TotalPraise.net » BET Sunday Best

Gospel News Around The Web

Keke — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:15:21 +0000

GospelPundit.com Exclusive Interview With Dontavies Boatwright (Sunday Best)- At GospelPundit.com

Tis Ain’t So Sweet- Bishop Larry Trotter- At PrayzeHymnOnline.com

Remebering The Spirit And Strength Of Wayman Tisdale- At 1800gospel.com

Kingdom Records Signs The Whispers- At GospelCity.com

Donnie McClurkin Is On Television- At EURWEB.com

The BlackGospel Blog Pick Of The Week- At BlackGospel.blogspot.com

Sunday Best Down To Two

Keke — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:21:26 +0000

BET NAMES THE TOP TWO FINALISTS IN ITS GOSPEL SINGING COMPETITION “SUNDAY BEST” AND LEAVES THEIR FATE UP TO THE VIEWERS THIS MOTHER’S DAY, SUNDAY, MAY 10 AT 9:00 P.M.*

After auditioning thousands of hopefuls from around the country and narrowing down the top 20, BET’s gospel reality competition, SUNDAY BEST is close to naming this year’s winner. Finalists and single mothers Y’anna Crawley, 32, from the Washington, DC area and Jessica Reedy, 20, from Saginaw, Michigan will compete for a national recording contract, a 2009 Lincoln MKS, and the title of SUNDAY BEST during the Mother’s Day finale on Sunday, May 10 at 9:00 p.m.* The 10-week singing competition with multi-GRAMMY Award winners Kirk Franklin as host along with siblings Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and BeBe Winans as judges will allow viewers to vote for their favorite contestant and ultimately decide who will be SUNDAY BEST. Additionally, brother and sister gospel duo BeBe and CeCe Winans will reunite on the SUNDAY BEST stage for a special performance during the finale episode. Voting ends on Saturday, May 9 at 12:00 p.m. PT.

For more on SUNDAY BEST and how to vote for the winner, please visit www.BET.com/sundaybest.

*All times ET/PT

Photo credit: Darnel Williams/BET Networks

BET Sunday Best Special Guest Apperance- Donald Lawrence

Keke — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:30:06 +0000

This season, Lawrence is a mentor to the contestants and gives them positive advice on how to improve their vocal skills. In addition, Lawrence was a guest blogger on www.bet.com/SUNDAYBEST with Torrence Glenn giving excellent feedback on each contestant.

Exclusive question and answer with SUNDAY BEST mentor, gospel artist, songwriter and producer Donald Lawrence:
Q. Did you disagree with any of the judge’s decisions?
A. “I was torn with the decision between eliminating Zeb or Dontavious. Both are amazing singers, but I think Zeb just had a little more stage personality. But I loved Dontavious and thought he was an amazing singer.”

Q. Comment on Zebulon’s strengths and what he needs to do to win?
A. “Zeb’s strengths are that he is an amazing vocalist. Zeb also has a great personality that shows through when he performs. Zeb owns the stage. For Zeb to win the song choice is going to be really important. Zeb is going to have to own the song and the moment to win.”

Q. Comment on Latice’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. ” Latice’s strengths are not only is she an amazing singer, but she has great depth to her. Depth in her personality and depth that she puts into the lyric and the song. Latice really gets the lyric across when she performs. For Latice to win, she just needs to keep doing her thing. Song choice will be important too.”

Q. Comment on Jessica’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. “Jessica’s strength is her tone! She has priceless tone. Her tone is so unique that the amount of range she has doesn’t matter. For Jessica to win she has to have a little more confidence. She has to be able to present and showcase the lyrics she is singing. And she must use her tone to her advantage.”

Q. Comment on Y’Anna’s strengths and what she needs to do to win?
A. ” Y’ Anna’s strength is that she is just a singer. Singing is in her fabric. She owns every song that she puts her voice on. For her to win song choice will be important as well. She needs the right song to put her voice on to win it all. She also needs to make sure she doesn’t get vocally tired during the process.”

Q. Since you’re known for developing and featuring vocalists who go on to big careers, would you consider signing any of the contestants to your label or featuring on one of your projects?
A.” I think all the singers are amazing and I would work with any of them, but, if I had to choose one singer to work with it would be Latice. Not just because of her amazing voice, but again, because of the depth she puts in every song and every lyric.”

SOURCE: Torrence Glenn of BET.com.
On The Web: BET.com/sundaybest

Gospel News Around The Web

Keke — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:47:05 +0000

Interview With Heather Headley- At GospelCity.com

Kirk Franklin Speaks On ‘Sunday Best’- At EURWEB.com

The BlackGospel Blog Pick Of The Week- At BlackGospel.blogspot.com

The Return Of Sunday Best

Keke — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:45:35 +0000

During last season’s live finale, 1.7 million viewers tuned in to the excitement as Crystal Aikin, a nurse from Tacoma, Washington, won BET’s first-ever gospel singing competition and took home a national recording contract, a brand new vehicle, a prize package for her community and the title of Sunday Best.

