EVENTS AND MORE

SHIRLEY CAESAR GUEST STARS ON BET NETWORK'S“SUNDAY BEST” THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 11TH AT 8PM ET/PT

8/8/2019

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The Top 4 Contestants Take Viewers to Church!

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50th Running of Peachtree Road Race Breaks Records in 2019

7/4/2019

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Event Records Fall as AJC Peachtree Road Race Celebrates 50th Running

Historic day in Atlanta as elites, legends, and 60,000 participate in world’s largest 10K

ATLANTA – July 4, 2019 – The 50th Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race re-wrote the event’s history books with four brand new event records and the fastest 10K ever run on U.S. soil. Behind the greatest athletes in the world, 60,000 participants streamed across the line at Piedmont Park, sweaty and smiling and celebrating half a century of Atlanta’s Fourth of July tradition.
$200,000 in event record bonus prize money was up for grabs and today’s winners took it all with the men’s and women’ winners in both the footrace and the Shepherd Center Wheelchair division setting all-time bests at the Peachtree.

In the women’s footrace, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei outlasted Agnes Tirop and Fancy Chemutai in an epic sprint to the finish, crossing the line in 30:21 to break the previously-held record of 30:32.

“I want to say thank you to the people who were cheering us all the way,” Kosgei said. “They say ‘try, try, try’ and I was so happy for these people. I hope to come again next year to make a record again.”

The men’s footrace featured Kenyan Rhonex Kipruto chasing perhaps the most untouchable record of all – 27:04, set by compatriot Joseph Kimani in 1996. That time was not only the event record but the fastest 10K ever run in the United States. Until now. Kirputo, the 19-year-old phenom, delivered in spades, running alone for nearly the entire race and covering the course from Lenox Square to the park in 27:01.

“I am happy for the win today,” said Kipruto. “When I was coming here I was coming for a course record and I thank God for that.”

Both records also went down in the Shepherd Center wheelchair divisions. The women’s wheelchair race was another battle to the finish, as Switzerland’s Manuela Schar crossed just ahead of Tatyana McFadden and Susannah Scaroni to take the women’s title in 21:28 – 31 seconds ahead of the previous record of 22:09.

On the men’s side, Daniel Romanchuk completed his three-peat at the Peachtree and took the event record that narrowly evaded him last year. He crossed the line in 18:11, shattering the previously-held event record of 18:38.

Manuela Schar

“It’s amazing,” Schar said. “I was just happy to win it because it was such a tough race. To get that bonus is just huge.”

“It still hasn’t entirely sunk in yet,” Romanchuk said. “It was a fast day and a great field. I was just sprinting all the way to go as fast as I could – It was a very strong record so I knew it had to be an all-out record. To have an equal payout for the record bonus, I’m lacking the words to describe it.”

Daniel Romanchuk

The $50,000 bonus is the largest single payday in the history of elite wheelchair racing.
Emily Sisson (Scottsdale, AZ) and Colin Bennie (Charlottesville, VA), were the top American finishers, running 32:03 and 29:12, respectively.
Atlanta Track Club’s Wilkerson Given and Janel Blancett went home with the Top Georgian honors, as Given crossed in 30:12 and Blancett finished in 36:03.

About an hour after the dramatics of the elite races came to a finish, notable Atlantans from across the years began to make their way across the 10th St. finish line. First, author Emily Giffin was revealed as the winner of the Peachtree’s T-shirt contest, with her design, titled “Lucky Bib,” unveiled as the chosen design to the race’s 60,000 participants. Created in collaboration with Atlanta Track Club member Tina Tait, the design was part of a special competition ahead of this year’s race, with submissions curated by notable Atlantans and Atlanta institutions.

“Honestly, that was the highlight of my life,” said Giffin, an Atlanta Track Club member who ran the race with her daughter, Harriet, while her sons and husband raced ahead. “It’s more than winning a contest – It’s the fact that this is my family’s passion. The Atlanta Track Club means so much to us and so it’s symbolic of what we do as a family.”

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms at the 50th AJC Peachtree Road Race

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms served as an official starter at Lenox Square, as she kicked off the race then walked the course with her staff for the second straight year.

“I was born in 1970, so to think that this race started seven months after I was born and that now I get to kick it off as Mayor it really is a dream come true for me and speaks to what’s possible in our city,” she said. “The Peachtree just speaks to Atlanta and the diversity that we have in this city. I’m grateful to Atlanta Track Club, our sanitation workers, our public safety personnel, and the Department of Public Works for making this race beautiful and clean and safe for all of us.”

