LOS ANGELES, CA – March 27, 2014 – Gospel and R&B’s biggest names united in song during the 14th Annual “Celebration of Gospel” taping at the historic Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. Hosted by Academy Award® nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, the night was filled with unforgettable traditional and contemporary gospel tributes. “Celebration of Gospel” premieres Sunday, April 6 at 8 P.M. ET/PT.

Detrick Haddon and the League of Xtraordinary Worshippers opened the show with a high energy performance of their latest single “Great God” that brought the crowd to its feet. Gospel powerhouses Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker and J.J. Hairston each graced the stage with their own show stopping sets while Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell brought “A Little More Jesus” to the stage with a performance of her hit single. Tamela Mann led a spirit filled performance of new single “I Can Only Imagine” and Tasha Cobbs blessed the stage with her smash hit “Break Every Chain.” R&B diva Chante Moore ministered through “Jesus I Want You” with Vashawn Mitchell performing “Chasing After You.”

This year’s “Celebration of Gospel” continued the tradition of unique collaborations between the best in soul and gospel music. R&B crooner Kem teamed up with “Sunday Best” season three winner LeAndria Johnson and surprise guest Eddie Levert to raise the praise. Songstress India.Arie joined Jonathan McReynolds in a medley of “Moved by You” and “No Gray” while Tye Tribbett joined forces with “Sunday Best” judge Donnie McClurkin for a rousing praise break. Gospel legend The Rance Allen Group collaborated with the ladies of SWV on “At Your Feet” and “Got Me Dancin’.”

“Sunday Best” season six winner Tasha Page-Lockhart and “American Idol” season 12 winner Candice Glover teamed up with JJ Hairston, Maurette Brown Clark, Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin for a powerful tribute to gospel music pioneer Richard Smallwood which highlighted the night.  Uncle Charlie Wilson offered a touching testimony with his performance of “If I Believe” and Dr. Bobby Jones provided a powerful spoken word moment.

“Celebration of Gospel” will premiere Sunday, April 13 @ 9pm BST/10pm CAT on BET’s international network in the UK and Africa, reaching more than 13 million households in 50+ countries.

“Celebration of Gospel” is a BET Networks production and is executive produced by Stephen Hill, President of Music Programming & Specials, BET Networks, Lynne Harris Taylor, Vice President of Specials & Music Production BET Networks, and Geovanni Brewer, Executive Producer at Black & White TV, Inc.

Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag: #CelebrationofGospel; follow the show for all updates & special surprises @BETGospel.  For more information on “Celebration of Gospel” visit www.bet.com/celebrationofgospel.  Viewers can also find updates on Facebook by liking the fan pages at http://www.facebook.com/BETGospel.  For up-to-the-minute and archival press information, including releases and photographs, visit BET’s press web site at www.BETPressRoom.com.


About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

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