Back by popular demand, Sunday Best returns for its second season this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Host Kirk Franklin and judges Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and BeBe Winans are all back together to find America’s next great Gospel singer.

Making stops in Atlanta, Chicago, and our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., Sunday Best kicks off the season premiere with a special episode dedicated to the inspiring, hilarious and even sometimes challenging audition process.

“The level of talent for the second season is going to show the world what we’ve been saying since the beginning of the series only on Sunday Best will you find true, honest talent that hasn’t been compromised,” said returning host Franklin.

Season two of Sunday Best will tape in its new home of Atlanta at Turner Studios. Each week during the hour-long competition, viewers will be treated to musical performances from the remaining Sunday Best hopefuls along with candid feedback from the all-star team of judges and surprise visits from an array of celebrity guests.

“We’re so excited about this season! The level of talent we saw was so amazing; which made it really hard to say no to some folks,” said Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary. “The viewing audience will be blessed, entertained and uplifted for sure!”

Sunday Best is executive produced by D’Angela Proctor Steed and Nia T. Hill of Strange Fruit Films, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, BeBe Winans as well as Brian Gadinsky and Arnold M. Preston of The G Group, and co-executive produced by Marilyn Gill.

The winner of Sunday Best will receive a 2009 Lincoln MKS as part of the grand prize package.

For more on Sunday Best, please visit www.BET.com/sundaybest.

SOURCE: EURWEB.com

Mary Mary Receives Grammy Award For Best Gospel Performance

Keke — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:39:59 +0000

At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards multi-platinum award winning Gospel music sensations Mary Mary took home the award for Best Gospel Performance for their hit single, “Get Up.”

“Get Up” is the lead single from their three-time Grammy nominated album “The Sound,” their latest release on the Columbia Records/Sony Music label.

Dynamic duo, sisters Erica & Tina Campbell, prove that 2009 is the year of Mary Mary! Sunday’s win adds to Mary Mary’s growing collection of awards and accolades which include two previously won Grammys.

Released in October 2008, “The Sound” has received enormous praise since entering the Billboard Top 200 at #7; #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Chart; #1 on Billboard’s Christian Chart and #2 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Their # 7 debut on the Top 200 gave Mary Mary their highest charting and second Top 10 album on that chart (2005′s Mary Mary peaked at #8 on the Top 200).

Mary Mary and “The Sound” have achieved the highest chart debut on the Top 200 of any Gospel album in 2008. “The Sound” shows Mary Mary are not ones to shy away from in-your-face declarations of faith, the girls are now more intentional than ever about whom they adore, without for a moment compromising their call to innovation and growth.

The Grammy Award winning lead single “Get Up” has gained tremendous crossover success on dance, Gospel, R&B, and Hip-Hop charts, and has also been featured on the Emmy nominated hit show Ugly Betty.

On February 12th, Mary Mary will attend the 40th NAACP Image Awards where they are nominated for Outstanding Gospel Artist (traditional or contemporary). The 40th NAACP Image Awards will air live on Fox Television and will be hosted by Halle Berry and Tyler Perry.

Beyond the music, “The Sound” also marks the launching point for a new phase in the sisters’ career. The singers hope to continue to expand the Mary Mary brand to territories such as a bath and beauty line, a designer t-shirt collection, children’s books and music, interactive computer games, stage work, television, and more.

Soon you will be able to see Mary Mary reprise their role as judges for the hit Viacom/Black Entertainment Television (BET) series Sunday’s Best and the Gospel pair are in the process of finalizing plans for their first US tour in two years.

SOURCE: BlackChristianNews.com

Shari Addison

Keke — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:54:58 +0000

With eight seasons of American Idol already sealed in American history and whimper-like rumors of the show’s crumbling effects with its sudden drop of viewers, its competition hasn’t been so lucky to cash in on the ten seconds of fame. Counting the long list of talent shows, regardless of what network it aired, is as time consuming than counting the roster on Zomba. Not even Nashville Star or TBN’s Gifted has been able to match the non-yielding powers of the great Idol (no pun intended). And while BET’s gospel version of Idol – Sunday Best – was wedged in between some dark and degrading programming like Hot Ghetto Mess or American Gangster and even sparking the Enough Is Enough protest, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel with the results of Shari Addison’s debut project on Zomba Gospel. On her self-titled project, the likable runner-up from the first season remains true to the traditional gospel roots she revved in on the cable talent show. No better way for Addison to present herself in a more up-to-date and soulful caliber than to have Grammy-award winning Kevin Bond producing the project. Guest contributors on production include gospel greats Donald Lawrence, Percy Bady and Daniel Witherspoon.

With fine use of her big churchy pipes, Addison is adept vocally throughout the ten-track collection and loses no steam in her personality regardless of the change of musical style. That seems to be the biggest complaints about Idol-like album releases; in that it lacks the personality shown on the live stage from most contestants. But Addison has no problem bubbling with her warmhearted spirit and passion for singing. She may be a runner-up in a talent search, but she comes off like she’s a proficient veteran.

