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Sunday Best (American TV series)

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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 episodes101
Production
Producers
  • D'Angela Proctor
  • Steed and Nia T. Hill of Strange Fruit Media
  • Kirk Franklin
  • Erica and Tina Campbell
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkBET
ReleaseOctober 2, 2007 (2007-10-02) –
August 30, 2015 (2015-08-30)
ReleaseJune 30, 2019 (2019-06-30) –
August 23, 2020 (2020-08-23)

Sunday Best is a reality television singing competition series hosted by Kirk Franklin. It first aired on BET on October 2, 2007.

In each season, the show and its judges set out to find the best undiscovered gospel talent in the United States. 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 would 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

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Season Winner Debut album Release date
Season 1 Crystal Aikin Crystal Aikin March 17, 2009
Season 2 Y'Anna Crawley The Promise August 24, 2010
Season 3 Le'Andria Johnson Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson September 6, 2011
Season 4 Amber Bullock So In Love July 10, 2012
Season 5 Joshua Rogers[4] Well Done December 4, 2012
Season 6 Tasha Page-Lockhart[5] Here Right Now August 5, 2014
Season 7 Geoffrey Golden[6] Kingdom...Live! August 17, 2015
Season 8 Dathan Thigpen[7] GetUp Vol. 1 Get Exposed To Unadulterated Praise January 1, 2016
Season 9 Melvin Crispell III[8] Prologue III September 20, 2019
Season 10 Stephanie Summers[9] Mighty Strong God October 22, 2021

References

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  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 September 12, 2011.
  2. ^ "SR Gospel: Kim Burrell Joins Sunday Best 3". Singersroom.com. April 29, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  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. September 2, 2012. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "Tasha Page-Lockhart Is Sunday Best!". BET.com. September 1, 2013. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013.
  6. ^ "Geoffrey Golden Is Sunday Best!". BET.com. August 31, 2014. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "Jackson native wins BET's Sunday Best competition". www.clarionledger.com. August 31, 2015.
  8. ^ "Melvin Crispell, III Declared Winner of Sunday Best". blackchristiannews.com. August 28, 2019.
  9. ^ "Stephanie Summers Crowned Winner of BET's Sunday Best Season 10". gospelmusic.org. August 26, 2020.
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