World Premieres Sunday, Oct. 28 at 9 PM ET on Gospel Music Channel

ATLANTA (Oct. 23, 2008) – A once-in-a-lifetime assembly of female musical stars and legends representing 37 GRAMMY Awards, 34 #1 hits and 27 #1 albums take the stage in the world premiere special AARP: Songs of Soul and Inspiration debuting on Sunday night, Oct. 26 at 9 PM ET on Gospel Music Channel. 

Shot this summer at Philips Arena in Atlanta and directed by GRAMMY and Tony Award-winning Debbie Allen, the one-hour celebration of AARP’s 50th anniversary boasts the vocal talents of contemporary gospel’s CeCe Winans and Yolanda Adams; the intimate jazz of Patti Austin, the silky pop of Dionne Warwick, the funk ’n’ soul of Chaka Khan, the traditional gospel of Shirley Caesar and more. 

In addition to the amazing individual performances, Songs of Soul and Inspiration featured a cross-generational pairing of former lead vocalist for Sounds of Blackness, Ann Nesby, and her granddaughter, 19-year-old Paris Bennett, a season 5 finalist on American Idol. 

AARP: Songs of Soul and Inspiration will have multiple encore broadcasts immediately following the world premiere at 10 PM and again in prime time on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9 PM. For complete Gospel Music Channel programming, visit http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/schedule.

AARP: Sounds of Soul and Inspiration is part of nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration. This concert program honored the musical legacy of the African-American church. The performers, who as young women, took their powerful and poignant calling out to the world, have over the years made their way to recording studios, stages and concert halls, their voices bending, twisting and stretching to new heights. Over time, each woman became a star, building an ever-widening audience, eager to hear both their hit records and their unwavering messages of hope and inspiration.

Gospel Music Channel (http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the fastest-growing network in television today and can be seen in more than 40 million homes nationwide and on DIRECTV Channel 338.

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Contact: Jim Weiss (770) 692-4579 jim@gospelmusicchannel.com