Karen Clark-Sheard Reflects On Her New Album & Calling Beyond Music on the Terrell Show

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The Terrell Show has had its share of visits from gospel greats. Jonathan and Jason Nelson, DOE, Jonathan McReynolds, Zacardi Cortez, and more have all graced the signature blue wall. Most recently Karen Clark-Sheard stopped by to promote her newest album, “Still Karen.”

This is the singer’s second time being a guest on the popular YouTube channel. She previously visited in 2020 and has since built a relationship with the host. The pair affectionately addressed each other as “auntie” and “nephew” as they played Song Association. Clark-Sheard sang snippets of gospel classics “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Just Another Day,” “I Won’t Complain,” and “More Than Anything,” along with two of her hit songs, “There is a balm in Gilead” and “We Acknowledge You.”

Clark-Sheard, 63, showed her appreciation for the platform and thanked Terrell for embracing the older generation of gospel music and stars. “Thank you for believing in old girls. You and your generation. It encourages us to know that we’re still relevant,” she shared.

The two dished about the fresh sound she embraced for her fifth studio album which adds to that relevancy. “Still Karen” features funky, R&B powered tunes like “I Like It,” “Make A Way,” “I Won’t Complain,” and “Look At Me.” The five time Grammy award winner partnered with famous producers Pharrell and J.Moss, and her children J. Drew and Kierra Sheard, to bring the project to life.

Released this past August, this album is the singer/songwriter’s first in almost a decade. Her complete solo discography includes “Destined to Win” (2015), “All In One” (2010), “It’s Not Over” (2006), “The Heavens Are Telling” (2003), “2nd Chance” (2002), and “Finally Karen” (1997).

Before embarking on her solo career, Karen Clark-Sheard was one-fourth of the famous gospel quartet, The Clark Sisters. The group, formed by their mother, the late Dr. Mattie Moss-Clark, is a world-renowned entity. With 16 albums to their credit, three Grammy wins, and a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Clark Sisters reign as the highest-grossing female gospel group of our time. In 2020, Lifetime premiered a biographical film about their upbringing, rise to stardom, and legacy called “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.”

As the quiet, youngest sibling, Clark-Sheard admitted to Terrell that she was apprehensive about stepping out on her own. “That [first album release] was lifechanging for me. I was very nervous, I was used to [having] my sisters [and] falling back on them. My big sister, Jackie, told me, “God put you out there now. You’re always being quiet, relying on us. Now God took us away from you and you got to get out there by yourself and talk,” said Clark-Sheard.

The First Lady of Church of God in Christ is glad she stepped out on faith. However, she wants her impact to go beyond a song. “It’s more than just people seeing you on stage and in church and singing. I thank God for the gift to sing but my main objective is to reach somebody.”