REVIEWS
“He’ll Make It Alright” – The Mighty Golden Wonders
“He’ll Make It Alright”
The Mighty Golden Wonders
From the project, He’ll Make It Alright (2024)
facebook.com/themightygoldenwonders
By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

The Mighty Golden Wonders don’t waste any time getting their message across. In under three minutes, they urge listeners in the title track of their CD to trust God and in due time, “He’ll Make It Alright.”
The recording itself has an organic feel — like being allowed to listen in while the Mighty Golden Wonders take us to church from a garage off a winding dirt road in Mississippi, except that the group’s origins date back 48 years to Warren, OH. This unpolished sound is punctuated by the song’s simple structure and Frankie Yates’ gritty lead along with the background singers’ understated yet harmonic vocals. In a time when much of today’s Black gospel quartet music is cluttered with over-produced arrangements that bands would never replicate in a live set, the musical accompaniment here is stripped down to just bass, lead guitar, a drum kit, and occasional keys.
“He’ll Make It Alright” evokes nostalgia for the “good old days” of the subgenre, when simplicity and message took center stage. Having celebrated nearly five decades of singing and traveling this year, I feel certain The Mighty Golden Wonders know a thing or two about those days.
“Walk On Walker” – Faithful of Milton, NC
“Walk On Walker”
Faithful (October 2023)
Facebook: Faithful of Milton, NC

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
Milton, North Carolina’s Faithful delivers a compelling message in their single “Walk On Walker,” produced by Antwon Timmons of Perfect Peace Music. Lead vocalist Danny Stewart encourages listeners to rise above negativity and gossip, drawing parallels to the unwarranted criticism faced by Jesus Christ.
While Faithful is rooted in traditional gospel, they could stride confidently down to a blues or soul festival with the music and message of “Walk On Walker” and leave a memorable impression.
NEWS
CeCe Winans returns to ‘American Idol’ for ABC Easter Special

LOS ANGELES, CA — American Idol is celebrating Easter with a special three-hour “Songs of Faith” episode, airing Sunday, April 20, at 8|7c on ABC. Gospel music icon CeCe Winans is set to deliver a soul-stirring performance.
Winans returns to the Idol stage following her critically acclaimed performance last season, which became one of the most-watched moments of the year across social platforms and streaming. The overwhelming audience response made her an easy choice to return for this year’s Easter celebration.
The 17-time Grammy-winning vocalist will be joined by American Idol alumnus Roman Collins, Jelly Roll, Brandon Lake, and The Brown Four for an unforgettable night of uplifting music, spiritual inspiration, and powerhouse performances.
In addition to the star-studded guest lineup, judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan will each step away from the judging panel to perform songs that reflect their personal faith and musical roots.
With its heartwarming blend of talent and testimony, the American Idol Easter Special promises to be a moving celebration of faith, hope, and the power of music to bring people together.
John P. Kee to be honored at 2025 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards

(ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 26, 2025) BMI will celebrate the songwriters and publishers behind the year’s best in Gospel at the 2025 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, held at Flourish Atlanta on Thursday, April 3rd. World-renowned Gospel music pioneer and pastor John P. Kee will be honored as a Trailblazer of Gospel in recognition of his award-winning career spanning over 40 years.
Throughout the ceremony, BMI will also recognize the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year’s 25 most-performed Gospel songs in the United States. The BMI Gospel Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will also be named during the inspirational gathering. The private event will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.
“John P. Kee is a true visionary in the genre, and his music continues to have an impact in Gospel music for over forty years and counting. It’s an honor to recognize his dedication and the unwavering commitment he’s made through his artistry and evangelism,” said Brewton. “We’re extremely excited to come together and celebrate his legacy and incredible accomplishments and proudly honor all of our award-winning songwriters and publishers for a special afternoon of great music and fellowship.”
John P. Kee, known as the “Prince of Gospel Music,” is a prolific multiple award-winning singer/songwriter and beloved pastor who is widely recognized for his contributions to contemporary Gospel music. Kee’s musical talents were discovered at an early age where after feeling inspired by the music heard in church, he began playing piano and writing songs at only eight years old. In the mid 1980’s, he started a community choir in Charlotte that eventually became known as the widely celebrated New Life Community Choir (NLCC).
Over the course of his professional career spanning almost four decades he has written music for Hallmark, Inc., The Hawkins Family, Daryl Coley, Billy Preston, Dorinda Clark Cole, Rev. James Cleveland, Bishop Rance Allen, Florida Mass Choir, Mississippi Mass Choir, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and for the legendary Dr. James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America, among others. His music has been featured in film, television, commercials and on Saturday Night Live. Throughout his solo career and his work with NLCC, he has amassed 37 GMWA Excellence Awards, 27 Stellar Awards, three BMI Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, a Trailblazer Award from former President Bill Clinton and received seven GRAMMY nominations. Adding to his tremendous list of accolades, Kee was inducted into the International Gospel Hall of Fame in 2005 and was previously honored at the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards in 2001 and 2005.
In addition to being one of Gospel music’s greatest pioneers, Pastor Kee has been the full-time pastor of the New Life Fellowship Center in Charlotte, NC since its inception in 1995. Through non-traditional outreach that transcends the four walled structure, the church’s unique approach to ministry has resulted in a rapidly growing, thriving congregation.
INTERVIEWS
Aaron Cole on music, ministry & fatherhood

