Kierra Sheard releases her highly anticipated album, GRACELAND, today, July 22. The newest judge on BET’s 7th season of “Sunday Best” gets personal on GRACELAND and shares her ongoing inner battle between self-conviction and condemnation. Gail Mitchell from Billboard states, “Sheard’s triumph over turmoil ultimately triggered what is arguably her best and most versatile work to date. GRACELAND brims with self-introspection and lessons learned as a fearless Sheard bares her soul and shares a revelatory, yet joyous journey that everyone can personally embrace.” Kierra collaborated for the first time with celebrated pop songwriter Diane Warren (Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Céline Dion) and rising songwriter/producer Harmony Samuels (Ariana Grande, Fantasia, Michelle Williams).
The exuberant first single, “2nd Win,” marches its cadence fittingly underscoring the song’s message about overcoming life’s challenges. Kierra samples the Clark Sisters’ song, “They Were Overcome,” paying homage to the trailblazing work of the group’s members: Sheard’s aunts and her mother, Karen Clark Sheard. GRACELAND’s other quintessential tracks range from the guitar-driven, folky mid-tempo title track (“I Fall All the Time,” says Sheard. “That song touches me because it’s what I feel every day”) to the rap-accented anthem “Moving Forward.”
In addition to promoting Graceland, Kierra recently launched a signature hosiery line distributed by Walgreens and is recently finished filming the second season of her family’s BET weekly docu-drama, “The Sheards,” airing this Fall. Kierra’s philanthropic campaigns include her youth organization: BRL (Bold! Right! Life!). The Non-profit is fifteen chapters strong and is staging its 9th annual conference (Aug. 7-9) in her hometown Detroit. Sheard recently launched a PSA campaign with Saving our Daughters to support young girls battling homelessness and date abuse.
