CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL '07 Draws Big Names to Participate in Annual Praise-Fest Set For Taping on Saturday, January 20

CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL '07 Draws Big Names to Participate in Annual Praise-Fest Set For Taping on Saturday, January 20

Quincy Jones, Tyler Perry, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Fantasia, Blair

Underwood, Gabrielle Union, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Derek Luke and Host

Steve Harvey Among Those Appearing at LA's Historic Orpheum Theatre

Be prepared to catch the holy spirit as BET brings together some of the brightest stars in gospel and R&B alongside some of Hollywood's finest thespians at the network's seventh annual praise-fest, CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL. This inspirational affair will take place at LA's historic Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, January 20 at 6 p.m. PT and is hosted again by veteran comedian/actor and popular syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey.

CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL will be a hand-clapping, foot-stomping two-hour revival, filled with rousing performances by Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Fantasia, Tye Tribbett, Kelly Price, Tonex, Coko, Smokie Norful, Lil' Mo, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Dr. Bobby Jones, Fred Hammond, The Caravans and many more. The show will also feature a special tribute to Tyler Perry -- writer, producer, director, and actor extraordinaire -- for exemplifying the theme of this year's show, "Taking You Higher" with his successful approach to making gospel-themed urban theatre accessible to the masses. In addition, the highly-anticipated gospel extravaganza contains a new element of spoken word performed by Hollywood's brightest leading lights.

Set to appear are Lou Gossett Jr., Quincy Jones, Blair Underwood, Gabrielle Union, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Derek Luke and Keke Palmer. With a star-studded, praise-worthy "congregation" and a 24-piece orchestra led by world-renowned musical director Ray Chew, viewers won't want to miss CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL, premiering on BET Sunday, January 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

PLEASE SUBMIT CREDENTIALS REQUESTS TO (Working Media Only Please):

Roz Holmes
BET Corporate Communications
(202) 608-2657 - ofc
(202) 608-2593 - fax
Roz.holmes@bet.net

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 84 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ring tones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

CONTACT: Tosha Whitten-Griggs, +1-818-972-3312, Tosha.whitten-griggs@bet.net, or Zabrina Horton, +1-818-972-3337, Zabrina.horton@bet.net, both of BET Networks.

PRNewswire -- Jan. 17

Source: BET Networks

Web site: http://www.bet.com/

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