At just 25 years old, Aaron Cole has already carved out a path for himself in Christian hip-hop. From his beginnings in Bristol, VA, where he got his musical start at age four, to being signed by TobyMac as a teenager, Cole’s résumé includes scoring three #1 singles and making history as the first Christian hip-hop artist to win the Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. Now based in Nashville and with two Dove Awards under his belt and a Stellar Award nomination, Cole has entered a profoundly personal chapter of his artistic journey.
The release of his third album, Sorry, I Changed, and its deluxe edition showcased Cole’s ability to bridge generations through collaborations with industry greats Kirk Franklin and Kierra Sheard. Now, his three-song bundle OMARI—featuring Tauren Wells on “One Reason”—marks more than just another musical milestone. It represents a season of deep personal transformation. Becoming a first-time father to his son Omari in late October has infused his music with new depth and vulnerability. In this candid Q&A with GMF Editor-in-Chief Libra Boyd, he opens up about fatherhood, faith, and the beautiful, unexpected ways life continues to reshape his artistry.
Libra: Congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your son, Omari!
It is apparent to me that becoming a father to Omari has profoundly influenced your recent music. How has preparing for and welcoming your son transformed your songwriting as well as your perspective on faith, creativity, and purpose?
Aaron: I feel like I’ve changed so much in the past few months. However, having Omari has made music honestly even more fun. It’s made me think about my legacy more and consider the things I’m saying even more because one day, when I’m long gone, he’s going to have my discography to listen to and learn things about me that he might not have even known. So I like to share more stories, and I like to think about how my music is impacting the listener even more now—whether it’s joy, relatability, praise, worship, or whatever it may be. It feels like a fresh wind.
Libra: Reflecting on your journey from a 4 year-old to a present-day 25 year-old Dove Award winner with three #1 singles, talk about how your understanding of music as a form of personal expression and ministry has evolved from then to now.
Aaron: When I was just starting, I feel like all I cared about was reaching people’s hearts for God. As you start to grow and become successful, something I learned is that it gets hard to keep going because of all the pressure that comes with success. Sales, elevation, and growth become factors, when at first all you cared about was reaching people and making great music. What I try to do is get back to the younger me every time I make a new project. It gets hard, but you’ve got to remember why you do what you do, and that’s what keeps the joy and the love for the art and the people in it.
Libra: Your collaboration with artists like Kirk Franklin and Kierra Sheard suggests a deep respect for musical legacy. Who are the artists—within and outside of Christian hip-hop—that have most notably shaped your artistic voice and spiritual path?
Aaron: For sure. Those were dreams that came true for me. I grew up listening to both of their music. I feel like they, along with Mali Music, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Tye Tribbett, and I’m sure a few others, have shaped me on this journey. Tye is probably the only one I grew up listening to that I haven’t worked with yet, so I’m looking forward to that happening one day. It’s a blessing to work with people you’ve admired throughout your life journey.
Libra: The title of your third album, Sorry, I Changed, feels like a powerful statement about personal growth. We’d love to hear about the specific experiences or moments that inspired you to create it.
Aaron: The whole concept is that real life changes you, God changes you, life changes you. A lot of the songs talk about the struggles of life and the things we go through, and some of the songs reflect the hopeful side of things—how we have faith because of God that we’re going to make it through the challenges we face in our everyday lives. When you change and the people around you feel that change, you sometimes actually feel remorse. The Bible talks about change all the time—fishermen becoming fishers of men, being transformed by the renewing of your mind—and if God wasn’t changing us and taking us somewhere, we wouldn’t need a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Ultimately, it’s also the gospel, because when you meet God, your life changes completely. And last but not least, when I made Sorry, I Changed, there were just so many changes in my life. It was my first year married, my first year on a new label—a lot of things had actually changed in my life. So I just feel like the title is so fitting for the season I’m in right now.
Libra: Christian hip-hop often navigates complex spaces between artistic authenticity and spiritual messaging. How do you approach creating music that feels genuine to both your artistic vision and your faith?
Aaron: I think, for me, it’s just about being honest. I’m honest about my struggles, I’m honest about my wins, and I’m also honest about my relationship with God. I think being honest about my journey with God helps me navigate the complex things I have to handle when making music.
Libra: Your music seems to bridge generational and genre gaps—working with established artists while bringing a fresh perspective to Christian hip-hop. What do you see as the most exciting opportunities and challenges for your generation of artists?
Aaron: I think the most exciting thing is being able to present God to my generation and others in a new way. I feel like it’s amazing that being honest about my struggles and my relationship with God can inspire someone else on their journey. The challenges, I feel, definitely come from the industry and the standards of what it actually means to make music for God. It feels like I’m breaking barriers every day in this genre. So I’m looking forward to seeing how the sacrifices affect the genre and impact the culture.

