Karen Clark Sheard

Karen Valencia Clark Sheard is an American gospel singer and songwriter. Clark-Sheard is the youngest member of gospel group the Clark Sisters, which was formed in 1973. She is also the mother of contemporary gospel singer and actress Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, with whom she frequently collaborates. She has released six solo albums and 17 with the Clark Sisters.
During the hiatus of the Clark Sisters, Clark-Sheard recorded her debut studio album Finally Karen, which spawned the single, "Balm in Gilead" the R&B-tinged singles "Just for Me" and "Nothing Without You". Finally Karen was among the highest-selling gospel albums of that year, and earned Clark-Sheard a Grammy Award nomination and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for "Best Female Vocalist".
Clark-Sheard then was hospitalized in 2001 after a blood vessel burst during a bariatric surgery, resulting in doctors giving her a 2% chance of survival. The experience inspired the title for her second album, 2nd Chance. Clark-Sheard recorded two more live albums—The Heavens Are Telling and It's Not Over —before releasing All in One, her second studio album. It debuted at number two on the Billboard Gospel Chart and entered the Billboard 200, while its single "Prayed Up" peaked at number nine on the Gospel Songs chart.
Singers Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Faith Evans have named Clark Sheard and her sister Twinkie Clark as musical influences.

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Biography

Early life and education

Clark-Sheard was born Karen Valencia Clark on November 15, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan, the youngest child of Reverend Elbert Clark and Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a gospel choral director. The youngest of six children, Clark-Sheard's siblings are Leo, Jacky, Denise, Elbernita "Twinkie" and Dorinda. Clark-Sheard began singing gospel with her sisters at age 5 in what became known as the Clark Sisters. For high school, Clark-Sheard attended Mumford High School in Detroit, Michigan, graduating in 1978.

Career

Debut album

Clark-Sheard's involvement in the Island Inspirational All Stars' "Don't Give Up" in 1996 led to her signing with Island Records. Clark-Sheard's solo career began with the release of her debut album Finally Karen in 1997. The album, consisting of half studio recordings and half live recordings, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 1998, won Clark-Sheard the Lady of Soul award for Best Gospel Album that same year and peaked at No. 28 and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and U.S. Billboard Gospel Albums charts respectively.

''2nd Chance''

After Yolanda Adams, Clark-Sheard became the 2nd gospel artist to sign to Elektra Records. She released her Elektra debut album 2nd Chance in 2002. The album was led off by the single "Be Sure". The album reached No. 82 on the U.S. Billboard 200, No. 27 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Albums.

''The Heavens Are Telling''

The 2003 follow-up The Heavens Are Telling came when Elektra Records was being dissolved into Atlantic Records, and failed to match the commercial success of Clark-Sheard's previous albums, peaking 106 places below 2nd Chance at No. 188 on the U.S. Billboard 200 – though it managed to reach No. 44 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, a high No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Albums chart and was her first album to chart on the U.S. Billboard Christian Albums chart, where it peaked at No. 11.

''It's Not Over''

In 2005, after a bidding war with several labels, Clark-Sheard signed with Word Records and issued It's Not Over, the sequel to her 1997 debut album Finally Karen was set to be released November 15, 2005, Clark-Sheard's 45th birthday, but was delayed and released the following year. Most of It's Not Over was recorded in 2005 at Karen's home church in Detroit, Michigan, while the last three tracks were studio-recorded.
It was Clark-Sheard's first solo album not to feature guest vocals from her daughter and was the first to include production from Israel Houghton – who handled the majority of the project. It charted at No. 124 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. As the songwriter, on February 10, 2008, Clark-Sheard won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song for "Blessed & Highly Favored" sung by the Clark Sisters.

Karew Records, fifth album and present

In early 2009, Clark-Sheard and her husband, J.Drew Sheard, partnered together and launched a new record label entitled Karew Records ; Distribution is via EMI Gospel. The Clark Sisters' Christmas album – which was released in October 2009 – was the first project to be released from Karew Records.
On January 31, 2010, Clark-Sheard won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance for Wait on the Lord which she was featured with Donnie McClurkin. On April 6, 2010, Clark-Sheard released her fifth album titled All in One, which features additional vocals from her daughter Kierra Sheard, son J. Drew Sheard II, sister Dorinda Clark Cole, niece Angel Chisholm and cousin J. Moss. Her first all-studio-recorded album since her 2002 release 2nd Chance, All in One debuted and peaked at No. 98 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Albums chart, while the album's lead single – "Prayed Up" – peaked at No. 9 and stayed over 22 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart. Clark-Sheard released her latest single "Sunday A.M" in 2014, which was nominated for the Best Gospel Song in the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
In 2015, Clark-Sheard released her sixth album, Destined to Win. The album would become Clark-Sheard's highest charting and fastest selling album in her solo career, as well as her first live album since It's Not Over in 2006.
In 2019, Clark-Sheard was in talks to play Kitty Parham, a member of the Famous Ward Singers in Aretha Franklin's biopic Respect.
Karen was portrayed by her daughter, Kierra Sheard in the Lifetime TV biopic The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, released April 11, 2020.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Clark-Sheard married Bishop J. Drew Sheard, a Detroit-based minister, on June 16, 1984. Clark-Sheard serves as the First Lady of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit, where her husband is senior pastor. In March 2021, Bishop Sheard was elected to serve as the Presiding Bishop of the COGIC denomination, thus making her the First Lady of the COGIC denomination at-large as well. Together they have two children: Kierra "Kiki" Sheard-Kelly and John Drew "J. Drew" Sheard II. Another pregnancy ended in a stillbirth.

