Black Entertainment Television brought its auditions to Chicago on March 9 in search of more competitors for the hit-show Sunday Best.
Tryouts were held at the New Faith Baptist Church in south suburban Matteson for those age 18 and up.
Chicago is home to the founders and legends of gospel, including Thomas Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson. It is also home to Shari Addison, a finalist in the first season of the cable network competition show. A number of other Chicagoans have competed on Sunday Best, now in its sixth season.
The show airs on the cable network and is hosted by Kirk Franklin.
Gospel celebrity judges - for the auditions and the show - include Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams and CeCe Winans. Singers will have to perform any one of 23 contemporary and traditional gospel songs and hymns as part of the audition. The playlist includes: 2013 Stellar Award-winning "Awesome" by Chicago’s Rev. Charles Jenkins and his Fellowship church choir; the traditional sound of "Thank You Lord (For All You’ve Done For Me)" by the legendary Walter Hawkins; and "I Surrender All" - Traditional Version. Winans recorded an an arrangement of the hymn on her "Alone In His Presence" album.
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