Tyler Perry's The Gospel of Christmas premiered on Netflix on Nov. 11, bringing Fantasia Barrino Taylor and Durrell "Tank" Babbs together in a holiday drama about a family trying to save a New York City church from foreclosure. Perry wrote, directed and produced the film, and gospel artist Kirk Franklin produced its soundtrack.
Tank plays Isaac, an R&B singer turned pastor who takes over his late father's church to honor his dying wish. He and his wife, Rebecca (Fantasia), move to New York with their two sons and find a congregation with few members left and debts that threaten to close its doors before Christmas. As people from Isaac's music career reappear, he begins to question whether he belongs in the pulpit. Prayer and the people who rally around the church help him find his footing.
Fred Hammond plays Isaac's father, Abraham, while Yolanda Adams appears as Gloria and CeCe Winans plays Mrs. Johnson, an outspoken neighbor. The cast also features Shirley Caesar, Jekalyn Carr, the Clark Sisters, Hezekiah Walker, Ann Nesby, Chanté Moore, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Le'Andria Johnson. Pastor John Gray plays Deacon Daniel.
Several of the songs carry the story forward. Dorinda Clark sings "Going to Heaven to Meet the King," written by her mother, gospel pioneer Mattie Moss Clark, at Abraham's funeral. Winans performs "Goodness of God" in a choir rehearsal scene, and Fantasia takes on Stevie Wonder's "Evil" at an open mic. The soundtrack also features Fantasia, Adams and Carr singing the Christmas standard "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
Perry, Fantasia and Tank attended the film's Atlanta premiere on Nov. 9 at the Tabernacle. Gospel artists including Adams, Caesar, Carr and Jacky Clark Chisholm walked the red carpet, and the evening continued after the screening with a live concert featuring members of the cast.
Watch The Gospel of Christmas on Netflix