For the 50th straight July 4, Bill Thorn crossed the Peachtree’s finish line, as he continued his streak as the only member of the Original 110 finishers to complete every edition of the race. Walking alongside his friends, family, and former Atlanta Track Club Executive Director Julia Emmons, Thorn was ecstatic to have finished the Peachtree yet again.
“It could’ve been just a fad,” said Thorn of his early Peachtree streak. “But as you go along through the years, people like Julia say to me every once in a while to keep going and that was really encouraging, and so it just became a year after year thing. Who ever would have imagined that little tiny group would have turned into this?”
“Atlanta Track Club, its members and volunteers wanted to make the 50th Running of the Peachtree into an unforgettable celebration of the history and legacy of this race,” said Rich Kenah, Race Director of the AJC Peachtree Road Race and Executive Director of Atlanta Track Club. “And Running City USA delivered. This is a day that Atlanta will remember for years to come.”

About Atlanta Track Club

Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

With more than 28,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world, the Publix Georgia Marathon, PNC Atlanta 10 Miler and Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.

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BET ANNOUNCES TOP 20 SUNDAY BEST CONTESTANTS

6/21/2019

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“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.
AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th

Photo Credit: BET Networks

(NEW YORK, NY) – June 21, 2019 – Returning from its four-year hiatus, America’s most inspirational singing competition, “Sunday Best,” makes its triumphant return to BET on Sunday, June 30that 8/7c with two brand-new back-to-back episodes. The well-established gospel show welcomes back Grammy Award®-winning music legend Kirk Franklin as host, gospel songstress and host of "Get Up Mornings," Erica Campbell as a judge; and added two Grammy-Award® nominated artists Kelly Price and Jonathan McReynolds as new additions to the panel. With a brand-new stage and exciting themed challenges, this season has narrowed down the competition to 20 finalists.

The new season kicks off for the first time ever with in-person auditions in front of the judges, with no audience. The contestants have to show their true talent, with no smoke and mirrors, by performing acapella with no band support, as they narrow the field from 20 to the top 10. For the first time the contestants were able to use an online submissions process, after which the team lead a global search for this year’s contestants, leading up to the much-anticipated live auditions in Dallas, TX, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, and Detroit, MI, Lagos, Nigeria and for the first time-ever London, England and Johannesburg, South Africa, which were open to select international contestants. The top 20 contestants are:

Antonio Santora, 31, Durham, North Carolina
Ashley Barnes, 24, Memphis, Tennessee
Brielle Frage, 21, Avenel, New Jersey
Cornelius Edwards, 33, West Palm Beach, Florida
Chelsey Barnes, 22, Memphis, TN
Emorja Roberson, 27, South Bend, Indiana
Jamal Roberts, 22, Meridian, Mississippi
James Thompson, 23, Derby UK
Jason Warrior, 23, Chicago, IL
Joshua Copeland, 37, Salisbury, Maryland
Kayva Offord, 27, Orange, Texas
Keyla Richardson, 22, Pensacola, Florida
Lakeesha Rice, 36, Greensboro, North Carolina
Linda Williams, 52, University Heights, OH
Melvin Crispell III, 21, Charlotte, North Carolina
Opal Staples, 38, Chicago, IL
Roy Moye, 26, Wichita, Kansas
Tiffany Andrews, 35, Newark, New Jersey
Tiffany Moore, 35, Augusta, Georgia
Yoonjung Park, 32, South Korea

Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment (BET Awards, The New Edition Story), serves as executive producer of season nine of Sunday Best along with showrunner Josh Greenberg (The Sing-Off, Lip Sync Battle). Dionne Harmon (The Bobby Brown Story, Hip Hop Squares) and Jeannae Rouzan–Clay (Dear Mama, Black Girls Rock!) and are co-executive producers.

For updates and more information about “SUNDAY BEST”, please visit BET.com/SundayBest. Join the conversation on social media by logging on to our social media platforms using the hashtag: #BETSundayBest.

