STEVE HARVEY TO HOST CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL

Posted December 2, 2008 -- Get ready to get your praise on! On January 25 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), BET will air the Ninth Annual Celebration of Gospel special, hosted by veteran comedian, actor and radio personality Steve Harvey. Amen and Hallelujah!

Harvey has hosted all 9 COGs in the past and is ready to raise the praise with BET viewers once again. The excitement will be at an all-time high as performers such as Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Dr. Bobby Jones, Vickie Winans, Pastor Shirley, and LL Cool J take the stage to celebrate Gospel music.

The most popular religious telecast on TV will tape this year at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 10 at 6 p.m. With world renowned musical director Ray Chew leading a 24-piece orchestra, the show is one you won’t want to miss.

Each year, Celebration of Gospel boasts spine-tingling performances and meaningful spoken word segments, so 2009’s show--produced Stephen Hill (President of Music Programming & Specials, BET), Lynne Harris Taylor (Vice President of Specials, BET), and Marilyn Gill--will be no different. That week, there will be an overwhelming feeling of joy as the show airs very close to the date of the inauguration. With the first Black President of the United States of America officially taking office just a few days before, Celebration of Gospel is sure to be an emotional event.

Confirmed guests include MARY MARY, KIRK FRANKLIN, 21:03 & DR. BOBBY JONES, DONNIE MCCLURKIN, VICKIE WINANS, SMOKIE NORFUL & HEATHER HEADLEY, TRIN-I-TEE 5:7, HEZEKIAH WALKER & LFC, THE U.K.’S MYIUWA & RIVERSONGZ, PASTOR SHIRLEY CAESAR, KURT CARR & THE KURT CARR SINGERS, LL COOL J AND LOUIS GOSSETT JR.

A limited number of tickets for this event are available to the public. To request tickets, send your name, contact number and number of tickets available to betrsvp@bet.net.

For more news on Celebration of Gospel, check back with BET.com!