“Praise This” the Movie is Coming to Peacock
“Praise This” is a new comedic movie starring Chloe Bailey as the lead character Sam. Sam’s dreams of becoming a musical superstar are sidelined by her father, played by Philip Fornah, who is worried that she is running with a dangerous crowd. In the hopes of keeping his ambitious daughter out of trouble, he moves her to Atlanta to live with her good-girl cousin Jess, played by Anjelika Washington, who pushes her members in a hipper musical direction in preparation for a competitive gospel praise team competition. Sam soon discovers that ambition can come with a high price, and that praise is rooted in glory. The movie’s trailer has been released and features a lineup of celebrities including Atlanta’s own Quavo, from the rap group Migos, Grammy nominee Tristan Mack Wilds and Grammy-nominated gospel stars Jekalyn Carr and Koryn Hawthorne. The film will stream exclusively on Peacock on April 7th.
Gospel Superfest Easter Jam Coming to BET
The producers and creators of Gospel Superfest have announced that their Gospel Superfest Easter Jam Special has been acquired by BET. The show, filmed in Ohio, will feature some of gospel’s biggest names including Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Deitrick Haddon, Le’Andria Johnson, J. Moss, 21:03, PDA, Ricky Dillard & New G, Shelby 5, Demetrius West & The Jesus Promoters, Sensere and others. “I often say this one is our best to date, and this time I’m sure we’ve made a strong statement with this special,” states show executive producer Bobby Cartwright, Jr. “You’ve got to watch this one from the very beginning to get it,” Cartwright further states. Spoiler alert! Minister Deitrick’s opening is explosive! Gospel Superfest Easter Jam will air Sunday, April 9, 2023, at 5:00p ET/4:00p CT on BET and BET/HER.
Tamela Mann Makes History with 10th #1 Single “Finished”
Gospel powerhouse Tamela Mann made history and set a new industry record, becoming the first artist to score ten No. 1’s at the gospel radio format. “Finished,” penned with singer/songwriter, Travis Greene, is the fourth No. 1 from her Tillymann Entertainment CD, Overcomer. “Finished” topped the Billboard Gospel Radio Airplay chart, giving Tamela her 10th #1 in the format. The song also landed at #1 on the Mediabase Gospel chart. Tamela’s historic run is the culmination of her charting success with the current single “Finished,” and chart-toppers including “He Did It For Me,” “Help Me (feat. the Fellas),” “Touch From You,” “Take Me To The King,” “God Provides,” “My World Needs You,” “This Place, “I Can Only Imagine,” and “Change Me”. Tamela responded to the news by saying “An extra special thank you from the bottom of my heart to Gospel radio for making me a part of your music family and always believing in me. With your love and support we did it – ten #1’s!! To God be the glory!”
Six Killed in Shooting at Private Presbyterian School in Nashville
On March 27, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian private school in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, TN. Six people were killed, as well as the perpetrator. Three 9-year-old children and three staff members were identified among the victims. The attack marked the 19th shooting at a school or university in the U.S. so far in 2023. The Covenant School in Nashville is a small, private Christian school, founded in 2001 as a ministry of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, with an enrollment of around 200 students in preschool through sixth grade. It is kept “intentionally small” according to its website, to emphasize the importance of one-on-one relationships. The shooter, identified as Audrey Hall, was a former student at the school and had a detailed manifesto to attack the Christian academy.
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Triumph Church in Detroit Kicking off a Weeklong Easter Celebration
The “Easter at Triumph Church” event in Detroit will be showcasing a star-studded weeklong series of festivities and musical guests starting Saturday, April 1, with Vanessa Bell Armstrong and culminating on Resurrection Sunday, April 9, with performances by Kirk Franklin and Le’Andria Johnson at the Little Caesars Arena. The North Campus of the church will be the venue for the midweek concerts and will feature different artists each day including Donnie McClurkin, Smokie Norful, Tye Tribbett, Jekalyn Carr, VaShawn Mitchell, John P. Kee and Pastor Shirley Caesar, who will be the featured guest on Good Friday.