The Evolution of Kierra "Kiki" Sheard
From preacher's daughter to gospel trailblazer.
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Evolution of Kierra "Kiki" Sheard - Kiki Sheard was born into gospel. The Detroit native, 26, got her start singing for the Greater Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, where her father was a pastor, and later sang backup for her mother, Karen Clark Sheard, a member of famed gospel group the Clark Sisters. (Photo: Royce DeGrie/Getty Images for GMC TV)
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Momma's Girl - Kiki borrows her vocal style from her mother, Karen, a gospel pioneer and founding member of the Clark Sisters. The young prodigy made her professional debut at age 10, on Karen's album Finally Karen. (Photo: Frederick Brown/Getty Images)
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She's a Winner - The young star's talents were recognized by the community from a very young age. Kiki won her first Stellar Award in 1998 for Best Children's Performance for "The Will of God." (Photo: Quantrell Colbert/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Quantrell Colbert/Getty Images
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Diva-in-Training - As a pre-teen, Kiki got invaluable stage training by performing and touring with her mother, Karen Clark Sheard, and the Clark Sisters. (Photo: John Shearer/WireImage)
Photo By Photo: John Shearer/WireImage
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Power Moves - After years of singing backup and touring with her family, Kiki struck out on her own by signing her first solo recording contract. After several labels competed for her talent, EMI Gospel won the bidding war and signed Kiki in 2003. (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Stellar Awards)
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I Owe You (2004) - With EMI and producer Rodney Jerkins, Kiki released her debut album, I Owe You, in 2004. The 11-track record brought fresh new energy into gospel and earned critical raves. On "War," Kiki brought her little brother, Drew Sheard, into the family business. The 14-year-old produced and co-wrote the track. (Photo: EMI Records)
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Huge in Japan - Already a sensation on the gospel scene at home, Kiki found an unexpected fan following in Japan when a remix of "Let Go" flew to the top of the R&B charts there. (Photo: BenRose/PictureGroup)
Photo By Photo: BenRose/PictureGroup
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Golden Girl - Kiki hit a career milestone in 2007 when her sophomore album, This Is Me, was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Contemporary Gospel Album category. That same year she paid homage to one of her heroes by performing with her mother at A Tribute to Aretha Franklin. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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Life Story - In 2010, Kiki landed a small part in the film Preacher's Kid, about a small-town preacher's daughter with dreams of stardom. Though former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett played the title role, we're sure she got plenty of insight into her character from Kiki! (Photo: Epidemic Pictures)