Praise will be lifted up as BET enters this weekend with a double dose of inspirational programming in the form of "Celebration of Gospel" and the premiere of a new reality series featuring one of Gospel music's first families, "The Sheards."
With help from Steve Harvey, BET will kick things off with "Celebration of Gospel," featuring uplifting performances, powerful duets and soulful choirs.
Performances and spoken word segments from both mainstream and gospel greats include singer and actor Tyrese Gibson and "Sunday Best" title holder and Grammy® winner Le’Andria Johnson performing a gospel rendition of the Donny Hathaway ballad “A Song for You”; Tamar Braxton singing the Walter Hawkins penned classic “Be Grateful,” and Grammy®-winner Anita Baker making a surprise appearance and joining Donnie McClurkin to perform her 1987 hit “Ain’t No Need to Worry” originally performed with The Winans.
Additional highlights from the spiritual celebration include Grammy®-award winner Smokie Norful performing his new song, “Say So” with help from his nine-year-old son Ashton Norful; Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers led a powerful tribute to the Rev. James Cleveland performing “Lord Help Me to Hold Out”; followed by the original James Cleveland singers performing “Lord Do It” and “No Ways Tired”; "Sunday Best" winner Joshua Rogers belted out “Peace Be Still”; Donnie McClurkin left audience members speechless singing “God Is”; Rance Allen sang “That Will Be Good Enough For Me,” and Dr. Bobby Jones joined in on the tribute finale “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus.”
Additional performances from Pastor Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jason Nelson, Da T.R.U.T.H., Tamela Mann and more will also air.
Following "Celebration of Gospel," BET will air the anticipated premiere of "The Sheards"!
Debuting at 10 p.m., "The Sheards" features Gospel icon Karen Clark Sheard, part of the legendary Clark Sisters, her husband Bishop J. Drew, a mega church pastor in the Motor City and their children, Stellar Award winner and Grammy-nominated gospel songstress Kierra Sheard and producer J. Drew Sheard. Told through the eyes of Kierra and J. Drew, we will follow them as they navigate family, friends, and faith in a secular world.
"The explosive first season takes us on a drama filled ride as Kierra Sheard begins to break out of her family’s shadow and looks to find more mainstream success with her own unique voice. Facing the difficulty of choosing between working with her brother, who she’s collaborated with on all her previous albums, and experimenting with new producers to achieve a new sound, Kierra also struggles with juggling her new found independence with family, losing weight and love," reports BET.
Tune in and get lifted Sunday, April 7 beginning at 8 p.m. on BET.