Libra: OMARI is your new, deeply personal three-song project—it’s named after your son. Beyond the music, what are the life lessons you hope to eventually share with Omari about faith and finding one’s path?
Aaron: I’m honestly just super excited to walk with him on his journey through life, whatever it may be. It’s going to be exciting to see what he gravitates toward and becomes passionate about. I just want to share with him that anything is possible with God and hard work and that being patient and operating in God’s peace in any circumstance will go a long way.
Libra: If your musical journey to date could tell a story to listeners, what narrative would you want them to hear—and how does the OMARI project represent the next chapter of that unfolding story?
Aaron: I say this all the time, but I want people to be inspired in every way when they listen to my music. I make music for everyone with a dream like me—sitting in class, sitting at work, wishing your dream would come true. People said you’d never be anything because of your circumstances, where you’re from, etc. But God says something different about us, and God has a plan for all His children.
A Conversation with Melvin Crispell, III: ‘There is no failure in God’
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Melvin Crispell, III has emerged in gospel music as a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer with fervor that resonates with the soul.
Since winning the ninth season of BET’s Sunday Best in 2019, the 26 year-old’s musical journey has been one in which faith, resilience, and the joy of ministry intertwine. His late parents, Melvin Crispell, Jr. and Tunesha Crispell, were celebrated in the gospel industry as a composer and singer, respectively. His father worked with James Hall & Worship and Praise and wrote for Bishop Hezekiah Walker, among others. His mother was a lead vocalist with James Hall and a solo artist. Their only child was just a teenager when they passed less than two years apart. Crispell’s Sunday Best win became an instant springboard, launching him into a music career his beloved parents didn’t live to see, but are very much a part of. We delve into that later.
June marked the release of Crispell’s sophomore full-length project, No Failure, recorded live at Springhill Church in Garland, TX. The album’s first single, “Alright,” was nominated for a GMA Dove Award and the second single from the project, “God Is,” is up for a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song. No Failure also gives the singer-songwriter his first executive producer credit alongside a team that includes producer D. Jamel Kimbrough, music director Elijah Goodwin, and contributions from KJ Scriven, Trinity Anderson, and Maverick City Music’s Chandler Moore.
GMF talked with Crispell by phone about No Failure as well as the passion and unwavering faith that define his gospel journey.
Let me start by congratulating you on your current Grammy nomination for “God Is.” This is your second Grammy nod. How does it feel to be recognized among your peers at that level?
It’s an unexplainable feeling to be able to be recognized on that level amongst so many other legends that are in the gospel music industry and in the secular world. Just to be recognized amongst everyone means the world to me and I still can’t believe it sometimes.
“God Is” is from your project, No Failure, which is your second full-length album.
Yes. My second album and my first live album.

