When BET’s Sunday Best came to Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church this past weekend, it was a one of a kind experience that’s almost indescribable. If it could be summed up, it would be the saved, soulful cousin of American Idol. The show is a singing competition, but there’s obviously a bit more to it.
“The Lord was definitely here, and although I didn’t get through I’m still going to go about my business of serving him with my voice,” said Edwina Aldridge.
More than 2,000 came from all across the country for their final shot at a chance to appear on one of BET’s top rated shows. St. Louis was the last stop on their three-city audition circuit – and home of last season’s winner Amber Bullock.
Aldridge, a white woman, confessed that her nerves got the better of her. After seeing four seasons of faith-based singers become certified stars because of exposure on the show, it’s understandable. Bullock toured the globe last year as a featured performer with Sunday Best host and producer Kirk Franklin’s world tour.
Plenty had come more than once, many had come from around the country – New York, Michigan, Maryland, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh were some of the more memorable home towns.
“This has been an amazing thing,” said the Rev. Michael Jones, senior pastor of Friendly Temple, who hosted BET for two days as they set up shop and held auditions. “As a city we’re centrally located, but these people came from all over – not just from the Midwest.”
They started lining up the Friday before, and by 3 a.m. or so, contestants stretched for nearly a block in sleeping bags, comforters and chairs waiting for the first round to kick off at 6 a.m.
By 10 a.m. several hundred had already been sent home.
“I was singing before I auditioned, and I’m going to keep on keepin’ on,” said Roy Robinson of Memphis, TN. “This was just one platform. There are many others when it comes for me to spread the gospel. I’m gonna get right back on 55 and get back to it.” He had also been to Atlanta to try out. This time he got as far as round two.
On the inside, others sat waiting for round three in the sanctuary overflow. As he walked through, Jones offered words of encouragement to them as they sat anxiously – some of them singing, praying and worshipping.
“Whatever happens here today, this is not the end of your journey,” Rev. Jones said.
Leslie Johnson – one of the best local singers, gospel or otherwise – headed towards the area for those who would stand before celebrity judges Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and Kim Burrell.
“You got this, Leslie,” someone said to him as he walked by. “If it’s His will,” he replied. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Back on the outside of the church, Jean Vann was waiting to pick up her niece and daughter-in-law. As one of the contestants parted ways, she chimed in with her to sing along on camera.
“You need to be in here,” one of the BET production team members said after hearing her sing. “It’s not too late, go in there and sign up.”
So she did.
She would join Johnson and a handful of other locals – including the Rev. Michael Lampkin, Adrienne Felton, and 13-year-old Asa Dinwiddie – as the talented few to stand before the celebrity judges.
They didn’t mince words or hold back when offering their critique.
“I feel like you’re shouting at us, instead of singing to God,” Grammy-Award winning gospel diva Yolanda Adams told one contestant who thought whoops and hollers would win her favor with the judges during the final round.
“Your pitch was all over the place,” McClurkin said to one contestant. “You are boring me,” he said to another.
Dinwiddie was disqualified by the judges because contestants must be at least 18. But he was sent away with high praise from Kirk Franklin himself.
“If you have that much control over your voice at 13, in five years you’re gonna be a beast,” Franklin told Dinwiddie when he talked with him on camera. “In the meantime, protect your gift and your life. The streets are going to call you, and the world is going to call you, but keep doing what you are doing.”
His family erupted.
Back on the inside, McClurkin says that Johnson didn’t have the vocal ability to hit the runs that he tried. The audience sat stunned – mainly because he didn’t miss a note or deviate from his pitch in the slightest. Johnson thanked the judges gracefully and exited.
At the end of the day it would be Jean Vann, mother of gospel hip-hop star Praiz’, to join the select few of St. Louis natives, including Lampkin and Corey Barrett, for the televised rounds.
“He favored me over all of these talented young people,” Vann said. “Not taking anything away from them – but this is just a blessing and an honor.”
Rev. Jones said, “St. Louis represented in a major way.”
Vann hopes to make him and her entire city proud as she heads to Atlanta for filming, but knows it’s ultimately not in her hands.
“The only thing they can expect from me is however He sees fit to use me,” Vann said. “That’s what I’ll do.
