BET to air ‘Celebration of Gospel’ on January 30th

An annual celebration, it pays tribute to the gospel genre with performances by leading gospel singers and musicians. “Keeping the Faith” is this year’s show theme, setting the stage for a world premiere of new music from award winning gospel superstars, Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary.

Hosted by comedian, radio and TV personality Steve Harvey, this highly anticipated special event,  taped at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, will also feature appearances by Yolanda Adams, Ledisi,  Faith Evans, Kelly Price and soul stirring performances from secular artists El DeBarge, Chaka Khan and Howard Hewitt.

Billed as gospel music’s biggest night of the year, Byron Cage, Donnie McClurkin, Pastor Shirley Caesar, BeBe Winans and Smokie Norful will pay tribute to two of gospel music’s major generals: “Queen of Gospel” Albertina Walker and prolific songwriter/performer Bishop Walter Hawkins.
Other special appearances include Bishop TD Jakes and actors Hill Harper and Keith David who will perform  in spoken word segments.

An occasion packed with a superb line-up of traditional and contemporary gospel tributes by legends and leading gospel and R&B artists, the Celebration of Gospel is a BET Networks Production. Stephen Hill, BET’s president of music programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, BET’s vice president of specials, and Geovanni Brewer will executive produce the telecast.

The show will premiere on BET on Sunday, January 30th at 8:00 a.m. ET.

Samantha Ofole-Prince is an entertainment journalist based in Los Angeles and contributes to Trendy Africa Media. She can be reached on [email protected]

 

Pictures and credits
Mary Mary – Photo by Phil McCarten/Picture Group
Byron Cage and El Debarge – Photo by Lamond Goodloe/Picture Group
Kim Burrell – Photo by Lamond Goodloe/Picture Group

Host Steve Harvey – Photo by Phil McCarten/Picture Group

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