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"SUNDAY BEST" RETURNS FOR 9TH SEASON

4/20/2019

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BET NETWORKS ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ALL INSPIRING GOSPEL COMPETITION SERIES, “SUNDAY BEST,” FOR ITS NINTH SEASON

(NEW YORK, NY) – April 18, 2019 – After a four-year hiatus, America’s most inspirational singing competition, “Sunday Best,” makes its triumphant return to BET, as a new and improved Season 9 takes over Sunday nights beginning in June. The well-established gospel show welcomes back Grammy Award®-winning music legend Kirk Franklin as host, gospel songstress and host of "Get Up Mornings," Erica Campbell as a judge; and adds two Grammy-Award® nominated artists Kelly Price and Jonathan McReynolds as new additions to the panel. With a brand new stage and exciting themed challenges, this season will be the toughest one yet.

The new season kicks off with in-person auditions in front of the judges as they narrow the field from 20 to the top 10. For the first time the contestants were able to use an online submissions process, after which the team lead a global search for this year’s contestants, leading up to the much-anticipated live auditions in Dallas, TX, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, and Detroit, MI, Lagos, Nigeriaand for the first time-ever London, England and Johannesburg, South Africa, which were open to select international contestants.

Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment (BET Awards, The New Edition Story), will serve as executive producer of season nine of Sunday Best along with showrunner Josh Greenberg (The Sing-Off, Lip Sync Battle). Dionne Harmon (The Bobby Brown Story, Hip Hop Squares) and Jeannae Rouzan–Clay (Dear Mama, Black Girls Rock!) and are co-executive producers.

For updates and more information about “SUNDAY BEST”, please visit BET.com/SundayBest. Join the conversation on social media by logging on to our social media platforms using the hashtag: #BETSundayBest.

“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.
AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th

KIRK FRANKLIN (Host)

Since making his debut in the early 90s, Kirk Franklin has established himself as a trailblazer and icon in contemporary music. He first burst onto the world stage with Kirk Franklin & The Family, forever changing the look and sound of gospel music. Since then, Franklin has sold over 10 million albums worldwide and written and produced timeless, genre-bending music for himself and other artists earning numerous awards and accolades, including fourteen GRAMMY's and forty-three Stellar Awards. With a career spanning over 25 years, he continues to break new ground and make indelible contributions to popular music. Franklin will release his 13th studio album, LONG LIVE LOVE, on May 31st.

ERICA CAMPBELL (Judge)

A 5x Grammy Award winner who has released two solo albums as well as seven albums with her sister as part of the dynamic duo “Mary Mary.” Erica Campbell has received numerous awards and accolades. Her debut solo album “Help” topped the charts for several weeks and won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album as well as earned 8 Stellar Awards. Campbell recently released her first duet "All Of My Life," with music-producer husband Warryn Campbell. Erica continues to elevate as a multi-media star and is the host of the highly-rated nationally syndicated radio show "Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell” that can be heard weekdays 6am-10am EST in over 40 markets.

KELLY PRICE (Judge)

Kelly Price has forged her own career path in music, when she first earned the reputation as one of the industry’s most sought-after songwriters, before becoming a 9-timeGrammy-nominated artist in her own right. Her first two albums, Soul of a Woman and Mirror Mirror both went platinum and launched Price to R&B prominence. Proving versatile off the stage, Price has now pivoted to television, and stars as a series regular in BET’s hit series American Soul, recently picked up for season 2. The project brought Price’s career full circle as “Soul Train” was the first national broadcast appearance of her career, and her first industry award when she took home the Soul Train Awards trophy for Best New Artist.

JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS (Judge)

A Dove Award-winning, 3-time GRAMMY® nominee, 8-time Stellar Award winning, NAACP Image Award nominee and Billboard Music Award nominated gospel singer-songwriter based in Chicago, IL. At just 29, Jonathan McReynolds has released three full length studio albums and one EP, holds a Masters in Theology from Moody Theological Seminary and is currently an adjunct member of the Columbia College faculty on top of his work as an official contributor to Huffington Post. He is also the founder of Elihu Nation, a nonprofit organization that promotes wisdom and recently awarded $30k in scholarships. He was recently named a new member of Mensa, an international high IQ society, as well. McReynolds also serves as an ambassador for Martin Guitars.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, 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 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, Collins has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. Collins has produced groundbreaking and award winning television programming including the BET Awards, the Grammy Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Honors, UNCF An Evening of Stars, ABFF Awards and the BET Hip Hop Awards. Collins was an executive producer of the hit TV series, Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart, the critically-acclaimed The New Edition Story, a biopic on the boy band that aired as a 3-part mini-series on BET in January 2017, posted record ratings for the network and attracted nearly 30 million viewers. He is also the executive producer of VH1 shows Dear Mama and Hip Hop Squares with Ice Cube. He has appeared on the cover of Vibe magazine and has been featured in numerous publications including Billboard and Ebony magazine. Most recently JCE executive produced The Bobby Brown Story. The mini-series picked up where The New Edition Story mini-series left off and chronicled the talented but troubled singer’s exit from the popular ’80s boy band through his solo success. It debuted on BET in September 2018 ad was the highest rated non-tentpole program on the network since The New Edition Story. Next for JCE is the second season of American Soul on BET and Netflix’s upcoming series Rhythm and Flow.

