Kierra Sheard Discusses Family’s New Reality Show

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog

The Sheards premieres Sunday, April 7, 10P/9C on BET, following Celebration of Gospel.  The program moves to 8P/7C starting Sunday, April 14.  

TBGB chatted with gospel artist Kierra Sheard about Season One.

KS: A friend of ours, Lemuel Plummer, suggested the idea and he had some connections.  We’re glad for the opportunity and honored and humbled to be on BET, which is such a great network.  It will give us an opportunity to expand our brand but, most of all, expand our audience as it pertains to ministry.

KS: I was—until it started getting reckless!  But I was into Reverend Run’s show, and into T.I.’s show, as well.  For a minute, I got into Love And Hip Hop.  I was an absolute fan of Chrissy, so a lot of people will probably talk about me!

KS: It was natural, because it was me and my brother, and I’m always going to be me, especially when it’s family, but I was kind of shy and a little voiceless in the beginning.  During the first recording, it was weird, but as the episodes go on, the viewers will be able to tell that I warmed up.

KS: It was, but when you’ve been raised the same way, you are going to have disagreements.  He will always be my brother, and I convey that, and express that to him, on the show.  I’m not perfect, and I don’t mean to come off as judgmental, but sometimes you want something better for someone you love so much.  But at the same time, if this is a dream for my brother, or whoever is close to my heart, then I’m all for it, them living their dream, especially if they say God told them this is for them.  But you’ll see my mother going upside my brother’s head, you’ll see my father flipping out, like “Cut them cameras off!”  That was real! 

KS: Absolutely!  My father was saying that it is an opportunity to minster to other leaders in the church, for them to not neglect or abandon their children when they are not going in the way they want them to go.  For that time in their children’s life, it may seem like they are going in a different way, but rest assured, they will come back around.  On the show, you will see my father playing the role of Pastor and Bishop, but at the same time, he does not lose sight of being a father and a provider.

You’ll also see my mom playing all of these roles, wearing all of these hats.  You’ll see her as a legendary Clark Sister.  You’ll see her as the first lady and doing ministry.  Another hat she wears is Mommy.  And she can get down!  A lot of people think she’s too soft or too sweet, she’s just this singing angel.  No!  She will let her children have it, even though the both of us are bigger than her!

KS: I do, I hope so.  I love my city, especially downtown.  You’ll see some shots of our city.  It will show that we have praying people here, that we have kingdom building people here, as well as business savvy people here.  Detroitis coming up.  It’s not that bad.  It does have its problems, but what city doesn’t have problems? 

KS: I hope the show will allow people to see that not all church-going people are hypocrites.  Some of us are aiming to live like Christ.  You’ll see both the natural side and the spiritual side of all of us.  You can be hip, you can be fly, you can have fun, and you can see that having Christ in your life is the best thing that ever happened.

I would also like people to see that not all leaders in the church are just like, whatever, with their families.  There are some of us who still have strong marriages.  There are some of us who still have a strong union within our family.  I know the divorce rate is high, but there is still love in the kingdom.  I would also like the world to see that there are adults who are not compromising to live their dream but have standards and morals.  There are some of us who are actually about peace and not just promoting things for our generation. 

You will also see me as a young adult wrestling with my weight.  I would like young women to be encouraged to love themselves first, that it’s not what society is pushing you to do for the sake of image, but you should actually want to be healthy, for yourself. 

KS: There’s a lot of singing, there’s a lot of studio, there’s a lot of performances.  You’ll even hear some new music that will be on my new record.  It spills the beans about a lot of things happening behind the scenes.  My new record will even include a session with a legend.  When I heard that, I just cried.  I can’t leak the name just yet, but I am super excited about that.

The show brought some things out.  Reality TV can expose things to the individual about themselves.  The cameras are like a non-human counselor!  It was an interesting journey, and I grew from it.

For more information on The Sheards, visit www.bet.com.