BET's "Sunday Best" on June 13, 2010: A Recap

The June 13, 2010, episode of BET's gospel singing competition Sunday Best opened with a bang with singer Ledisi giving a vocally packed performance of her song "Higher Than This." Ledisi was lovely on the stage. Her wardrobe consisted of light wash denim jeans with a highly tapered leg coupled with a sequined black jacket over a black top. Several ropes of black beads were wrapped around her neck and her hair was crafted into a slight and very sleek Mohawk. A great way to kick off the program.

The judges were introduced, and then both contestants were brought out as the show's prizes were announced. Kirk Franklin even pulled out the key to the 2010 Ford Taurus given away as a prize on the show and then led them to a side-stage to view the actual Taurus they would win.

After the first musical guest, the contestants each performed a song. Elder Goldwire McClendon took the stage in a white sport jacket and dark pants to perform a soulful rendition of the classic Christian song "I Know It Was the Blood", a song popularized by one of the most famous Christian singers of all time, Mahalia Jackson. Throughout his performance Elder McClendon was moving, vital, and energetic despite operating within a fairly small area of the stage, a testament to the passion he felt during his performance.

Judge Tina Campbell commented "I ain't never heard that song with finesse like that..." and gave the overall performance resounding praise while judge Donnie McClurkin agreed that Elder McClendon "commanded the stage from that one spot." Yolanda Adams, also a judge on Sunday Best, concurred that the stage presence of Elder McClendon is powerful and that she "loves that fact that you [Elder McClendon] love singing."

LeAndria Johnson's first song of the night was "Running Back to You". She took the stage in a silver drape dress capped off with a wide black belt fitted at the waist. Her version of the song was magnificent. Judges McClurkin and Campbell stood up throughout her performance while Yolanda Adams sung along while remaining enraptured in her chair. Every judge complemented LeAndria on her performance and stated how they felt the authenticity of her worship within her song.

In the interim between each contestants first performance and second, a closer look was given to the city of New Orleans, the location where Sunday Best is film. The Sunday Best crew visited the Musician's Village in New Orleans' 9th Ward, previously devastated by hurricane Katrina. In this time gap, Vanessa Bell Armstrong performed "Good News" on the Sunday Best stage. It was a wonderful way to highlight the midpoint of the show, and this musical legend commanded the stage and the audience while simultaneously uplifting them.

"Jesus Be a Fence Around Me" was Elder McClendon's second song of the night. He did a stellar job and brought a humongous amount of energy and life to his rendition. Yolanda Adams commented that he had been "blessed" with a variety of gifts. McClurkin described him as "remarkable" and Tina Cambpell declared Goldwire McClendon " a winner."

LeAndria Johnson's second performance of the night was of the song "Set Me Free". Johnson took to the stage in a white dress with a slightly flared skirt covered with a waist-length beige jacket. From almost the first note of her performance, the Sunday Best audience was moving. All three judges were on their feet and feeling the music and energy of Johnson's vocals.

When the musical dust cleared, Tina Campbell compared LeAndria Johnson's style to Aretha Franklin, Shirley Caesar, and Mary J. Blige stating "every time you come on the stage you leave your soul on the stage" while Yolanda Adams called Johnson "the full package." Judge Donnie McClurkin asked of the contestant "What song can't you sing?" while commending her for pouring her heart into all of her performances.

As the Sunday Best episode came into the last few minutes, LeAndria Johnson and Elder Goldwire McClendon combined their vocal talent for a duet of the classic song "I'll Take You There." Both contestants looked fantastic with Elder McClendon dressed in a refined suit and LeAndria in a blue evening gown. Each contestant owned the song, and both were solid vocal complements to one another. When the final voting calls were sent out, it was hard to envision a decided winner. The next and final episode of Sunday Best will air on Sunday, June 20th at 8:00 pm EST/7:00 pm CST on the BET network.

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BET TV Schedule: http://www.bet.com/OnTV/Schedule/