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T.D. JAKES & MARQUIS BOONE LAUNCH SINGING COMPETITION REALITY SHOW

3/10/2019

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Six gospel artists will have the chance to become a gospel music star on a new reality program called “The Gospel.” The Gospel chronicles 10 days with eight episodes as contestants compete for a national management contract with T.D. Jakes’ Dexterity Sounds and Marquis Boone Music Group. The first of its kind for Gospel music, the winner of this Christian music competition will be announced with the opportunity to perform at the International Pastors & Leadership Conference in Tampa Bay on April 25.

The show is Executive produced by T.D. Jakes and Marquis Boone and hosted by Darlene McCoy. The Gospel will serve as a platform for up-and-coming gospel artists while inspiring viewers through their faith-filled musical performances. Not only will artists discover stardom, but also experience the hustle and drive necessary to rise in the entertainment industry. The program will air beginning March 10 exclusively on the Bishop’s Village, T.D. Jakes’ online streaming platform with behind the scene videos, messages and content. Visit bishopsvillage.com to subscribe, stream, and vote.

Darlene McCoy

Micah Stampley

Jekalyn Carr

Q. Parker

Contestants were discovered via video recordings submitted on social media and through the Bishop’s Village platform. Mentors, including Micah Stampley, Jekalyn Carr, Q Parker, Devyne Stephens and more, will help mold them into polished performers. Each week, viewers subscribed to Bishop’s Village

will have the chance to vote and select the winner of the artists’ weekly challenge. In the end, T.D. Jakes and Marquis Boone will select the winner of a national management contract.

The 2019 International Pastors & Leadership Conference is April 25—27, 2019, at the Tampa Convention Center. At the conference, Jakes will also be unveiling his latest book, Crushing: God Turns Pressure into Power.

Visit PastorsAndLeaders.org for more information on confirmed speakers, talent, the full schedule and special event updates. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by following @IPLExcel.

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SHIRLEY CAESAR GUEST STARS ON BET NETWORK'S“SUNDAY BEST” THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 11TH AT 8PM ET/PT

50th Running of Peachtree Road Race Breaks Records in 2019

Event Records Fall as AJC Peachtree Road Race Celebrates 50th Running

About Atlanta Track Club

BET ANNOUNCES TOP 20 SUNDAY BEST CONTESTANTS

“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.
AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th

"SUNDAY BEST" RETURNS FOR 9TH SEASON

BET NETWORKS ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ALL INSPIRING GOSPEL COMPETITION SERIES, “SUNDAY BEST,” FOR ITS NINTH SEASON

“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.
AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th

KIRK FRANKLIN (Host)

ERICA CAMPBELL (Judge)

KELLY PRICE (Judge)

JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS (Judge)

T.D. JAKES & MARQUIS BOONE LAUNCH SINGING COMPETITION REALITY SHOW

About Us

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SHIRLEY CAESAR GUEST STARS ON BET NETWORK'S“SUNDAY BEST” THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 11TH AT 8PM ET/PT

50th Running of Peachtree Road Race Breaks Records in 2019

Event Records Fall as AJC Peachtree Road Race Celebrates 50th Running

About Atlanta Track Club

BET ANNOUNCES TOP 20 SUNDAY BEST CONTESTANTS

“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th ​

"SUNDAY BEST" RETURNS FOR 9TH SEASON

BET NETWORKS ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ALL INSPIRING GOSPEL COMPETITION SERIES, “SUNDAY BEST,” FOR ITS NINTH SEASON

“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th

KIRK FRANKLIN (Host)

ERICA CAMPBELL (Judge)

KELLY PRICE (Judge)

JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS (Judge)

T.D. JAKES & MARQUIS BOONE LAUNCH SINGING COMPETITION REALITY SHOW

About Us

Categories

“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.
AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th

“SUNDAY BEST” PREMIERES SUNDAY, JUNE 30th ON BET IN THE U.S.A.
AND INTERNATIONALLY BEGINNING SUNDAY, JULY 7th