Tell us about it and the growth you’ve seen in your musical journey between your first album (I’ve Got A Testimony) and this one.
Yeah, so I really got to put my heart and soul into this one. And I got the opportunity to be an executive producer for this album. With that came a lot of hard work. I really got to see what all goes into when these artists would do live recordings. There are so many different moving parts to putting something together, and I really got to put my hands into the fire with this. I really spent a lot of long nights trying to figure things out, making sure things were right. Not striving for perfection, but for excellence. It was an amazing experience. And though it was a lot of hard work, it’s something that I definitely want to do again because I want to see how I can challenge myself to even do even more than what I’m doing now.
So No Failure is especially meaningful for you. (Smile)
This album is so special to me! Even the more being able to just be vulnerable with people and to create from my heart, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to do another album. Of course, I said that I did not want to do a live album at first. Now that I’ve done this one, I said, yeah, we need to do another one. I feel that we need to do another one. So it’s definitely an amazing experience and one that I won’t forget.
And the theme of No Failure revolves around the idea that there’s no failure in God, yes?
Absolutely.
What inspired you to bring this forward as the theme?
The inspiration behind that is while we were coming up with songs—we were trying to find two, and of course, we didn’t have the album title yet—God literally dropped two songs into my remembrance: “Here,” which is the first song on the album, and the title track, “No Failure.” And both of those songs were written in a writing session that was done by my church, Life Center Fellowship (in Charlotte) mere days before we had to be locked down for the pandemic. And so of course those songs were going to be recorded by my church; but due to the pandemic, we never got to record them and they were just sitting. And so God brought them back to my remembrance, and when we reviewed them and talked them over with the team, it all started flooding in like crazy like, this is the message that you want to relay to people on the Source of this whole album.
And if you look at every song on this album, you can trace all of the stories back to the fact that there is no failure in God. We have to continue to trust in His plan because He hasn’t failed us yet. Things are not always the way that we want them to be, and we don’t have everything that we want, but God has given us everything that we need and he’s always taken care of us.
Such an important message, especially coming out of the COVID pandemic. And to think that the songs were written just before the pandemic lockdown.
Yes. Days prior.
You know, it was just four years ago that you won Sunday Best. You’ve accomplished a lot in these few years. That experience had to have impacted you in ways you still reflect on.
That experience was unforgettable for me. It shaped my career in a way that’s given me confidence because I didn’t think I was qualified or even good enough to even make it past an audition for that show. That was just a mindset that I was in. It couldn’t be me to win something that big. And then when I got the call to be a part, I couldn’t believe it. And then from the moment I left my hometown, God had literally lined everything up in place.
Wait. You were not confident you would make the cut? That’s mind-boggling to me. How did you wind up auditioning?
Sunday Best had been on hiatus. I had seen on social media that it was coming back for the ninth season, and I just kind of kept scrolling past it because, well, I used to want to [be a contestant on Sunday Best] when I was younger, but my parents would shun the very thought of it. (Laughs) I guess it’s because they were a part of the industry and they knew all it entailed, so they didn’t really want me to get thrown into it; so I kind of stopped watching it. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, as any kid would. But the show finally came [off hiatus] and a family member called me three times within a span of two weeks and said, “Hey, you need to audition for this show.” And then another family member came to me and said, “What have you got to lose? Just try.”
It’s so interesting to hear that was your mindset because many of us who were sitting at home watching, the minute we saw you at the auditions, we were like, “Oh, he is going to win it.” It was a no-brainer for us.
You mentioned your parents, the late Melvin and Tunesha Crispell, and their industry presence. My gosh, they were celebrated figures in the gospel industry. And what I think is really precious is your intentionality about honoring their legacy in your music. What influence do you feel they continue to have on what you do?
Yeah, it is definitely an honor to carry their legacy, and their legacy was not just music, but a legacy of love and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to people through music and whatever other means it may have been. And so that’s what I love to keep alive, even though they’re not here any longer. Of course, you have your moments where you feel like you could be living in their shadow, but I just feel like I didn’t have enough time with them to where I could actually say that because they were my world and I was so always inspired. Even as a young child, I was always inspired watching them do what they did, whether it was apart or whether it was together. And saying that, I mean that there were so many different avenues that they took to do what they did. It inspired me to say, there’s not just one way to do this, and you don’t have to do it just one way. There’s so much music they have that hasn’t even been released and I used to be a part of that music. That music was in my blood. I used to hear it going to sleep and waking up in the morning and all that stuff. That stuff was always on my mind and on my heart.
And so now that they’re gone … why not carry their legacy and carry that piece of me with me because it’s a part of who I am. I keep them close to my heart.
On your first album, you remade your dad’s composition, “Wonderful Is Your Name.” It shot to the top of the Billboard Gospel chart and got you Grammy and Dove nominations. It was a bop when Bishop Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir recorded it in the late ‘90s, and you elevated it when you recorded it two decades later. Now, on No Failure, you’ve remade “Jesus Is My Help,” another of your dad’s compositions that Bishop Walker and Love Fellowship popularized.
It was an incredible feeling. I wish they were here to see all that God is doing. Even with my mom, there’s music of hers that hasn’t been heard yet—well, at least from me—which will be coming soon.
Say more about that!
Well, there is new music coming sooner than you think! And I got some other things down the pipeline where I kind of venture out and do more than just music. So I’m excited about that. I don’t want to share too much! But yeah, it’s a lot of things happening for me and I’m just grateful to God for what He’s doing. Life is amazing right now.
I’m grateful for you guys and your love and support. It means the world. I ask that you pray to Jesus for me in the coming years, that He just gives me grace and longevity and strength. And I’ll do my best to create even more for you guys to inspire you and to give you hope, and to give you joy [so] that you feel loved and special. And I just thank you guys so much.
No Failure is available on all major digital platforms.
IN MEMORIAM
Huey Williams, lead singer of the Jackson Southernaires, dies at 86

