WHAT:        BET Networks will host its second annual faith-based prayer breakfast to kick off this year’s CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL. The breakfast was created to unite various religions, cultures and denominations together the day before the taping of the show.

The highly anticipated CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL special is hosted by popular actor, author and comedian Steve Harvey and pays tribute to the rich history of gospel music in a unique format that combines today's leading gospel and secular artists! This year’s show will pay tribute to the life and legacy of the “Mother of Gospel Music,” Mahalia Jackson, with performances by Amber Riley, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar and Jennifer Holliday.  CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL will also showcase a special moment in memory of the legendary Whitney Houston who graced the stage at last year’s show and whose singing gift was anchored in her gospel roots.

This year’s stellar CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL line-up includes the very best that gospel and secular music has to offer with performances by gospel greats Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, The Rance Allen Group, James Fortune & FIYA, 2012 Grammy-award winner Le’Andria Johnson, Jessica Reedy, Earnest Pugh, Isaac Carree, Moses Tyson Jr. Ricky Dillard & New G, Zacardi Cortez and Maurette Brown-Clark plus a special appearance by BET Music Matters artist Mali Music as well as secular artists Grammy and Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday, as well R&B sensations Faith Evans, Johnny Gill, Ledisi and Kelly Price. In addition to musical performances, Dr. Bobby Jones, of BET’s long-running gospel show BOBBY JONES GOSPEL and actress Wendy Raquel Robinson of the ratings juggernaut THE GAME will deliver moving spoken word selections. CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL will premiere on the network Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8p.m. ET/PT.

WHO:          Attending Thursday’s prayer breakfast: Bishop McClendon, Bishop Ulmer, GRAMMY® award winners Kirk Franklin, Le’Andria Johnson, and Pastor Shirley Caesar, Marvin Sapp, Kelly Price, Kim Burrell, James Fortune & FIYA, Torrence Glenn, Isaac Carree, Jessica Reedy, Faith Evans, The Rance Allen Group, and many more.

WHEN/        Annual faith-based prayer breakfast: 
WHERE:      Thursday, March 15, 2012
                   8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PST

                   The W Hotel Hollywood – Great Room 1
                   6250 Hollywood Blvd.
                   Los Angeles, CA 90028

CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL red carpet and taping:                    
Friday, March 16, 2012

Media check-in:          4:30p.m.-6:00p.m. PST
Red carpet:                 6:00p.m.-7:30p.m. PST
Show taping:              8:00 p.m. PST
                  
The Orpheum Theater
842 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, California 90014

For additional information on BET’s CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL, go to BET.com/celebrationofgospel. Join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET’s multiple social media platforms:
• On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/BET
• On Twitter by using hashtag: #CelebrateGospel and following us @BETGospel
• On Google plus at bet.us/gplusBET

For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases and photographs, visit BET’s press-only website at www.betpressroom.com; members of the press can also follow us on Twitter @BET_PR.  All red carpet media credential requests should be sent via email to mediacredentials@bet.net.