The nominees for Star Awards 2025 were announced earlier this week and this year, there are a bumper crop of nominees for the Top 10 Most Popular Artistes awards.

122 male and female artistes have been nominated, up from 94 last year.

Among the surprises was veteran actor Huang Shinan, husband of Mediacorp actress Pan Lingling, 54.

Shinan, 64, has been in showbiz for 41 years and this is his first Top 10 nod.

Lingling, who is also up for the Top 10 popularity award, took to Instagram to canvass votes of the both of them and cheer on Shinan. She already has six Top 10 trophies.

She posted a snippet of their conversation in which she asked: “Hubby, it’s your first time getting into the Top 10 — how do you feel?”

Shinan replied: “Wifey, I still find it ‘Nan’ to believe!” making a pun on his name and the Chinese word for ‘hard to believe’.

Lingling also shared a heartfelt message to Shinan: “Every year at the Star Awards, you’ve always been backstage supporting me. This year, you’re finally nominated for the first time! Let’s dress up for the big night and support each other at the Star Awards ceremony!”

Shinan entered showbiz in 1984 after graduating from SBC’s (now Mediacorp) 6th Artiste Training Course.

He left Mediacorp in 2007 after starting his own event management company so he could care for his two sons, Beckham and Kynaston, now 26 and 23.

He made his showbiz comeback in Mediacorp drama Never Too Late, his first drama in 10 years since 2014's You Can Be An Angel. 

This year's Star Awards will be held at The Theatre at Mediacorp on July 6.

Fans can cast their votes for Top 10 Most Popular Artistes here and support their favourites before the polls close on July 6.

Catch the Backstage LIVE event of Star Awards 2025 from 3.30pm - 10.30pm on mewatch or Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on July 6 (Sunday).

The Walk Of Fame will be from 5pm - 6.30pm, on mewatch, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on the same day.

It will be followed by the Star Awards 2025 Live Show from 7pm - 10pm on mewatch, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.

The night will end off with the Post-Party from 10pm – 1030pm on mewatch, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.

Never Too Late

Photos: Huang Shinan/Instagram, Pan Lingling/Instagram, Mediacorp