Fantasia, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Ruben Studdard, the Clark Sisters,
Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Smokie Norful and Others Celebrate Legacy of
Gospel Music During Premiere on February 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BET's CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL
'05 brings the roof down during a night filled with emotional reunions and
memorable moments that pay tribute to the legacy of gospel music. The
telecast features inspirational performances, moving renditions and diverse
collaborations by some of today's hottest and most talented artists from the
worlds of gospel and R&B. Joining in the celebration are Fantasia, Ruben
Studdard, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Smokie
Norful, Fred Hammond, Angie Stone, Deitrick Haddon, BeBe Winans, Mary Mary,
Pastor Shirley Caesar, Dr. Bobby Jones and Tye Tribbett. In addition, the
legendary Clark Sisters reunite in a special family-affair tribute to
matriarch Mattie Moss Clark for her innovative contributions to the gospel
music genre, rounded out by granddaughter Kierra "Kiki" Sheard and nephew J.
Moss. Actor, comedian and radio personality Steve Harvey hosts the
power-packed event for the fifth consecutive year, at which celebrity
attendees Nicole Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Kimberly Elise, Monica Calhoun, Judge
Mablean Ephraim, Mari Morrow, Michael Colyar and child actor Khamani Griffin
are spotted in the "congregation." BET viewers will witness this awesome
salute to gospel music when the event is televised on Thursday, February 24 at
9 p.m. ET/PT.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050216/NYW071 )
The CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL special is the crown jewel of BET's Black
History Month lineup and underscores BET's continued commitment to delivering
fresh, original programming to its audience as the network celebrates its
silver anniversary year.
"In producing CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL this year, we wanted to showcase the
tremendous range of gospel music from its established, traditional artists to
some of the genre's new, exciting voices," said Gina Holland, BET Senior Vice
President for Production and Programming. "Gospel isn't just for older
audiences with performers like Fantasia, Kirk Franklin, Ruben Studdard, Tye
Tribbett, Dietrick Haddon and KiKi Sheard who borrow influences from popular
music such as hip hop. Their inspirational music is loaded with the
temperament and high energy that younger viewers will also enjoy."
The night is packed with an unforgettable string of traditional and
contemporary gospel tributes by legends and leading gospel and R&B artists,
arranged by CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL musical director Rickey Minor. Opening the
evening's program is Kirk Franklin with a rousing performance of "He Reigns,"
followed by "The Lord is Blessing Me Right Now," by 'American Idol,' Fantasia,
"That Name" by Yolanda Adams, "Total Praise" by Pastor Donnie McClurkin and "I
Understand" by 2005 GRAMMY award-winner Smokie Norful. The revival moves
forward with a soul-stirring performance of "Your Love is a Wonder" by Fred
Hammond, "Center of My Joy" by Angie Stone, "God is Good" by Deitrick Haddon
and an electrifying collaboration by Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond of "Let
the Praise Begin." Continuing the inspirational joy, fellow 'American Idol,'
Ruben Studdard keeps the captivated audience under his spell with "I Need An
Angel," followed by "Safe From Harm" by Bebe Winans and "Brighter Day" from
Kirk Franklin.
Then comes one of the most anticipated segments of the evening: a tribute
to Mattie Moss Clark with "You Don't Know" by granddaughter Kierra "Kiki"
Sheard, "We Must Praise You" by nephew J. Moss, and the long-awaited Clark
Sisters reunion, as they harmonize their well-known traditional tune, "You
Brought the Sunshine." Mary Mary takes the audience to "Heaven," followed by
BET's own Dr. Bobby Jones -- host of the ever-popular BOBBY JONES GOSPEL --
who is joined by the legendary Pastor Shirley Caesar for another rendition of
"Heaven." New-school performer Tye Tribbett brings the standing-room-only
audience to its feet with a high energy performance of "No Way." The
uplifting evening closes with Dr. Bobby Jones, the Clark Sisters, Pastor
Shirley Caesar, Deitrick Haddon, Angie Stone, Kirk Franklin and Bebe Winans
assembling together on stage for the finale performance of "The Lord Will Make
a Way."
ABOUT BET
BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the nation's
leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and
public affairs programming for the African-American audience. The BET Network
reaches more than 79 million households according to Nielsen media research,
and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is a
dominant consumer brand in the urban marketplace with a diverse group of
branded businesses: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African
Americans; BET Digital Networks - BET Jazz, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop,
attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event
Productions, specializing in a full range of event production services,
including event management, venue selection, talent recruitment, sound,
lighting and stage production; and BET Books, the nation's leading publisher
of African-American themed romance novels under the Arabesque imprint which
also publishes compelling fiction under the Sepia imprint and inspirational
fiction and nonfiction under the New Spirit imprint.
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