Hello World,

On the heels of the major success of the recent Lifetime TV original movie The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, Kierra Sheard is celebrating yet another impressive accolade:  Her self-titled album KIERRA (Karew Entertainment / RCA Inspiration) is  #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album’s chart, #1 on Billboard’s Top Christian/Gospel albums chart, and #2 on Billboard’s Top 200 Christian & Gospel Consumption chart! Released on April 17^th, KIERRA has knocked the longstanding #1 Jesus Is King out of the top position, and has garnered more than 3 million streams in its first week.

The album includes 15-tracks with sounds ranging from Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Gospel, and features some live recorded songs which Kierra performed before a sold out crowd in her hometown of Detroit, MI. Demonstrating her lyricism, Kierra either wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks on the album including the beautiful ballad “Grateful,” the authentic and raw “Human,” and “Better.” Assisted by a dynamic team, KIERRA features production from her frequent collaborators, Harmony “H-Money” Samuels and her brother J. Drew Sheard, as well as songwriters Mia Fieldes, Varren Wade, Edgar “JV” Etienne, Justin Brooks and rising Chicago artist Sir the Baptist. In addition to Missy Elliott and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the album features vocals from other star Gospel Artists Todd Dulaney,  Le’Andria Johnson and Kierra’s nephew Jacob Sheard.

See Kierra’s jubilant Instagram post below:

 

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God is faithful. Bitter sweet moment. I just wish I could tell my Nanna! I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I don’t take it lightly. Grateful for you all! Love you! Thank you! #NewMusic #KeepStreamingPlease @karewent @rcainspiration #itkeepsHappening

A post shared by Kierra Sheard (@kierrasheard) on Apr 27, 2020 at 1:44pm PDT

However, as you can see, Kierra mentioned that she wishes she could tell her happy news to her Nanna. Her grandmother on her father’s side, Willie Mae Sheard, 84, passed away on April 19 due to COVID-19 complications. (Read an excellent article about her grandmother HERE.) Kierra had revealed on Good Morning America that both of her grandparents were sick with COVID-19 at the beginning of this month. See her touching post about her grandmother below.

 

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Whoa. This hurts. Either I’m crying or I’m sleep (unless I’m around loved ones) hoping I’d see you there. Writing about you, and watching videos of you, has helped me. At first I didn’t understand. However, I begin to walk through the days of when I’d come and see you. I’d always ask, “how do you feel?” Because only a few days out of more, you’d say, “I don’t feel good.” I’d often try and blame it on malpractice. I asked a natural medicine doctor to come and see about you. I tried to find a solution. I find you, in me because you always wanted to have an answer for people you loved. However, I didn’t like how much you’d say “I don’t feel good.” I’ve asked God, “why now?”. But these things have been my answer. You were tired of not feeling well and I was tired of not having an answer to help you. It broke me apart seeing you in such pain. I also remember seeing your adoration for the Lord. I didn’t see you do anything contrary to God’s way of life. You’d put on and be strong for us during family dinners and church events, but I could tell, you didn’t feel good. You were so strong. You often saying, “you can have this/that when I’m gone…” bothered us so much; but you always had a peace when insinuating that there’s another place of interest. As believers, to be absent from the body and present with the Lord is the ultimate goal. This heaven bound understanding walks us through something so painful with such peace. We prayed and prayed and asked God to heal you, but I’m led to believe that you were ready to tap out of this earthen life. I’ve been challenged to not be selfish but to be selfless and accept God allowing your promised rest. So, I’m still trusting God and seeing that He gave you the years promised (Psalm 90:10) and 14 more years of life with us. But if I reflect on the good things, you lived a good life. What makes it hard, is having to grasp the fact that I won’t see you anymore; until we meet again. I’m even more determined to live like Christ so that I can talk to you again. I love you. I find that I act just like you and I’ll forever remember your lessons. Rest well Nanna. No more days of not feeling good. I’ll miss you.

A post shared by Kierra Sheard (@kierrasheard) on Apr 24, 2020 at 5:02pm PDT

See what Kierra’s mother Karen Clark Sheard, who Kierra portrayed in the movie, posted about her mother-in-law below.

 

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Thank you everyone for your prayers and your heartfelt condolences. Thank you for your uplifting acts of kindness and overwhelming support during this challenging time. It has truly encouraged us all. Our dear mother will truly be missed but never forgotten.

A post shared by Karen Clark Sheard (@karenclarksheard) on Apr 25, 2020 at 6:33pm PDT

As Kierra said, she is experiencing a bittersweet moment in life…Congratulations to her and her family on her success, and I pray that her and her family will be comforted as they grieve the loss of their precious matriarch.

Any thoughts?