Florence teenage gospel artist wins Stellar Award
Kendra Smith can now add Stellar Award winner to her list of accomplishments.
She took home the award last weekend for Youth Project of the Year at the 30th Annual Stellar Awards held in Las Vegas.
The annual awards ceremony is the premier gospel event showcasing and honoring African - American artists.
Smith was able to share the special weekend in gospel music with some of the genre’s greats including Pastor Shirley Caesar, Tasha Cobbs, Donald Lawrence, VaShawn Mitchell and members of Destiny’s Child.
Smith’s album, “Something New,” was the source of her winning the award.
“It was on the spot. When they first called my name, I just sat there, and I was looking,” Smith said. “And my dad was like ‘That’s you.” On the inside I was jumping and screaming. On the inside I was excited.”
The 18-year-old South Florence High School senior said she had no clue she was going to win the award. She was notified by the award show that she had made it into the top four nominees.
Smith was told to be prepared to give a 20-second speech in case she won.
“I gave a speech and I was so nervous because I’m so shy,” she said. “And I had to stand in front of hundreds of people and give a speech. But I didn’t stutter. I was like , ‘Thank you God.’”
Wanda Adams, Smith’s publicist, said offers are flooding in for her to make appearances at several conferences and conventions since she’s won the award. She is already scheduled to perform at the North Carolina Gospel Announcers’ Guild in May.
“This has launched her into a new platform. She’s scheduled to have her music international,” Adams said. “Her music will be played, and she will make some appearances in France. This has launched her no longer as a local star ; now Kendra Smith has become a national and international recording artist at the age of 18.”
Smith recorded “Something New” when she was 16 and 17 and released it in 2014. The album contains 10 songs including two singles, “Deep Down” and “I Praise You.” The entire album was produced by Garland Miche Waller, who was a former music director for gospel great John P. Kee.
“I started singing in church. My dad was a musician in church,” Smith said. “At first, nobody knew I could sing until one day my dad was playing, and I started singing and he was like , ‘Oh, girl you can sing.’”
Smith said she has loved to sing ever since she first started talking. She co-wrote some of the songs on “Something New” and said she wants to begin writing more.
Smith was born into a family of musicians. Her father plays instruments, her great-grandmother was a singer and she even had an aunt who was part of the popular New Jersey Mass Choir. Her father currently owns a record label, Devine Records Management LLC in Florence and Charlotte , and the Devine Glory Magazine.
At the Stella Awards, Erica Campbell from the gospel duo Mary Mary taught Smith a lesson that she said has stuck with her.
Campbell said that when she was in high school; one of her teachers asked her why she wouldn’t choose to perform rock and roll music instead of gospel because it generated more money.
“And she said one thing, ‘Does rock and roll music save souls ? ’” Smith said. “Gospel music changes lives. Other music, it makes you feel good or makes you feel a type of way, but gospel music, it can change your life. It actually saves people, so I think I’ll keep doing gospel music. And that’s my roots, too.”
Smith said she wants to attend Francis Marion University or Winthrop University. She also wants to do an international tour. Adams said Smith is preparing for the 2015 Dove Awards , which will be held in October.
“I want to win some more awards. Its fun winning awards,” Smith said. “That’s not the only thing, but its exciting getting awards. It shows how much work you put in. I just want to keep doing music.
The 30th Annual Stellar Awards will air at 8 p.m. Sunday on TV One.
This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 10:14 PM with the headline "Florence teenage gospel artist wins Stellar Award."