Shari Addison

Shari Addison captured the hearts of millions who cried, cheered, and sang along with her on BET’s Sunday Best. The first runner-up on the premiere broadcast of the program, a gospel version of American Idol, Addison wowed audiences week after week with her powerful, gut-wrenching performances while winning countless fans along the way.

The Chicago native recorded her debut album Shari Addison with the help of gospel music giants Percy Bady, Kevin Bond, Donald Lawrence, and Daniel Weatherspoon, who lent their songwriting pens and production talents to the project. Addison blends traditional, contemporary, urban, and inspirational gospel on this solid 10-track release.

Addison honed her vocal chops in church. She began singing at age three, assisted by her mother Mary J. Jenkins, minister of music for Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago. Although Addison’s ambition was only to sing backup, she says that she always found herself in the foreground. An accomplished vocalist and theatre actress, Shari Addison is no stranger to the stage. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and in South Africa, Russia, and Brazil. An encounter at an audition with BET put her on the path to fame. Hosted by gospel icon Kirk Franklin, with guest judges Mary Mary and BeBe Winans, the show’s participants were chosen at nationwide auditions as the network searched for the best undiscovered talent in America.

Since her first appearance on BET’s Sunday Best, doors opened for Addison with appearances on both BET’s Celebration of Gospel and Bobby Jones Gospel, among other programs. She has been blessed to sing with Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Dottie Peoples, Martha Munizzi, BeBe Winans, Mary Mary, Michael McDonald, Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp, and Stephanie Mills.