Photo Credit: WeTV
If you’re a fan of gospel and interested in who’s next up in the industry, you’re sure to like WeTV’s Grown & Gospel docuseries. Featuring Shana Wilson-Williams, the daughter of worship leader parents, Tasha, J. Brooks, daughter of Lisa Page Brooks of the contemporary gospel group Witness, Breeann “Bree” Hammond, gospel legend Fred Hammond’s daughter, R&B singer Elijah Connor and Nikkia Cole-Beach, daughter of Dorinda Clark Cole, the show is comprised of 6 one hour episodes following these 5 career driven childhood friends searching for success in the gospel industry often from under the shadows of their much more successful gospel legend parents as the new generation of gospel. Broken hearts, dark secrets and the pains of finding the right balance of personal and professional lives are showcased.
The WeTV press release reads,
With her “Musical Clock” ticking, Breeann “Bree” Hammond returns home to the hub of Gospel of Music to give her career one more shot. The daughter of Gospel great Fred Hammond has a now-or-never attitude and strives to integrate herself not only in the music scene, but with this tight-knit group of childhood friends… also offspring of the Gospel elite. Will they welcome her back with open arms?
Son of Bishop Michael Brooks, founding member of gospel group “Commissioned” along with Fred Hammond… J. Brooks had his first placement at only 14 and has been a traveling musician and producer ever since. With a strong belief that music creates the genre and not vice versa, he was Bree’s first call upon her return to Detroit. Will he be able to rally the crew to support Bree?
Tasha Page-Lockhart is the daughter of Lisa Page Brooks, one of the original members of the contemporary gospel group “Witness.” A mother of two and recent winner of BET’s Sunday Best striving to push her career forward… Tasha is working on a compilation album with stepbrother J. Brooks and struggling to hold on to her marriage. But will her sordid past sabotage it all?
Elijah Connor is an R&B singer on a strictly secular path in the music business and lives by the motto, “Ask for forgiveness, not permission.” Regardless of having grown up in the church as a PK (Preacher’s Kid), his interests led him in a different direction. Though he is tirelessly working towards success…the pressure to prove himself to his parents is immense as they are still disappointed that he never graduated college and strayed from the church.
Nikkia Cole-Beach was rebellious in her youth and all eyes were on her as the daughter of the legendary Dorinda Clark Cole of “The Clark Sisters.” Having overcome many demons on the journey to adulthood, Nikkia is now balancing her fulltime job as tour manager for “The Clark Sisters,” motherhood and being the rock for her family, while her husband is in prison. Although she has come a long way, she is in a constant battle to escape the judgment of her past.
Shana Wilson-Williams, singer and mother of two, is the daughter of worship leader parents who have served the church community for over 30 years. Although a worship leader and choir director in her own right, she feels like an outsider in the gospel music industry and will have to work even harder without any “coattails to ride” like the rest of her peers.
Executive produced by Carlos King, Scott Shatsky and and Co-Executive Produced by Angela Dugan of Kingdom Reign Entertainment. Kat Uyenco and Nisa Ahmad also serve as Executive Producers. Lauren Gellert, David Stefanou and Ashley McFarlin, serve as Executive Producers for WE tv.
Comments about the show have included those who have made comparisons to Growing Up Hip Hop on LipStickAlley, “saying, “I heard there would be a growing up hip hop for gospel kids. Fatherrrr, HELP your children. Even though it’s mess, I can appreciate Carlos exploring different facets of black life” and another saying, “This will be a good mess.” Others were a bit optimistic in viewing with one person on Twitter saying, “omg i cannot wait! i come from a similar background and i saw some shitttt! x” and another saying, “Setting a reminder in my phone!!!”
I’ll just point out that as a former gospel concert producer and assistant choir director, these are normal people and well, life is messy. So if anything, it’s going to be insightful and entertaining.
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