By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief
Huey Williams, longtime lead singer of the legendary gospel group the Jackson Southernaires, has died. He was 86.
Williams, whose powerful vocals helped define the group’s signature sound, passed away March 24, 2025. The Mississippi native dedicated his life to spreading the gospel in song, inspiring generations of quartet singers—including his younger brothers Leonard, Melvin, and Doug—and earning the respect of his peers in the industry. Huey’s younger brother, Frank Williams, was also a key member of the Jackson Southernaires before founding the Mississippi Mass Choir.
Fans and fellow gospel artists have taken to social media with condolences and tributes.
A musical celebration will be held on Friday, March 28, at 6 p.m., followed by a celebration of life service on Saturday, March 29, at 1 p.m. Both services will take place at East Fernwood Missionary Baptist Church in McComb, MS.
GMF extends sincere condolences to the entire Williams family as well as the Jackson Southernaires.
Read more about the Jackson Southernaires from Bob Marovich at the Journal of Gospel Music: RIP Huey Williams of the Jackson Southernaires.
R.I.H. Willis Pittman (1941-2025)

GMF acknowledges the passing of Willis Pittman, 83, renowned frontman of Willis Pittman & The Burden Lifters. The gospel singer died January 26, 2025, at his residence in Lillington, NC.
Willis Pittman & The Burden Lifters moved audiences with their compelling storytelling and spirited performances, recording multiple albums across various labels, including A.I.R. Records and Melendo. Their 1997 album, Live In Rocky Mount, N.C., recorded at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, was the group’s first live video recording.
Pittman began with the Burden Lifters as a background singer. However, his songwriting and vocal talent eventually propelled him to the role of lead singer. He, his brother Norris, and Melvin Wilson often shared lead vocal duties, each bringing their distinct style to standout songs like “Thunder,” “Noah,” “Put It All in God’s Hand,” “Mama,” “Ask God in Faith,” and “Farewell Goodbye.”
A Celebration of Life service took place in Erwin, NC, on February 2nd.
R.I.H. Ponzell Torain of the Torain Family Singers
By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

