Sunday Best (American TV series)

Sunday Best is a reality television singing competition series hosted by Kirk Franklin. It first aired on BET in October 2007.

Sunday Best
Sunday Best logo used from seasons 1-8
GenreReality competition
Presented byKirk Franklin
Judges
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons10
No. of episodes91
Production
Producers
  • D'Angela Proctor
  • Steed and Nia T. Hill of Strange Fruit Media
  • Kirk Franklin
  • Erica and Tina Campbell
Running time60 minutes
Release
Original networkBET
Original release
  • Original series:
    October 1, 2007 (2007-10-01) – August 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
  • Revived series:
    June 30, 2019 (2019-06-30)
 –
present
Related
Nominated Gospel

In each season, the show and its judges set out to find the best undiscovered gospel talent in America. Finalists competed each week until a winner was crowned. The judges throughout the series' run included Gospel singers Yolanda Adams, Kierra Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Bebe Winans & Cece Winans.[1] Gospel singer Kim Burrell served as the on-screen mentor.[2]

Each season's winner receives a national recording contract, a new automobile, and an undisclosed cash prize benefiting his or her community as well as the title of 'Sunday Best'.

On April 18, 2019, it was announced that the series will return for a ninth season, which premiered on June 30, 2019.[3] Franklin returned as host and former Mary Mary member Erica Campbell also returning as a judge, with Kelly Price and Jonathan McReynolds joining as judges. Sunday Best was renewed by BET for a tenth season which premiered on July 5, 2020.

Winners

Season 1: Crystal Aikin - Verity Records

Debut album Crystal Aikin released March 17, 2009.

Season 2: Y'Anna Crawley - Imago Dei Music Group

Debut album The Promise released August 24, 2010.

Season 3: Le'Andria Johnson - Music World Gospel

Debut album Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson released September 6, 2011.

Christmas EP "Christmas Best" released December 6, 2011.

First winner to receive a Grammy Award (2012, Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance)

Season 4: Amber Bullock - Music World Gospel

Debut album So In Love released July 10, 2012.

Season 5: Joshua Rogers[4]

Debut album Well Done released December 4, 2012.

Season 6: Tasha Page-Lockhart[5]

Debut single Different released in mid-2014.

Debut album Here Right Now released on August 5, 2014

Season 7: Geoffrey Golden [6]

Debut album Kingdom...Live! released on August 17, 2015

Season 8 (Sunday Best All-Stars): Dathan Thigpen (also from Season 3) [7]

Debut album GetUp Vol. 1 Get Exposed To Unadulterated Praise released on January 1, 2006

Season 9: Melvin Crispell III [8]

Debut album Prologue III released on September 20, 2019

Season 10: Stephanie Summers [9]

Debut album Mighty Strong God released on October 22, 2021

Seasons
See also: Sunday Best (season 1), Sunday Best (season 2), Sunday Best (season 3), Sunday Best (season 4), and Sunday Best (season 5)

References
  1. "Gospel Greats Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams Join the All-Star Team of Judges... - PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/" (Press release). California, Nigeria: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  2. Date: 04/29/10. "SR Gospel: Kim Burrell Joins Sunday Best 3". Singersroom.com. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  3. "BET Networks Announces the Return of All Inspiring Gospel Competition Series, "Sunday Best," for Its Ninth Season". The Futon Critic. April 18, 2019.
  4. "Behind the Stage - Joshua Rogers is Sunday Best". BET.com. 2 September 2012.
  5. "Tasha Page-Lockhart Is Sunday Best!". BET.com. 1 September 2013.
  6. "Geoffrey Golden Is Sunday Best!". BET.com. 31 August 2014.
  7. "Jackson native wins BET's Sunday Best competition". www.clarionledger.com. 31 August 2015.
  8. "Melvin Crispell, III Declared Winner of Sunday Best". blackchristiannews.com. 28 August 2019.
  9. "Stephanie Summers Crowned Winner of BET's Sunday Best Season 10". gospelmusic.org. 26 August 2020.
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