After two weeks of a successful promotional run, Franklin is preparing to release his 12th CD, in stores Tuesday, March 22, 2011. In addition to rehearsing for his tour with Steve Harvey, shooting a new movie and music video; promoting the paperback version of his New York Times bestseller, The Blueprint; and taping audition segments for BET’s Sunday Best, Franklin has been doing extensive church and promotional visits around the country. The promotional tour began on March 8 at Greater Allen Cathedral (Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake and Rev. Elaine Flake, Senior Pastors) in Queens, New York, with a listening party and performance for an enthusiastic crowd of over 3,500 people. On March 9, Franklin filmed a music video in Atlanta for his new crossover hit, “I Smile,” which will include special cameo appearances by Steve Harvey, Rickey Smiley John Gray. The video will premiere on BET’s 106 & Park.
On March 10, Franklin traveled to Chicago and hosted his second listening party and performance at New Life Covenant Church (John F. Hannah, Senior Pastor) for a crowd of 1,500 people. The next day in Cincinnati, OH, I Hear Music hosted a listening party with Franklin at Inspirational Baptist Church-City of Destiny (Bishop Victor S. Couzens, Senior Pastor) for an audience of staunch supporters. Franklin then returned to Atlanta, to tape segments for and participate in the final audition process for BET’s Sunday Best at the Greater Travelers Rest Church. Later that week, Franklin taped a performance of a song he wrote for the upcoming movie, Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and Courtney Vance. He also taped the Mo’Nique show, where he performed two songs from Hello Fear CD—“I Smile,” and “Before I Die,” as well as discussed the forthcoming paperback release of The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life’s Storms (Gotham Books). Franklin recently received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional for that book.
Franklin continued his promotional tour in Atlanta, with radio and other media interviews prior to the opening night performance at Phillips Arena Theater for the Steve Harvey and Kirk Franklin Gospel Comedy Tour, where he performed to a sold-out audience of 12,000 people. On Sunday, March 20, Franklin ministered the Word at Changing A Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church (Bishop Paul S. Morton, Senior Pastor).
The first single from Hello Fear, I SMILE, is Top-10 at Gospel and Urban radio, and was the biggest debut for any Gospel digital track – coming in #1 on the Christian/Gospel Digital Tracks chart.
For additional information on Hello Fear and Kirk Franklin, please visit, www.kirkfranklin.com.
Steve Harvey and Kirk Franklin Gospel Comedy Tour
Date City/State Venue
Saturday, March 26 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Saturday, April 2 Memphis, TN Desoto Civic Center
Saturday, April 9 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
Saturday, April 30 Charleston, SC North Charleston Coliseum
Saturday, May 7 Bossier City, LA Century Tel Center
Saturday, May 21 Jacksonville, FL Veterans Memorial
