Sheard makes gospel music history

Jet, Jan 31, 2005

* SHEARD MAKES GOSPEL MUSIC HISTORY: Hot new gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard (l) sits with (l-r) her mother, gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, her father, Pastor J. Drew Sheard and brother, J. Drew Sheard II, at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. Kierra's debut album, I Owe You, made history when it became the first album by a new artist to debut at No.

1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Alburas chart. Kierra, 17, is also a writer and penned the album's song Was. Her 14-year-old brother produced the tune. Karen Clark Sheard is a founding member of the legendary gospel group the Clark Sisters. Her father is the pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God, where she first began singing in the children's choir at age 6.