BET TV’s reality show ‘Sunday Best’ aired from July 2012 to August 2015, showcasing a gospel music singing competition with undiscovered American talent. The series ended but has recently been revived. If you’re a gospel music fan and not familiar with the program, here are ten things you probably didn’t know about ‘Sunday Best’.
1. A Grammy Award Winner Emerged from the Show
Le’Andria Johnson, the season 3 winner of ‘Sunday Best’, released her debut album in September 2011 and a Christmas EP in December 2011. She won a Grammy Award in 2012 for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance, becoming the first ‘Sunday Best’ winner to receive this prestigious award.
2. The Original Host Returns for the Reboot
The reboot of ‘Sunday Best’ premiered on June 30, 2019, with Kirk Franklin returning as the host and mentor. He was joined by Erica Campbell, Kelly Price, and Jonathan McReynolds, who are serving as judges for the competition.
3. The Judges are Highly Qualified
‘Sunday Best’ has brought on fully credentialed judges to help select the competition winner. Host Kirk Franklin is a legendary Grammy Award-winning musician. Judges Erica Campbell, host of ‘Get Up Mornings’ and successful gospel music artist, is joined by Jonathan McReynolds and Kelly Price, both Grammy Award-nominated music artists.
4. The Show’s Four-Year Absence Left Fans Unhappy
Fans were upset when the popular series disappeared for four years before returning in June 2019. The reason for the hiatus was BET’s decision to cancel the show, which was disappointing for aspiring gospel music hopefuls. However, it’s finally back.
5. Kirk Franklin: A Trailblazer
Kirk Franklin is an ideal choice to host ‘Sunday Best’ due to his impressive achievements. With 14 Grammy Awards and over 10 million albums sold worldwide, Franklin is also a writer and producer who has transformed the gospel music genre with new sounds and approaches. He is currently working on his 13th studio album and has over 25 years of experience in the music business.
6. The Show’s Longevity
‘Sunday Best’ aired on BET for eight seasons, spanning nearly a decade. The show helped aspiring gospel singers gain exposure and prove their mettle in the gospel music industry. A total of 90 episodes of the reality television series were aired.
7. ‘Sunday Best’ Goes International
‘Sunday Best’ is expanding its reach beyond the United States. The show made its international premiere on July 7, 2019. In addition to previous audition locations in Nigeria, Lagos, Detroit, Atlanta, DC, and Dallas, Johannesburg, South Africa, and London, England have been added to the list of audition cities for international contestants.
8. New Elements in the Latest Season
The creators of ‘Sunday Best’ have brought the series back with some changes. This season is the first to require all auditions to be conducted in person without an audience and without musical accompaniments, meaning singers will perform a cappella. The show also introduced an online process for submissions prior to the live auditions.
9. Judge Jonathan McReyonlds: A Genius
New judge for season nine, Jonathan McReyonlds, boasts an impressive resume. A Dove Award Winner, Grammy nominee, and eight-time Stellar Award winner, McReyonlds is also an NAACP Image Award nominee, Billboard Music Award nominee, and holds a Masters in Theology from Moody Theological Seminary. He is a faculty member at Columbia College, a contributor for Huffington Post, founder of nonprofit organization Elihu Nation, and a Mensa member due to his high IQ.
10. Watch ‘Sunday Best’ Online
If you’re new to ‘Sunday Best’ or have missed a few episodes, you can catch up and watch the hour-long shows online for free before the next installment airs.
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