Gospel music fans from across the globe can look forward to the premier of Jamaica’s newest Gospel sing-off television series, the Jamaica Gospel Star Competition, which will air on local television and online this Sunday, July 11, beginning at 6:00 pm.

The TV series, which will see ten of Jamaica’s best up-coming gospel singers go head to head each week to become the ultimate Gospel Star, will be broadcast locally on CVM TV, and live-streamed on the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) Facebook - Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and Youtube - JCDC Jamaica pages.

A brand new production of the JCDC, just in time for the Jamaica 59 Independence Festival, the Jamaica Gospel Star Competition TV series is a rebrand of the iconic Jamaica Gospel Song Competition, which has been a highly anticipated staple of the annual national Independence celebrations roster for over three decades.

Unlike its predecessor, the Gospel Star Competition will focus solely on the vocal talents and performance styles of its contestants, and the TV series will see them performing unoriginal/cover songs each week under various themes that highlight Jamaican Gospel music. The at-home audience will also be the main deciding factor in who stays or goes each week, as the public will be asked to vote for their favourite remaining finalist via call or text.

“We know that Gospel lovers anticipate our competitions each year, especially going into the Festival season, and so we are pleased to be able to take this new Gospel competition to them directly into their homes, on their TV’s, tablets and phones for the next four Sundays. Each week they will watch finalists give the praise worthy performances that the JCDC Gospel competitions are known for, under themes like Reggae and Dancehall Gospel, Traditional and Revival Gospel, and they will even sing some former winning Jamaica Gospel Competition songs,” said Marjorie Leyden-Kirton, Executive Director (Acting), JCDC.

“This first episode on Sunday will see our anointed top ten finalists trying to out-sing each other with their favourite Gospel songs. They will be using songs that ministered to them personally to minister to our audience at home, so we want persons to tune in promptly at 6:00 pm on every available screen to ensure that they do not miss this blessing,” Leyden-Kirton continued.

Though this will be the premier staging of the Jamaica Gospel Star Competition, the top ten finalists are a harmonious mix of Gospel new-comers as well as previous winners and entrants of the various JCDC Gospel Song competitions.

The finalists include Daynea Deacon Jones who won the Gospel Song Competition in 2018, Mirriam Hibbert who was the runner-up in 2012, Kaydene Smith who was runner-up in 2010 and 2020 as part of the groups ‘Servants’ and ‘Euphoria’ respectively, and Daron Mitchell who finished 3rd in 2019.

Former National Children’s Gospel winners Kevinna Melbourne and Erica Lumsden are also among the Jamaica Gospel Star finalists. The top ten finalists’ group is completed with Raheim Betty a 2017 Gospel Song finalist, Latanya Elliot, Carlington Watson and Malika James.

The four part TV series will culminate with the competition’s grand final on Emancipation day, Sunday, August 1.