The Hub Entertainment Watch List: Grown & Gospel
Many wonder what their religious leader’s life is like outside of the church walls and now reality tv legend, Carlos King, is working to highlight the lives of six believers within Detroit’s gospel music scene. The famed reality television producer is behind a new WE tv series, Grown and Gospel, that shines a light on each person’s story.
Grown and Gospel follows the life of several artists seeking to climb from under the shadows of their parents, who are either preachers or artists themselves. Viewers are introduced to a BET Sunday’s Best winner, Tasha Page-Lockhart, as she navigates making new music and attempting to save her marriage after infidelity. She is the daughter of an original member of the gospel group Witness, as well as the step-sister to fellow cast member J. Brooks. He serves as the peacemaker of the group and he is a respected gospel producer that many of his cast mates are pushing to work with. In addition to this brother-sister duo, the audience gets to meet Tasha’s childhood friend, Elijah Connor, who is an aspiring singer pursuing secular fame despite being raised by preachers. He may look familiar to some viewers as he is the face of a popular meme involving him in a stare-down with Diddy.
Similarly to Elijah, Shana Wilson-Williams is a singer who was raised by two pastors. The mother of three is actively pursuing a gospel career despite dealing with feelings of being an outsider in the industry. Other members of the cast include BreeAnn “Bree” Hammond who is the daughter of gospel legend Fred Hammond. Throughout the show, Bree makes attempts to re-establish her place in the group and jumpstart her career without the support of her father. However, she is not the only one with a big-name artist for a parent. Nikki Cole-Beach is the daughter of gospel icon Dorinda Clark Cole – who does make cameo appearances on the show. Nikki is the manager of the Clarke sisters and over the course of the season, viewers get to see her balance her career and life as a mother and wife.
The series debuted on March 16 and consists of six one-hour episodes. The audience quickly learns that there is more to these believers than hymns and church hats. Many of them are faced with worldly afflictions like everyone else, but their spiritual roots help to keep them grounded. Interested viewers can catch up on the show with access to WE tv or with a subscription to the streaming app, Allblk. However, there is no word on season two as WE tv has not announced plans to renew the series at this time.
