Kirk Franklin To Host BET's "Sunday Best"

NEW YORK, NY - BET has tapped multi-platinum recording artist, Kirk Franklin, to host the new original series SUNDAY BEST, along with Grammy Award-winning gospel superstars Bebe Winans and duo Mary Mary who will serve as judges and mentors in the channel's nationwide search for the next best gospel artist.  SUNDAY BEST premieres Tuesday, October 2 at 8:00 pm, ET/PT.

From one of the executive producers of the hit series "American Idol," SUNDAY BEST will scour the country's storefront churches, parishes and mega-churches to find the best undiscovered singers in America. The top five finalists will be coached by artists from the gospel and secular worlds as they strive to win the SUNDAY BEST title. The winner will receive a recording contract, a Toyota Camry, as well as cash and prizes for their home church.

Thousands of hopefuls from across the country, who answered the call to audition for the title of SUNDAY BEST, will be narrowed to twenty finalists in the first five episodes.  In the second half of the season, the contestants will perform LIVE and viewers will have the chance to vote for their favorite contestant via phone and text messaging at the end of each show.  America's next best gospel singer will be crowned SUNDAY BEST on Tuesday, December 4th.

"SUNDAY BEST" is our opportunity to celebrate our own," said Franklin. "The phrase that the best talent is from the church can no longer be an opinion. It must now be a reality."

Kirk Franklin is the biggest-selling contemporary gospel artist in Soundscan history and is credited with revolutionizing urban inspirational music and bridging the gap between the faith community and urban mainstream culture. 

The musical trendsetter has garnered five GRAMMY® Awards, 11 Doves, 34 Stellars, 4 NAACP Image Awards, two BET Awards and a 2006 American Music Award to date.

SUNDAY BEST is executive produced by Brian Gadinsky, Arnold M. Preston, Robert Wise and Kirk Franklin, co-executive produced by Marilyn Gill and produced by The G Group and BET.