Karen Clark Sheard is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, musician, and songwriter. She is the mother of contemporary gospel singer and actress Kierra "Kiki" Sheard. She is one of the veterans and a well-recognized singer in the Christian Music World. Her testimony inspired the title name for her long-awaited sophomore project, 2nd Chance released in 2002, featuring "A Secret Place"-which is now considered a classic amongst fans. Her first all-studio-recorded album in 13 years was "All in One" which debuted at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Chart and #98 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart, while its first single "Prayed Up" has so far peaked at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Songs chart. Scroll down to know more information regarding her full biography, net worth, facts, family, husband, birthday, wiki, career, awards, and many more.
Famous For
- Being a famous singer.
- Being the youngest member of the American gospel group The Clark Sisters.
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Early Life of Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark Sheard was born on November 15, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Her birth name is Karen Valencia Clark. She holds American Nationality and belongs to Afro-American ethnicity. Her birth sign is Scorpio. Her birthday falls on 15th November of every year. Her father is Reverend Elbert Clark and her mother's name is Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a pioneering gospel choral director. She is the youngest of six children of her parents. Her siblings include Leo, Jacky, Denise, Elbernita "Twinkie", and Dorinda. She was fond of singing from her childhood and began singing gospel with her sisters at age 6 in what became known as The Clark Sisters. For high school, she attended Mumford High School in Detroit, Michigan, and graduated in 1979. She is a follower of Christianity.
Career of Karen Clark Sheard
- She began her career by singing at an early age in the choir at their father's church, and by the late 1960s, She along with her four elder sisters were all performing together in church services, usually singing songs written and arranged by their mother.
- Shortly after their parents divorced in 1973, her mother formally created "the Clark Sisters" and the sisters recorded their first album, Jesus Has A Lot To Give.
- The following year, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents the Clark Sisters was released and people around Detroit began to take notice of the group. The Clark Sisters signed to Sound of Gospel Records in 1974.
- Under this association, the group released albums such as Unworthy, Count It All Joy, and He Gave Me Nothing to Lose.
- It was not until the early 1980s that the Clark Sisters began to become more widely known.
- Their popularity soared with the release of the live recording Is My Living In Vain.
- Their next release You Brought the Sunshine would prove to be a monster hit via the title track. Reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster (Jammin')," the song became a hit in churches and on dance floors, including New York's Studio 54.
- In 1988, the Clark Sisters released their Billboard chart-topping and critically acclaimed album Conqueror.
- In 1994, the Clark Sisters released their last studio album "Miracle" before breaking grounds into their successful solo careers.
- Clark-Sheard's solo career began with the release of her debut album Finally Karen in 1997.
- She released her Elektra debut album 2nd Chance in 2002. In 2005 she released another album "It's Not Over".
- In early 2009, Clark-Sheard and her husband, J.Drew Sheard partnered together and launched a new record label entitled Karew Records.
- The Clark Sisters' Christmas album which was released in October 2009-was the first project to be released from Karew Records.
- On April 6, 2010, Clark-Sheard released her fifth album titled "All in One".
- As of 2019, Clark-Sheard is in talks to play Kitty Parham, a member of The Famous Ward Singers in Aretha Franklin's upcoming biopic Respect.
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Achievement and Awards
- Her debut album "Finally Karen" earned her a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for "Best Female Vocalist".
- As the songwriter, on February 10, 2008, Clark-Sheard won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song for "Blessed & Highly Favored" sung by The Clark Sisters.
- On January 31, 2010, Clark-Sheard won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance for Wait on the Lord which she was featured with Donnie McClurkin.
Personal Life of Karen Clark Sheard
Clark-Sheard has been married once and has two children. On June 16, 1984, Clark-Sheard married Bishop J. Drew Sheard, a Detroit-based minister. Her husband is the senior pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. Together they have two children: Kierra "Kiki" Sheard (1987) and John Drew "J. Drew" Sheard II (1989). Kiki is also a gospel recording artist, with four albums, plus various projects to her credit. J. Drew is a young, up-and-coming musician and producer. Her sexual orientation is straight.
Net worth of Karen Clark Sheard
As of 2020, The net worth of Karen Clark Sheard is estimated to be $10 Million while her salary is under review. She has accumulated her mass fortune through her profession as a gospel singer, musician, and songwriter. She also earns additional income through Endorsement, Concerts, Tours, and as a record producer.
Body Measurement of Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark Sheard is a beautiful and bold looking woman with a slim and well-maintained body physique. She is now 59 years old but still looks young and beautiful. She stands 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 50kg. Her body measurement is under review. Her eye color and hair color are Dark browns. Overall, she has got a healthy body with a sweet smile.
