Karen Clark Sheard Talks Being More Than a Singer; Reaching Club Culture With New Album (Interview)
Clark Sheard got her start in the industry with the Grammy award-winning gospel group that came back together to perform a powerful rendition of late gospel music pioneer Andraé Crouch's song "Where Jesus Is."
The moment was not planned, but was one that Clark Sheard names not only as a highlight of recording her album but an example of God's presence.
"That was very important to me because it's paying a tribute to one of the greats of gospel, the late great Andraé Crouch who has made such an awesome impact in the gospel industry and the world as welI. It was just awesome to see my sisters come up there; it just brought tears to my eyes," she told CP. "My mother told us God created us all to be one voice and then to come together and be spontaneous with our gift, which has been the anointing that God has given us.
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"To see them take that song and make it so crazy, then see my daughter do the same thing — this is what you call generational blessings."
Although recording Destined to Win proved to be a blessed experience for Clark Sheard, she did admit that there were challenges on the road to creating her sixth album. It has been five years since she released the record All in One and the singer has had to endure some trying times since then.
"I've had some physical challenges in the midst of trying to get this work done and trying to move forward with my career. But thank God the Lord has been there for me and upholds me. It was nothing that I went into the hospital for or anything, so I'm grateful," she told CP.
"Sometimes the small foxes can try to destroy things, but God brought me through it. I guess going through that, God gives me a testimony in telling someone else, 'push through your dreams, fight through it.'"
As she dealt with concerns over her physicial health, Clark Sheard said she also had to overcome the challenges she faced with her record label. But she didn't allow these obstibcles to defeat her aspiration to share what God had put on her heart to give to the world.
"Even though I've also had challenges regarding my record company, I kept going. I didn't stop, thanks to my support system, which is my husband and my family that just kept me going," she explained. "You can pray for something and expect it to come, but God will bring it a different way. It's just amazing how God has been showing His hand."
Another source of amazement for the four-time Grammy award winner was the amount of support she received on her latest body of work. The overwhelming amount of support has kept the singer motivated to create new music after over 40 years in the industry.
"I believe the one thing that stands out with this album is the support that I'm getting, it's amazing to me. I've gotten support over the years, but to be in the business this long and to see that people are still embracing the gift that God has given to me, I am humbly grateful," she added.
"Women go through changes, our voice changes, our body changes and you don't have the energy that you used to. To see the love we received on that night [of recording], that's what really stands out."
She added in her interview with CP that she hopes more than just fans of gospel music and church attendees will give her new album a chance. She wants to extend her voice beyond the walls of a sanctuary into the ears of people who need encouragement in the world.
"I pray that [the world] will see the gifts that God has given me and will be impacted. I'm talking about that other world, the world we haven't tapped in to — people who go to clubs and don't go to church," she said. "I have that experience of the presence of God in my life and I want them to have an experience from what God has created in me. That can impact somebody's life."
Karen Clark Sheard's album Destined to Win, which features Faith Evans, Donald Lawrence, The Clark Sisters, Kierra Sheard and production from her son, J. Drew Sheard II, is available wherever albums are sold.
For more information about the Karew Records/Entertainment One Music recording, contact Karen Clark Sheard on Twitter or Facebook.
