point Church – Forrest City, AR
- Chris Watkins & Psalms 150 – Little Rock, AR
- N Time Spiritual Church Praise Team – Forrest City, AR
- Keenon Coleman & Purpose – Pine Bluff, AR
- Breathe Of Life Christian Center – Forrest City, AR
Male Quartet Group Of The Year
- Cedric King & Restoration – Memphis, TN
- The Eternal Light Singers – Marianna, AR
- Blessful7 – Marianna, AR
- The Delta Jubilaires – Forrest City, AR
- The Gospel Wonders – Brinkley, AR
- Meant By God – Earle, AR
Male Vocalist Of The Year
- Keenon Coleman – Pine Bluff, AR
- Eli Adams – Forrest City, AR
- Cedric King – Memphis, TN
- Minister Jackie Cunningham – Jonesboro, AR
- Pastor Devin Brown – Forrest City, AR
- Chad Boyd – Forrest City, AR
Mid-South Region Insurance Agency Of The Year
- Melody Abbott – “Shelter Insurance – Wynne, AR
- Theresa Manning – State Farm Insurance – Forrest City, AR
- Howard Millers Insurance – Forrest City, AR
- Julie Burns State Farm Insurance – West Memphis, AR
- Farm Bureau Insurance – Forrest City, AR
- Anna Grizzle State Farm Insurance – Brinkley AR
- Cedric Williams – State Farm Insurance – Forrest City, AR
Business Of The Year
- Lifetime Vision Center – Forrest City, AR
- Vacaro Lumber Company – Forrest City, AR
- Shipping Smiles – Forrest City, AR
- CJ Williams Funeral Home – Brinkley, AR
- H&R Block – Forrest City, AR
- Debbie’s Flowers – Forrest City, AR
Church Of The Year
- Pastor Allen Calvert & The Connect Point Church – Forrest City, AR
- Dr. Arlen K. Parham & The I Am Apart MB Church – West Memphis, AR
- Dr. Ronald Broussard & The Mt. Calvary MB Church – Marianna, AR
- Pastor Walter Johnson & The United Christian MB Church – Forrest City, AR
- Apostle Jarvys Jones & The Temple Of Refuge Church – West Memphis, AR
- Pastor C. James & The Redeeming Christian Spiritual Church #24 – Widner, AR
- Pastor Jason Nelms & The Breathe Of Life Christian Center – Forrest City, AR
Mid-South Region Fraternity Of The Year
- Iota Tau Sigma Chapter Of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity – Forrest City, AR
- Theta Tau Lamda Chapter Of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – Marianna, AR
- Xi Rho Graduate Chapter Of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. – Forrest City, AR
- West Memphis/Marion AR Alumni Chapter Of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
- Mu Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha – Jonesboro, AR
Community Choir Of The Year
- Jeffrey Williams & VOI – Memphis, TN
- Charles Patterson & Chosen Generation – Little Rock, AR
- Keith Whitfield & Company – West Memphis, AR
- The Four Gospel Ministerial Alliance Choir – (FGMA) – Wynne, AR
- Andrew Know & Nu Change – Memphis, TN
- Tracy Thomas & Showers Of Blessings – Little Rock, AR
Female Quartet Group Of The Year
- The Bell Singers – Memphis, TN
- Prevail Of Arkansas – Jonesboro, AR
- Toni People & Purified Harmony – Blytheville, AR
- The Golatt Links Of Harmony – Little Rock, AR
- The Anointed Voices Of Victory – Forrest City, AR
- Felicia Golatt & The Supreme Angels – Forrest City, AR
Female Vocalist Of The Year
- Cocoa Patterson – Marianna, AR
- Leslie Hooker – Memphis, TN
- Feleicia Phillips Golatt – Forrest City, AR
- Lady Shenna “Thomas” Johnson – Palestine, AR
- Ceola Bailey – Little Rock, AR
- Takeena Cunningham Burton – Jonesboro, AR