Performances by Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Byron Cage, Hezekiah Walker, Cissy Houston, and Vickie Winans!
“Gospel Fever” returns on June 14th at the Prudential Center

Produced and directed by Emmy Award winning Producer, A. Curtis Farrow, McDonald’s Gospelfest is a talent competition that features choirs, steppers, praise dancers, soloists, rappers and poets.  “We are ecstatic with the level and amount of talent for this year’s show.  With the new venue, it is clear that this Gospelfest is well on the road to success!” said Farrow.  Rising stars of all colors, ages, cultures and faiths will compete in a variety of categories including Soloists, Youth Choir, Adult Choir, Praise Dance, Step, Spanish language Soloists, Singing Groups, Gospel Rappers and Gospel Poets.

WWOR-TV/ My9 returns for the fifth year as the exclusive broadcast sponsor of McDonald’s Gospelfest 2008.  My9 will produce a two-hour 25th anniversary special scheduled to air on Sunday, July 20th from 7-9 PM featuring performance highlights, the road to the competition, and backstage interviews with all the stars.  Lew Leone, Vice President and General Manager of WWOR-TV and WNYW-TV said, “We are thrilled to play a major part in this highly entertaining and inspirational event. Gospelfest delivers the best entertainment the world of gospel music has to offer and the 25th anniversary celebration promises to be bigger and better than ever.”

The new state-of-the-art Prudential Center is the first new professional sports and entertainment arena built in metropolitan New York / New Jersey in 25 years.  It is located only 12 miles from Manhattan in downtown Newark, just blocks from Newark Penn Station, accessible via New Jersey Transit, PATH, Light Rail Service and Amtrak.  “McDonald’s Gospelfest has been the premier gospel event in the country for 25 years,” said Dale Adams, General Manager for Prudential Center. “We are very excited to host this celebration of music and competition as it comes to Prudential Center for the first time.”

McDonald’s Gospelfest originated in 1983 under the auspices of the McDonald’s Corporation and the McDonald’s Tri-State Owner Association.  Twenty-five years later, it has emerged as the nation’s preeminent Gospel celebration, bringing joy, inspiration, encouragement and hope to millions of Americans.  Previous McDonald’s Gospelfest participants have gone on to successful careers in entertainment, including the renowned Reverend Hezekiah Walker, who headlines The McDonald’s Gospelfest celebration each year with his Love Fellowship Choir.

Over the course of the past 25 years, The McDonald’s Tri-State Owner Association has awarded millions of dollars in scholarship money. The Association’s President, Paul Hendel said, “We are really enthusiastic about the 25th anniversary of Gospelfest.  We are looking to make this the biggest and best year yet.”  The McDonald’s Gospelfest competition has been an important fundraising event which supports education opportunities within local communities. 

Tickets for McDonald’s Gospelfest 2008 can be purchased beginning on March 10, 2008 through Ticketmaster by calling 201.507.8900, or at www.ticketmaster.com.  For further information, please call the McDonald’s Gospelfest Hotline at 866.898.7772.

About McDonald’s New York Tri-State Area Restaurants
McDonald's is the world's best-known brand and is the global leader in food service. There are more than 600 McDonald's restaurants, owned by 100 franchisees, located throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state area.  For more information, please visit www.mcdonaldsnymetro.com.