From Kirk Franklin to Kelly Price, Faith Evans to Earnest Pugh, the stellar line-up for BET’s Annual Celebration of Gospel Show, included the very best that gospel music has to offer. Held at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, best-selling author and veteran comedian Steve Harvey returned to host this annual show, which brings together gospel superstars and R&B legends to share the stage in exclusive performances.
Faith Evans and Jessica Reedy.Photo: BET Network
There were moving tributes in recognition of the life and legacy of Mahalia Jackson and Whitney Houston, and performances by gospel legends Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, Maurett Brown-Clark, Mali Music, Marvin Sapp, and Grammy-award winner Le’Andria Johnson. “No matter what we are going through, and the circumstances, we have to learn how to stop complaining and start lifting our hands and giving God praise,” said Isaac Carree, who performed “In the Middle,” his latest single, which is currently on the Billboard charts.
Isaac Carree and Bentley Fonzworth. Photo: Royalty Image
Earnest Pugh, took time out from a 14 city tour to perform “I need your Glory,” with a live band and live singers and a teary eyed Kelly Price sang, “Jesus loves me,” one of Whitney Houston’s favorite songs. “It ended up being the last song that she would sing for the public, but I didn’t chose the song, and kinda feel like it ended up choosing me, as BET reached out to me and asked me to do this,” Price told Trendy Africa.
“In bad times, people need to hear good news and Gospel is good news, said Purg, “We need shows like BET’s Celebration of Gospel, to uplift people and give people the answers they need.”
Celebration of Gospel is a BET Networks production. Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Music Programming and Specials, Lynne Harris Taylor, Vice President of Specials and Music Production and Executive Producer Geovanni Brewer oversaw the production. Conductor Ray Chew (“American Idol”) returned as the show’s musical director. The two-hour music special will air for the first time in its 12 year history during the Easter Season on the BET Network on Palm Sunday, April 1st at 8 p.m.
Amber Bullock, Bobby Jones, Earnest Pugh, Faith Evans, Steve Harvey, Isaac Carree & Fonzworth Bentley, Kelly Price. Photo: Royalty Image
Samantha Ofole-Prince is a journalist and movie critic who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film. She serves as the Entertainment Editor for Trendy Africa.
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