The legendary Clark Sisters‘ untold life story is finally getting told. The biopic, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel will premiere Saturday, April 11, 8p.m. ET on cable TV’s Lifetime. The gospel music-filled film comes just in time for the big Christian holiday, Easter.
The film stars Aunjanue Ellis as the sisters’ mother, and the driving force behind the group’s early success, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel features Christina Bell as Twinkie, Kierra Sheard as her real life mother – Karen Clark Sheard, Sheléa Frazier as Dorinda Clark Cole, with Raven Goodwin as Denise Clark Bradford, and Angela Birchett as Jacky Clark Chisholm.
The featured actors also sing with fire and conviction the Clark Sisters’ classic songs in the film. Long time Clark Sisters music producer, Donald Lawrence worked with the actors/singers to make sure their vocals had that familial “Clark Sisters” signature sound.
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies Of Gospel (scene in church with their mom)
(L to R) Aunjanue Ellis stars as Mattie, Angela Birchett stars as Jacky, Sheléa Frazier stars as Dorinda, Kierra Sheard stars as Karen and Raven Goodwin stars as Denise in The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel premiering Saturday, April 11 at 8pm ET/PT.
Photo Courtesy of Lifetime. Copyright 2020
Directed by Christine Swanson, the teleplay was written by Camillle Tucker. The made for TV movie shows the complexities of the lives of the Grammy Award winning pioneering Clark Sisters. The Detroit born and raised siblings are credited with being the best-selling female gospel group of all time. The film tells their story from their beginning days singing in the church in the 1960s to the launch of their music career in Gospel and their subsequent cross over into the secular music world.
The movie also reveals the sisters’ struggles, from their strict upbringing and dealing with family issues, to combatting conflicts that arose as they navigated both the church, gospel and mainstream music industry. The group released a string of hits in the 1980s and 90s including crossover hits like “You Brought The Sunshine” and “Is My Living In Vain” along the way.
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel is executive produced by Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Holly Carter, Queen Latifah’s business partner – Shakim Compere, and Loretha Jones. Steve Solomos served as the drama’s producer.
Gospel fans will definitely love The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. And if you are not a fan, you just might become one after you see this move. Tune in Saturday night, April 11 at 8p.m. ET and let the story and the music of The Clark Sisters ignite a fire in your spirit this Easter.