Scribbled in history books for some good and not-so-good reasons, 2017 brought with it some of modern music’s most memorable moments.  Now, as the year draws to a close, TGJ is reflecting on our favorite moments that rocked – and to some degree reshaped – the Urban and Pop musical landscape as we know it.

Next up we reflect on once beloved gospel star Kim Burrell and the year she fell from grace…

(more…)

The L’s just keep getting handed to ‘Victory’ singer Kim Burrell.

The embattled gospel singer, whose anti-LGBT sermon from last week landed her in hot water with the community and its supporters, is continuing to see endorsements snatched from her.  After learning her appearance on ‘Ellen’ had been cancelled, the revered songstress learned her radio and television programming had been snatched from their respective points of air.

As if that wasn’t enough, yesterday she was greeted with news from BMI that she’d been uninvited from an awards ceremony honoring songwriters.

Burrell’s backlash has no end in sight:

(more…)

Gospel hitmaker Kim Burrell isn’t exactly kicking her new year off in the best of lights.

After making headlines for a homophobic sermon where she directly stated insinuated homosexuals will “die in 2017,” the revered singer/songwriter has been fielding attacks from media, supporters, fans, and friends.  Even friends Yolanda Adams and Pharrell Williams have spoken out against her rant and branded it “hate speech.”

Ironically, despite making her stance on homosexuality well known in the sermon, Burrell – who has worked with Frank Ocean among a number of other LGBT stars – is set to appear on ‘Ellen’ in the coming days.  Well, that is, unless a recently ignited petition has its say.

Details inside:

(more…)

‘Over and Over’ singer Kim Burrell has found herself making headlines again for delivering what many are deeming a problematic sermon.

The embattled icon, who infamously endured backlash in the past for publicly condemning the LGBTQ+ community, later found herself on the defense for slamming fellow Gospel diva Yolanda Adams and dissing unattractive churchgoers.

Despite managing to dodge controversial headlines all through 2023, the GRAMMY-nominated songstress hasn’t exactly had that luck in 2024 as a video of yet another concerning sermon has hit the Web and sent critics into a frenzy.

See what we mean inside.

(more…)

With adulation received from the likes of Whitney Houston, Beyonce, The Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, and some of the biggest names in music over the years, Kim Burrell was easily one of Gospel music’s most revered voices.

That was, until a sermon she preached in late 2016 went viral for featuring language many deemed homophobic.

Leading to an unceremonious fallout (see: dropped from radio and TV shows, slammed by celebrities, uninvited from award shows, etc.), the damage done to the legendary diva’s career has seemed irreparable – a status she waxed honest about on the ‘Tamron Hall Show’ Thursday (September 29).

While dishing with the daytime hostess, Kim not only discussed the backlash from that incident (including behind the scenes drama with her former longtime friend Yolanda Adams) but also defended herself against more recent drama from yet another controversial sermon.

More inside.

(more…)

It’s been nearly three years since embattled Gospel star Kim Burrell suffered a severe backlash due to a controversial rant many deemed homophobic (click here to read more).

Losing a number of endorsements along the way (including her television show, radio series, promotional opportunities, and more), the hoopla around the incident may have cooled but its lasting effect on the once-widely revered singer’s career has endured.

Some of the diva’s peers think it’s time that changed.

Echoing sentiments from Gospel royal Shirley Caesar, Grammy-nominee Tamar Braxton, and others, singer-actress Kierra Sheard recently took to press to share her thoughts on Burrell’s fall from grace and hope the community impacted by the 47-year-old’s comments could move on from it.

Hear her take inside:

(more…)

After seeing her 2017 and 2018 riddled with criticism for her anti-LGBT comments and more (click here to read more on that), ‘Try Me Again’ Gospel songstress Kim Burrell is under fire again – this time from Twitter followers who disapprove of disparaging remarks made toward R&B singer Fantasia.

See the hoop-la inside:

(more…)

Gospel superstar Kim Burrell came under fire at the top of 2017 for a sermon many deemed ‘hateful’ and ‘homophobic.’  The backlash not only saw many of her industry friends distance themselves, but also saw her lose many-an-endorsement including a television show, radio show, and denied entry to award shows for her reported anti-LGBT stance (click here to read on that).

None of the aforementioned dominated headlines as much as her unceremonious disinviting from the ‘Ellen’ show after fans of the program called for the cancellation of her appearance alongside Pharrell Williams in support of the soundtrack to the film ‘Hidden Figures’ (Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer).  While most of last year and the earlier parts of 2018 saw her ‘hidden’ – keeping quite the low profile since the public damning – the songstress re-emerged recently to assure her faithful followers she was never in ‘hiding,’ but was instead ‘getting rich.’

Going on to namedrop Degeneres in a fiery sermon, look below to hear Burrell sound off on her critics and clap back at those who’ve implied her career is over:

(more…)

(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

‘Lift Jesus’ singer Kim Burrell needed a little lifting herself after taking a tumble while performing live at a recent outing.

The embattled gospel legend – who spent most of her 2017 regrouping after a fiery anti-LGBT sermon delivered this time last year landed her on the wrong side of headlines (and some supporters) – was in the middle of an awesome praise and worship session when one of her boots betrayed her and gave way midway.

Rebounding like the pro she is, the singer hardly missed a note and got right back to the action.  Curious to see how she recovered? Look inside:

(more…)

Mahershala Ali (above) and the cast of the hit movie ‘Moonlight’ were honoured at last night’s Golden Globe Awards when the project was presented with the Best Drama trophy.

Only right then, as the movie continues to rock theatres nationwide, that its cast and crew celebrate their win by speaking to press at the ceremony about the project.

Alas, their time with media outlets saw them quizzed on Kim Burrell’s slamming of the LGBT community  and how it may have affected Janelle Monae who stars in ‘Moonlight’ as well as ‘Hidden Figures’, the movie Burrell recorded music for.

How they responded?

Watch below…

(more…)

Legendary ‘Hold My Mule’ hitmaker Shirley Caesar probably should’ve held her tongue if the fiery backlash that ensued after her vocal support of fellow gospel songstress, Kim Burrell, is anything to judge by.

The Grammy winning gospel pioneer – who was the center of the late 2016 viral #Unameit challenge – is seeing her name fly atop headlines for not only condoning Burrell’s highly publicized, anti-LGBT sermon but even going so far as to slam Pres. Obama for the legalization of gay marriage.

She may have served us beans, greens, potatoes, and tomatoes over the holidays, but now Twitter is serving her something else.  See it all below:

(more…)

Tamar Braxton is among many Urban stars who have long made their adoration of gospel singer Kim Burrell no secret.  Yet, despite the embattled holy hitmaker seeing her name run atop headlines for a fiery anti-LGBTQ sermon preached last week (a feat that led to her being booted from a scheduled appearance on the ‘Ellen’ show), Braxton maintains her loyalty to the revered songstress.

Amidst a slew of her own negative headlines that suggest she and former ‘The Real’ co-star, Adrienne Bailon, are at war, the ‘Love & War’ wailer took to Instagram to encourage followers to show sympathy to Burrell.  The request landed Braxton in a hot seat herself:

(more…)