Fred Hammond has had some health trials recently so he will not be in attendance at tomorrow night’s Stellar Awards. The popular leader of United Tenors had a double knee replacement surgery recently and he admits it was tough.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” he told the Tom Joyner Morning Show. “I’d love to tell you that I went through that like a champ and that God was with me in the room and that I just went through that thing and I had the Saviour with me, but I’m gon’ tell you, man, I was crying like I was going crazy. There was some days that I was like ‘What on earth did I do?’
Hammond and United Tenors earned six Stellar Award nominations this year and will hopefully get at least one of them during the live telecast of the Awards on UPtv on January 18 at 7 p.m. Sherri Shepherd and Ricky Smiley are the hosts this year. (UP is available to Dish network subscribers on channel 188, Directv channel 338, Verizon FiOS channel 224 and on local cable.)
“I’m going to be waving at people from my bed,” Hammond says. “I’m just so glad to be on this side of the land of living. I don’t care who goes up there [to accept] if we [win.]”
Hammond says even though his father died from complications of the same surgery, he had to get it done, as he was in too much pain to continue the way he was going. Since he just had the surgery right after New Year’s he says he just not ready to return to any stage.
“I’m literally learning how to walk again,” Hammond says. “At first, couldn’t even walk two steps on my own. Last week, I couldn’t even move my legs, so I’m much better. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I should be a lot better and in three months, I should be [good.]”
Other top Stellar Award nominees include Tye Tribbett, Tamela Mann, Anthony Brown and Group Therapy, Tasha Cobbs, and John P. Kee and New Life. Hezekiah Walker will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee will receive the Most Notable Achievement Award, and Pastor Maceo Woods will receive the Legends Award.