Health

In 2001, Clark-Sheard was faced with a life-threatening crisis when a blood vessel burst during a scheduled bariatric surgery. Her doctors gave her only a 2% chance of survival. After the blood clot was surgically removed, Clark-Sheard fell into a coma. The coma lasted around 3 1/2 weeks but Clark-Sheard says she made a miraculous recovery. Kierra Sheard explains this situation in her song "You Don't Know" from her debut album I Owe You.

Tours and concerts

The Clark Sisters: Bringing It Back Home
Finally Karen
The Clark Sisters: Live One Last Time Tour
Festival of Praise
McDonald's Celebration of Gospel
The Clark Sisters Virtual Experience
The Reunion Tour
The Reunion Tour 2024

Filmography

1983 Gospel
2010 Blessed & Cursed
2011–2012 Church Girl
2012 For Richer or Poorer
2013 "The Sheards"
2013 "BET Celebration of Gospel"
2014 "The BET Honors"
2017 "Xscape: Still Kickin It"
2020 The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
2021 Miracles Across 125th Street
2021 ''Song and Story: Amazing Grace''

Discography

Studio albums

Finally Karen 2nd Chance The Heavens Are Telling It's Not Over All in One Destined to Win

''Still Karen''

Awards

BET Awards

The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Karen Clark Sheard has received 3 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
2008	Best Gospel Artist	The Clark Sisters	Nomitated
2011	Best Gospel Artist	Herself	Nomitated
2020	Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award	"Victory"	Nomitated

Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Clark Sheard has won 4 awards from 13 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1983	Inspirational Black Gospel Album of the Year	Sincerely	Nomitated
1987	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	Heart & Soul
1995	Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Amazing Grace"	Nomitated
2007	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	It's Not Over	Won
2007	Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Favor"	Nomitated
2008	Artist of the Year	The Clark Sisters	Nomitated
2008	Group of the Year	The Clark Sisters	Nomitated
2008	Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Blessed and Highly Favored"	Nomitated
2008	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	Live – One Last Time	Nomitated
2011	Urban Recorded Song of the Year	"He Knows"	Nomitated
2020	Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Victory"	Nomitated
2020	Inspirational Film of the Year	The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel	Nomitated
2020	Traditional Gospel Album of the Year	The Return	Won
2025	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	Still Karen
2025	Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Yes"	Won

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Karen Clark Sheard has won 5 awards from 13 nominations, including a Lifetime Achievement award.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1983	Sincerely	Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group	Nomitated
1987	Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus	Heart & Soul	Nomitated
1988	Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus	Conqueror	Nomitated
1990	Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album	Bringing it Back Home	Nomitated
1999	Best Contemporary Gospel Soul Album	Finally Karen	Nomitated
2007	Best Gospel Performance	"Blessed & Highly Favored"
2007	Best Gospel Song	"Blessed & Highly Favored"
2007	Best Traditional Gospel Album	Live: One Last Time
2009	Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals	"Higher Ground"	Nomitated
2009	Best Gospel Performance	"Wait on the Lord"	Won
2010	Best Traditional Gospel Album	All In One	Nomitated
2015	Best Gospel Performance/Song	"Sunday A.M. "	Nomitated
2016	Best Gospel Album	Destined To Win	Nomitated
2024	Best Gospel Performance/Song	"God is Good"	Nomitated
2024	Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award	The Clark Sisters
2025	Best Gospel Album	Still Karen	Nomitated

NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Clark Sheard has won 2 awards from 8 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1983	Outstanding Gospel Artist	The Clark Sisters	Won
1989	Outstanding Gospel Artist	The Clark Sisters	Nomitated
2020	Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Traditional or Contemporary	"Victory"	Nomitated
2021	Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album	The Return	Won
2024	Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration	"God Is Good"	Nomitated
2025	Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album	Still Karen	Nomitated
2026	Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration	"Jesus I Do"
2026	Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song	"Jesus I Do"

Soul Train Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Karen Clark Sheard has won 1 award from 5 nominations.

Stellar Awards

The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Karen Clark Sheard has received 12 awards and 2 honorary awards.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1999	Female Vocalist of the Year	Finally Karen	Won
1999	Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year	Finally Karen	Won
1999	Album of the Year	Finally Karen	Nomitated
1999	Contemporary Album of the Year	Finally Karen	Nomitated
1999	Music Video of the Year	Finally Karen	Won
2004	Female Vocalist of the Year	2nd Chance	Nomitated
2004	Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year	2nd Chance	Nomitated
2004	Contemporary CD of the Year	2nd Chance	Nomitated
2005	Song of the Year	"We Acknowledge You"	Nomitated
2005	CD of the Year	The Heavens Are Telling	Nomitated
2005	Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year	The Heavens Are Telling	Nomitated
2007	Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year	It's Not Over	Nomitated
2007	The Chevrolet Most Notable Achievement Award	The Clark Sisters
2008	CD of the Year	Live... One Last Time	Won
2008	Artist of the Year	Live... One Last Time	Won
2008	Group or Duo of the Year	Live... One Last Time	Won
2008	Traditional Group/Duo of the Year	Live... One Last Time	Won
2008	Song of the Year	"Blessed and Highly Favored"	Nomitated
2009	Special Event CD of the Year	Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters	Won
2010	Special Event CD of the Year	Silky Soul Music... An All-Star Tribute to Maze	Won
2011	Female Vocalist of the Year	All In One	Won
2011	Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year	All In One	Nomitated
2016	Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year	Destined To Win	Nomitated
2020	James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award	The Clark Sisters
2021	Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year	The Return	Won
2021	Duo/Group Chorus of the Year	The Return	Nomitated
2021	Traditional Duo/Group Chorus of the Year	Gospel According to PJ	Won
2025	Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year	Still Karen	Nomitated
2025	Producer of the Year	Still Karen	Nomitated
2025	Contemporary Album of the Year	Still Karen	Nomitated