Read entire review by J. Matt at PrayzeHymnOnline: http://prayzehymnonline.com

Sunday Best Auditions!

Keke — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:35:51 +0000

Updated Jan. 5, 2008 — Live auditions for season two of “Sunday Best” begin in January ’09. They’re open for one and all. So, if you have the chops to sing with the angels, prove it!

Find your way to one of the locations below to audition for the show.

Jan 10, Atlanta
Georgia World Congress Cntr.
285 Andrew Young International Blvd., NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30313-1591
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jan 25, Chicago
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
2233 South Martin L. King Drive,
Chicago, Illinois, USA 60616-9985
7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jan 31, Washington, D.C.
BET Studio 2
1235 W. St. NE
Washington, D.C. 20018-1211
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more info, call the “Sunday Best” hotline at: 1-866-405-BEST (2378).

You could be the Sunday Best. Good luck!

BET’s “Sunday Best” First Runner-Up Shari Addison To Release Debut CD In Stores January 13

Keke — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:46:58 +0000

New York, NY – Some may not be familiar with the name Shari Addison yet, but with the release of her self-titled debut CD, it will not be long before the world knows about this “diamond in the rough” gospel powerhouse. Addison’s musical recording journey began one year ago when she captured the hearts of millions on BET’s “Sunday Best.” As the first runner-up on the premiere broadcast of the program, Addison wowed audiences week after week with her powerful, gut-wrenching performances while winning countless fans along the way, and earning a recording contract with Zomba Gospel. The Chicago native is now ready to dazzle audiences once again with the release of her debut CD, SHARI ADDISON, in stores on January 13, 2009.

The first single, “No Battle, No Blessing,” was produced by Kevin Bond, 10-time GRAMMY® Award winner and 30-time Stellar Award winner. “‘No Battle, No Blessing’ is one of those Christian life stories that talks about people’s common struggle-that you have to fight the battle just to get to your blessing,” proclaims Addison. “Shari Addison is a name that the national and international community of believers will come to recognize and enjoy for years to come,” says Kevin Bond. “The raw power of her voice, coupled with the weight of her testimony, will leave an indelible impression on all who are blessed to experience the depth of her anointing. I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to work on her first solo effort.”

The single is reacting well at radio. Denise Hill, Program Director at WLIB-AM (New York City), says “Shari Addison’s strong soulful vocals are reminiscent of early Vanessa Bell classics. This song and this singer are on its way to that status.” Dr. Deborah Smith-Pollard of WJLB-FM (Detroit) says, “Shari lives up to the promise she showed on ‘Sunday Best’ vocals that should light up the phones on any Gospel show.”

Some of today’s top songwriters and producers in gospel music contribute their “Midas touch” to the debut release including Percy Bady, Donald Lawrence and Daniel Weatherspoon. The 10-track release blends traditional, contemporary, urban and inspirational gospel, showcasing Addison’s fervor-filled, inspirational vocals that can only be delivered from a person who knows what they’re singing about. The CD showcases the singer/songwriter’s vocal abilities by encompassing a broad range of song styles ranging from the funky beat-filled “Whatever” and “I Praise You,” to the traditional James Cleveland up-tempo classic “Please Make Me Better Lord,” weaving to the beautiful ballad, “He Does All Things Well” (which she co-wrote with Percy Bady), back to the good ‘ole shoutin’ “Can’t Make It Without Him,” featuring her pastor, Christopher T. Harris, Sr. of Chicago’s Bright Star Church of God in Christ (where Addison is minister and psalmist), who adds his own special flair.

“I am so excited about this project. I honestly believe that this CD is so relevant; it’s a project that will meet people wherever they are,” says Addison. “All of the songs are me, but it’s a multi-faceted me and exposes many different layers of my faith. It’s uplifting and encouraging and I believe that no matter what’s going on during your day, there’s something that will minister to you,” she explains. During Addison’s “Sunday Best” appearances she received unanimous praises from recording artists Pastor Shirley Caesar, Tye Tribbett, Stephanie Mills, Martha Munizzi and others.

SOURCE: GospelCity.com

MYSPACE: myspace.com/shariaddison

Sunday Best Casting

Keke — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:40:43 +0000

Here’s How You Become the Sunday Best!

Auditions must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. (ET).

Getting Started

1. Create a profile at http://sundaybestcasting.com

2. Upload an audition video.

Each contestant must state:

Name
Hometown
Church Affiliation
Length of singing experience
Singing inspiration
Only sing one of these approved songs:

His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Amazing Grace
Just As I Am
Holy, Holy, Holy
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross
What A Friend [We Have in Jesus]
Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior
It is well with my soul
Blessed Assurance
I Surrender All
In the Garden
Love Lifted Me
O, How I Love Jesus
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Yes, Jesus Loves Me
Requirements

Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.
The entry must be no longer than two minutes in length.
The entries cannot contain profanity.
Videos should feature only the one entrant.