Karen Clark Sheard, the legendary 4-time GRAMMY-winning singer, musician, songwriter, entrepreneur, and First Lady of COGIC (Church of God in Christ), has signed with Motown Gospel (a division of Capitol CMG/Capitol and Universal Music Group) in partnership with Karew Records, with plans to release her first new album in over half a decade later this year. Clark Sheard’s 2015 live album Destined To Win was her highest-charting album in her solo career, and her 2010 studio album All In One was nominated for GRAMMY, Stellar, Dove, and BET Awards.
And it’s still her best-selling solo album to date.
Monica Coates and EJ Gaines, Co-Executive Directors of Motown Gospel, say that “no other female vocalist in gospel music has had as broad an influence as the legendary Karen Clark Sheard.” “With the power of her voice and the purity of her spirit, she brings generations of gospel and R&B music fans together.” We are ecstatic to collaborate with her and the Karew team.”
Karen Clark Sheard says, “I am honored and excited to partner with Motown Gospel.” “I’m passionate about using music to encourage, inspire, and uplift people, and I can’t wait to share it with my long-time fans and rest of the world. Karen Clark Sheard rose to prominence as the youngest sister of The Clark Sisters, the group credited with popularizing gospel music. The five sisters were formed when Clark Sheard was a teenager by their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, and released their national crossover hit “You Brought The Sunshine” in 1981. The song was well-received in both churches and dance clubs, and it climbed to the top of several Billboard charts.
Karen Clark Sheard has also proven to be a prolific solo artist, releasing five studio albums and two live albums while receiving Grammy, Dove, NAACP Image, Soul Train, and Stellar Award nominations. Clark Sheard is known for her multi-octave vocal range and has been cited as an influence by many artists, including Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and others.
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, a Lifetime biopic about their lives and musical journey, was released in 2020. The film, which was produced by Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, and Mary J. Blige, was the highest-rated original movie on the network in years.
Also in 2020, the Clark Sisters performed an unprecedented 17-minute mini-concert medley of their songs for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, including “You Brought The Sunshine.”
Clark Sheard is currently the First Lady of the Church of God in Christ, which is not only a global Christian denomination with over 8.8 million members, but also the world’s largest Black organization. She is married to Bishop J. Drew Sheard, who was recently elected Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ denomination, and they have two children, Kierra Sheard and John Drew “J. Drew” Sheard II, who have both followed in their mother’s musical footsteps and worked with her on previous recordings. With over two decades of iconic and genre-defining sounds, Motown Gospel is a leader in the Christian and Gospel music industry. Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Smokie Norful, Tye Tribbett, Brian Courtney Wilson, Kierra Sheard, The Clark Sisters, and others have performed for the Motown Gospel, which is a division of Capitol CMG/Universal Music Group, the world’s leading Christian music company and market leader in recorded music, distribution, and music publishing.