Karen Clark Sheard

She has released seven solo albums and 17 with the Clark Sisters. During the hiatus of the Clark Sisters, Clark-Sheard recorded her debut studio album Finally Karen (1997), which spawned the single, "Balm in Gilead" (a re-recording of a song she originally recorded as part of the Clark Sisters in the 1980s for their Heart & Soul album) the R&B-tinged singles "Just for Me" and "Nothing Without You" (with Faith Evans). 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 (2002). Clark-Sheard recorded two more live albums—The Heavens Are Telling (2003) and It's Not Over (2006)—before releasing All in One (2010), 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.

• Name — Karen Clark Sheard • Birth Name — Karen Valencia Clark • Alias — Karen Clark-Sheard, First Lady Karen Clark-Sheard • Born — 15 November 1960 • Birthplace — Detroit, Michigan, U.S. • Instrument — * Vocals • keyboards • organ • drums • Genre — * Gospel • Urban gospel • CCM • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • actress • Years Active — 1973–present • Label — * Island Black Music • Elektra • Karew • Motown Gospel • Word • Current Member Of — * The Clark Sisters • Website — theclarksisters.net KarewRecords.com

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.

Clark-Sheard's involvement in the Island Inspirational All Stars' "Don't Give Up" in 1996 (along with Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, and Kirk Franklin) 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.

The 2003 follow-up The Heavens Are Telling (exactly six years after her heralded debut album Finally Karen) 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.

In 2005, after a bidding war with several labels, Clark-Sheard signed with Word Records and issued It's Not Over (originally titled Finally Karen Returns), 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 (Kierra Sheard) 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.

In early 2009, Clark-Sheard and her husband, J.Drew Sheard, partnered together and launched a new record label entitled Karew Records (Karew being a combination of both their forenames: Karen and Drew, pronounced: Kuh-rue); 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 (and first on her newly founded own record label – Karew Records) 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 (her second highest charting on that chart to date) 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.

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 (1987) and John Drew "J. Drew" Sheard II (1989). Another pregnancy ended in a stillbirth.

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.

• The Clark Sisters: Bringing It Back Home (1989) • Finally Karen (1997) • The Clark Sisters: Live One Last Time Tour (2007–2008) • Festival of Praise (2016–2017) • McDonald's Celebration of Gospel (2016–2017) • The Clark Sisters Virtual Experience (2020) • The Reunion Tour (2023) • The Reunion Tour 2024 (2024)

• 1983 Gospel (documentary) • 2010 Blessed & Cursed (movie) • 2011–2012 Church Girl (stage play) • 2012 For Richer or Poorer (stage play) • 2013 "The Sheards" • 2013 "BET Celebration of Gospel" • 2014 "The BET Honors" • 2017 "Xscape: Still Kickin It" (Xscape Rocks the Stage, Episode 4) • 2020 The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (movie) • 2021 Miracles Across 125th Street • 2021 Song and Story: Amazing Grace

• Finally Karen (1997) • 2nd Chance (2002) • The Heavens Are Telling (2003) • It's Not Over (2006) • All in One (2010) • Destined to Win (2015) • Still Karen (2024)

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 • 2011 — Herself • 2020 — Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award — "Victory"

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Clark Sheard has won 4 awards from 14 nominations. • Year — Award — Nominated work — Result • 1983 — Inspirational Black Gospel Album of the Year — Sincerely • 1987 — Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year — Heart & Soul • 1995 — Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year — "Amazing Grace" • 2007 — Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year — It's Not Over • Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year — "Favor" • 2008 — Artist of the Year — The Clark Sisters • Group of the Year • Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year — "Blessed and Highly Favored" • Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year — Live – One Last Time • 2011 — Urban Recorded Song of the Year — "He Knows" • 2020 — Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year — "Victory" • Inspirational Film of the Year — The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel • Traditional Gospel Album of the Year — The Return • 2025 — Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year — Still Karen • Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year — "Yes" • 2026 — Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year — "Jesus I Do" (with Mariah Carey)

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

The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Clark Sheard has won 2 awards from 8 nominations. • Year — Award — Nominated work — Result • 1983 — Outstanding Gospel Artist — The Clark Sisters • 1989 • 2020 — Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Traditional or Contemporary — "Victory" • 2021 — Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album — The Return • 2024 — Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) — "God Is Good" (with Kierra Sheard and Hezekiah Walker) • 2025 — Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album — Still Karen • 2026 — Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) — "Jesus I Do" (with Mariah Carey) • Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Karen Clark Sheard has won 1 award from 5 nominations. • Year — Award — Nominated work — Result • Soul Train Music Awards • 1988 — Best Gospel Album – Group or Choir — Heart & Soul • 1989 — Best Gospel Album — Conqueror • 2005 — Best Gospel Album — The Heavens Are Telling • 2020 — Best Gospel/Inspirational Award — The Clark Sisters • Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards • 1998 — Best Gospel Album — Finally Karen

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 • Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year • Album of the Year • Contemporary Album of the Year • Music Video of the Year • 2004 — Female Vocalist of the Year — 2nd Chance • Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year • Contemporary CD of the Year • 2005 — Song of the Year — "We Acknowledge You" • CD of the Year — The Heavens Are Telling • Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year • 2007 — It's Not Over • The Chevrolet Most Notable Achievement Award — The Clark Sisters • 2008 — CD of the Year — Live... One Last Time • Artist of the Year • Group or Duo of the Year • Traditional Group/Duo of the Year • Song of the Year — "Blessed and Highly Favored" • 2009 — Special Event CD of the Year — Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters • 2010 — Silky Soul Music... An All-Star Tribute to Maze (with Kierra Sheard and J. Moss) • 2011 — Female Vocalist of the Year — All In One • Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year • 2016 — Destined To Win • 2020 — James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award — The Clark Sisters • 2021 — Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year — The Return • Duo/Group Chorus of the Year • Traditional Duo/Group Chorus of the Year — Gospel According to PJ • 2025 — Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year — Still Karen • Producer of the Year • Contemporary Album of the Year • 2026 — Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year — "Jesus I Do" (with Mariah Carey)

• Year — Organization — Award — Nominated work — Result • 1999 — Michigan's International Gospel Music Hall of Fame — The Clark Sisters • 2019 — Essence Fest's Strength Of A Woman Brunch — Strength of A Woman Award • 2022 — Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame • 2025 — Gospel Music Hall of Fame Missouri • 2026 — Hollywood Walk of Fame