Photo: Isaac Carree
With Gospel Music Heritage Month just wrapping up McDonald's is continuing the celebration with its 15th Annual Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour powered by the company's Black & Positively Golden Movement. This year, the theme is "Gospel City Playlists" and the artists are ready to represent their native regions.
The Black Information Network caught up with Isaac Carree, one of the artists performing during this free, four-part virtual event, and he's definitely ready to rep for his native region of The Carolinas.
There's a line up of 21 amazing singers from all over the country, the "Worthy" singer said, "but always know this and don't ever forget it ... the best coast, the best region is the Carolinas." The gospel musician was quick to note that he's "not hating" on the other regions represented on the tour –– the West Coast, the DMV, and the Gulf Coast –– he just had to put on for the place he calls home.
In terms of the tour, Carree said fans of gospel music can expect to be uplifted and given hope after the year and half we've all been through. With the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionate unemployment in our communities, not to mention the recent devastation of Hurricane Ida, gospel music and the Inspiration Celebration Tour, the "But God" singer said is a great way "to inspire, uplift, and encourage people."
"What better music in the world than gospel music," he added. "So we really have to lead this charge and make sure that music is the leading force of inspiring people and lifting them up and giving them hope and letting them know it's going to be okay."
The concert series is really important for Carree to participate in since at the root of it the tour, is the opportunity to give back to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
"Of course when you see the golden arches, you think about the fries ... and all the food and everything. But what sometimes goes unnoticed is the contributions [McDonald's] they make in the community and how they've partnered with gospel music," Carree said.
The virtual tour will again raise funds for local Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) Chapters.To personally donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities®, visit www.rmhc.org/ICGT2021.
The virtual tour kicks off on Sunday, September 19th and runs weekly through Sunday, October 10th. Check out the line-up below.
The Inspiration Celebration Line-Up
The Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour will feature performances by Gulf Coast artists Bri Babineaux, DOE, Jonathan Nelson, L Spenser Smith, Pastor Mike Jr., and Sir the Baptist on September 19 .
Check out these West Coast artists Dawkins & Dawkins, DeWayne Woods, Erica Campbell, Israel Houghton, Lena Byrd Miles, and Mali Music on September 26.
The Carolinas will represent via live stream on October 3 and include performances by Isaac Carree, Blanche McAllister Dykes, John P. Kee, Melvin Crispell III, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard.
And last but not least, the DMV will take the virtual stage on October 10, featuring performances by Anthony Brown, JJ Hairston, Maurette Brown Clark, Patrick Riddick & D’vyne Worship.
To watch, viewers can tune in weekly at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central on BET.com, BET’s YouTube Channel or the McDonald’s app to see the concert series.
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