Yolanda Adams & Persia White Bring Gospel to the Penthouse: June 21
Yolanda Adams & Persia White bring gospel to the Penthouse!
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Praiseworthy - Gospel superstar Yolanda Adams enters the Penthouse to much rejoice! (Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Radio Saved My Life - Adams currently hosts her own radio show and admits that one of the most rewarding aspects of the show is when listeners call in letting her know that it was her music that helped save them.\r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Never Without a Gift - During their discussion Adams discussed purpose and why one should never feel that God has left them without a gift. “God builds you. He never tears you down. He builds you up. And he makes you happier and happier, if you allow him,” says Adams.\r \r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Return of Lynn Searcy! - Many will remember Persia White for playing the character Lynn Searcy on the hit sitcom Girlfriends. (Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Kindred Free Spirits?\r - White recalls her time on Girlfriends and the experience of playing Lynn Searcy. Her character was known for being a freespirit with a passion for the arts. “I have met so many people that go ‘I’m Lynn.’ And I’m like, ‘oh, well that says a lot about you,’” says the actress.\r \r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Inked\r - Little known fact: White has nine tattoos. She got one each season of Girlfriends. As Mo’Nique puts it, “When the money’s coming in you say ‘paint on me baby.’”\r \r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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A Musician at Heart\r - Much like the character Lynn, White is also an avid musician. Despite her interest, many labels wouldn’t allow her to record the music how she liked. “I wanted to do my own kind of expression and I turned down some record deals that were really pop, and it wasn’t what I was feeling in my soul,” she notes. \r \r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Undaunted\r - Despite running into problems, White still managed to stay involved with the music industry on the production end while she was doing Girlfriends. “So I just did music on the back burner. And I became a Pro Tools engineer. I produce. I do soundtrack music,” she stated.\r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Good Old Fashioned Improvisation\r - White showcased her ability to sing gospel when put on the spot by Mo’Nique. The phrase she had to sing? “Oldsmobile. Backseat. And it’s dark.” After a few claps, White made sure that the audience was feeling the Holy Spirit.\r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Broader Than Broadway - Director Kenny Leon steps into the Penthouse to discuss his lengthy career. He gained widestream recognition for his revival of A Raisin in the Sun on Broadway and has been a pioneering force in Black theater. (Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Making the Play\r - On casting Diddy as the lead in A Raisin in the Sun: “When you do a Broadway show you always have a marquee upfront. You got to have somebody in the show that’s going to sell tickets. And I talked to Diddy and I said ‘You’re going to have to come in and audition for this. You’ve got to read for it.’ He came in and read three times and when he finished I said, ‘You have all the instincts.’”\r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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Award-Winning Fences\r - In 2010, Leon worked with Denzel Washington for the revival of Fences. The production would be nominated for 10 Tony Awards--they won three.\r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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"Still" Hitting The Stage\r - Yolanda hits the stage to perform her new single, “Be Still.”\r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)
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What She Has Become\r - Adam’s latest album, Becoming, is in stores now!\r\r(Photo: Darnell Williams/BET)