Easter May Be Over, But You Can Still Go Forward In Faith On BET Networks With "CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL" Followed By New Docu-Drama Series, "THE SHEARDS" This Sunday, April 7th

LOS ANGELES, April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BET Networks will take the spirit to new heights on Sunday, April 7 at 8:00 p.m.* with the premiere of CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL followed by THE SHEARDS. Taped at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by comedian and Steve Harvey, CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL is filled with uplifting performances, powerful duets and soulful choirs.

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Led by the world-renowned musical director Ray Chew and his 24-piece orchestra, CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL features breathtaking performances and spoken word segments by both mainstream and gospel greats including singer and actor Tyrese Gibson and SUNDAY BEST title holder and Grammy® winner Le'Andria Johnson performing a gospel rendition of the Donny Hathaway ballad "A Song for You"; Tamar Braxton singing the Walter Hawkins penned classic "Be Grateful," and Grammy®-winner Anita Baker making a surprise appearance and joining Donnie McClurkin to perform her 1987 hit "Ain't No Need to Worry" originally performed with The Winans.

Additional highlights from the spiritual celebration include Grammy®-award winner Smokie Norful performing his new song, "Say So" with help from his nine-year-old son Ashton Norful; Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers led a powerful tribute to the Rev. James Cleveland performing "Lord Help Me to Hold Out"; followed by the original James Cleveland singers performing "Lord Do It" and "No Ways Tired";  SUNDAY BEST winner Joshua Rogers belted out "Peace Be Still";  Donnie McClurkin left audience members speechless singing "God Is";  Rance Allen sang "That Will Be Good Enough For Me," and Dr. Bobby Jones joined in on the tribute finale "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus." In addition to musical performances, Oscar® Nominated actress Viola Davis delivered a beautiful spoken word selection.

Rounding out the Gospel music fest are awe-inspiring performances by Pastor Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Tye Tribbett, Tamela Mann, Karen Clark Sheard and Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Israel Houghton with Jason Nelson, Jonathan Butler & New Breed, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy and Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago featuring Jessica Reedy, Isaac Carree, Da T.R.U.T.H. and Canton Jones.

BET's CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL is produced by BET Networks: Stephen Hill (President of Music Programming & Specials), Lynne Harris Taylor (Vice President, Specials and Music Production) and Geovani Brewer.

FROM THE PULPIT TO THE STUDIO: BET NETWORKS LAUNCHES 'THE SHEARDS'

The new docu-drama profiling the mega-popular Detroit based gospel super star family THE SHEARDS will debut at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT after the premiere of  CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL.  Gospel icon Karen Clark Sheard, part of the legendary Clark Sisters, her husband Bishop J. Drew, a mega church pastor in the Motor City and their children, Stellar Award winner and Grammy-nominated gospel songstress Kierra Sheard and producer J. Drew Sheard, star in the hour long series.  Told through the eyes of Kierra and J. Drew, we will follow them as they navigate family, friends, and faith in a secular world.

The explosive first season takes us on a drama filled ride as Kierra Sheard begins to break out of her family's shadow and looks to find more mainstream success with her own unique voice. Facing the difficulty of choosing between working with her brother, who she's collaborated with on all her previous albums, and experimenting with new producers to achieve a new sound, Kierra also struggles with juggling her new found independence with family, losing weight and love. 

J. Drew is focused on being the next big hit-making secular producer which goes directly against his family's wishes. Growing up in the church, his great grandfather, grandfather and father all became bishops. Bishop J. Drew wants his son to be the next in line to take the pulpit and won't hear otherwise. J. Drew also has baby mama drama with Shantel, the mother of his two year old son. She wants to have a relationship with him beyond their son, but J. Drew wants to enjoy single life and focus solely on co-parenting.

Karen Clark Sheard is balancing being a preacher's wife, gospel superstar and doting mother, while Bishop J. Drew is preparing to run for a higher office within his International Church of God in Christ denomination. However the Bishop's new position could bring even more restrictions on the family unit, especially as Kierra and J. Drew extend their social circles and look to branch out beyond the gospel world career wise. Will the children find secular mainstream success or will the church prevail?

Meet the family
Kierra Sheard
At only 24, Kierra has experienced amazing commercial success in the gospel world - releasing her own albums and appearing on tracks with her mother and other gospel music superstars. After recently being recognized with a Stellar Award for female vocalist of the year and releasing her fifth album, Free, Kierra is ready to find her own, unique voice. As part of the transformation, Kierra is dropping her widely used nickname "KiKi" so she can be taken more seriously in the music world.

J. Drew
J. Drew (22) is on a mission all his own as he wades through his own transition period. Growing up in the church, his great grandfather, grandfather and father all became bishops. Now, Bishop Sheard is pushing his son towards the direction of the church, but J. Drew wants to focus on being the next big secular hit-making producer.  J. Drew is also trying to maintain a civil relationship with Shantel, the mother of his two year old son, who wants to have a relationship with him beyond their son.

Karen Clark Sheard
For Karen, it can be difficult being a first lady (a preacher's wife), gospel superstar and doting mother. Faced with having an empty nest as daughter Kierra (the last to leave home) searches for her own independence, Karen looks at her own life and the choices she has made, especially in contrast to her daughter. Karen is continuing to help guide her children in the right direction as they branch off into adulthood while reinventing her own career and keeping the family together.

Bishop J. Drew Sheard
After rising through the church and becoming a Bishop, J. Drew Sr. feels the weight of the congregation on his shoulders as well as that of his family as he prepares to run for a higher office within his international Church of God In Christ denomination. Bishop is unsure of how his family will be received – J. Drew II has a two year old son out of wedlock, which is considered a big no-no in the church world, especially for the son of a Bishop.

THE SHEARDS  is the newest addition to BET Networks long running list of successful gospel programing including the hit gospel music competition show SUNDAY BEST; BOBBY JONES GOSPEL, the longest-running gospel program on cable; the annual CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL and LIFT EVERY VOICE which feature insightful testimonies from some of mainstream and gospel's biggest and brightest stars.

Tara Long, Holly Carter, Eric Hoberman, John Morayniss, Donny Johnson and J. Drew Sheard all serve as executive producers for THE SHEARDS.

* All show times are ET.

For video sneak peeks and first looks of CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL  and THE SHEARDS visit their official pages respectively at BET.com/COG and BET.com/TheSheards. Viewers can also find series updates on Facebook by liking the fan pages at facebook.com/TheSheards and facebook.com/COG.  Also, join the conversation about the shows on Twitter by using hashtags: #BETGospel and #BETTheSheards; follow the show for all updates & special surprises @BETGospel.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), 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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