Ponzell Torain, a longtime member of the Torain Family Singers, passed away December 26, 2024, in Roxboro, NC. He was 68.
Since 1968, the Torain Family has spread the gospel in song in and around northern Piedmont North Carolina and South-Central Virginia. With every song and testimony, their music has carried the weight of tradition while making space for new generations of family.
Ponzell joined his family’s singing group several years after it was formed by his sister Frances and brother Thomas. Surrounded by music, he was inspired to follow in his older brother’s footsteps as a guitarist. Ponzell recounted his aspirations in the 2023 feature-length documentary Gospel In Person, directed by Michael Gentry in partnership with the Person County Arts Council. The film chronicles more than 80 years of Black gospel music history in Person County, located in North Carolina’s Piedmont region near the Virginia border.
Recalling his ingenuity and determination in those early days, Ponzell shared, “My first guitar was a stick with some burned tire strings on it. I burned a tire and put the strings on the stick.” That homemade guitar proved to be just the beginning. Ponzell went on to become a skilled guitarist and expanded his talents to drums, bass guitar, and keyboard, making himself an essential part of the group’s evolving sound.
As the years progressed, the Torain Family continued to evolve while staying true to their churchy gospel beginnings. In 2017, they released “The Train,” a spirited single that paid tribute to Ponzell’s sister Frances, who passed the previous year. In 2022, the group followed up with “Over There.” Both releases honored their roots while showcasing new arrangements.
Though deeply committed to his family’s music ministry, Ponzell’s reach extended beyond singing and playing with the Torain Family. He was also a longtime member of the St. Luke Gospel Singers, a quartet-styled group his brother Thomas co-founded a year prior to helping form the Torain Family as a singing aggregation. After some membership changes, the group renamed itself the New St. Luke Gospel Singers, of which Ponzell remained a part. “I’ve been singing with so many groups—I just about can’t keep up with them, but I know some of them,” he said in the Gospel In Person documentary.
Whether in humble church sanctuaries or on large concert stages, Ponzell’s singing, homespun approach to music, and praise dancing filled every space with joy and conviction. Equally meaningful was his contribution to a family musical legacy that now includes its fourth generation and is still going strong.
A funeral service will take place Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 2 P.M. at Christian Apostolic Holiness Church in Semora, NC.
Remembering Rodessa Barrett Porter of The Barrett Sisters
By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

Rodessa Barrett Porter, beloved soprano of the legendary gospel trio The Barrett Sisters, entered eternal rest Monday, December 16, 2024, just one day after celebrating her 94th birthday.
Born and raised in Chicago, Rodessa began her musical journey singing in the choir at Morning Star Baptist Church and then serving as a pianist at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church. Around 1950, she joined her older sisters, Delois Barrett Campbell and Billie Barrett GreenBey to form the renowned Barrett Sisters, becoming one of gospel music’s most cherished trios.
Rodessa’s angelic soprano voice complemented her sisters’ rich contralto and mezzo-soprano tones, creating unparalleled harmonies that resonated with local and international audiences and earned them the nickname “The Sweet Sisters of Zion.”
The Barrett Sisters recorded multiple albums and toured extensively, performing throughout the United States and Europe. In 1983 and 1987, they represented the United States as Goodwill Ambassadors in Africa and the South Pacific, respectively. The threesome graced stages with their friends Mahalia Jackson, Albertina Walker, and James Cleveland, appeared on programs with Johnny Carson, Oprah Winfrey, and Patti LaBelle, and are counted among pioneers in gospel music next to Thomas A. Dorsey, Roberta Martin, Theodore Frye, and Sallie Martin. Yet, despite their talent, renown, and accolades, their story remained one of humble service to God and the gospel message in song.

Rodessa and her sisters appeared in Say Amen, Somebody, the critically acclaimed documentary that introduced the Barrett Sisters to a new generation. More than 30 years later in 2013, The Sweet Sisters of Zion: Delois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters provided an intimate and celebratory portrait of their own lives and careers. The documentary film highlighted the trio’s bond—both as siblings and as singers who helped blaze trails in traditional gospel music.
The film’s producer, Regina Rene, shared in a 2013 interview with GMF’s Libra Boyd that the inspiration for the documentary stemmed from Rodessa’s vision. “I found [an] article where Mrs. Rodessa said that she wanted a document of their career and that she had all these videos that someone told her would cost $5,000 to put together.” Following the film’s completion, Boyd collaborated with the Barrett Sisters’ family to lead a crowdfunding campaign to support its release, premiere, and distribution.
After the passings of Delois in 2011 and Billie in 2020, Rodessa carried on their legacy with dignity, remaining a steward of the Barrett Sisters’ indelible mark on gospel music. The sisters’ closeness, admired both on and off stage, was a hallmark of their enduring appeal. In her own way, Rodessa Barrett Porter helped shape an era of gospel music that will be celebrated for generations to come.
Rest in peace, sweet sister of Zion. Heaven’s choir will have a soprano whose melodies will reverberate through eternity.