Gospel great Kirk Franklin tops SpiritFest lineup

Kirk Franklin never does anything in a small way.

The gospel icon is a musical bridge-builder, uniting audiences across contemporary Christian music, hip hop, pop and R&B.

He's also a best-selling author, host of BET's wildly popular gospel talent show "Sunday Best" and, just for fun, co-host of a game show with Jeff Foxworthy.

As headliner of SpiritFest 2014 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Franklin will front a group of six musicians and six singers.

What's he bringing for the 6,000 fans who typically attend SpiritFest?

"I'm going to do 20 years of music, something from every album, and I'll be on stage until they cut the mikes off," Franklin said.

Franklin is contemporary gospel's biggest-selling artist, with nine Grammy Awards to his credit, according to SoundScan.

His 11th studio album, "Hello Fear," won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album and produced the hit single "I Smile."

SpiritFest, a five-hour gospel celebration, also will feature Tye Tribbett, Tamela Mann, Erica Campbell, Rance Allen, Lee Williams and The Gospel Legends.

"In the 23 years of SpiritFest, this is without question the most dynamic lineup we've ever had," said Elijah Ray, promoter of the event.

This year's SpiritFest carries the theme, "Real Fathers, Real Men."

"Three of us were sitting around having breakfast at Christmas and we were talking about the importance of the male figure in the family," said Ray, a pastor who lives in Greer. "We were thinking, how can we bring more visibility to that idea? SpiritFest is such a huge event, so we decided to use it as a platform to promote the importance of men in our society and men's position in the family as God has designed it."

SpiritFest organizers have been holding summer meetings with men in connection with this year's theme, Ray said. SpiritFest is the culmination of those discussions.

Keeping balance

Franklin, reached at home in Dallas, Texas, is known as one of the busiest men in gospel music today whose albums consistently top both Billboard's gospel and Christian charts as well the R&B/Hip Hop charts.

"I'm grateful that after 20 years I still have an opportunity to be a soundtrack to people's lives because there are so many great artists out there," Franklin said. "For people to still want you to be part of that journey, it's a very humbling thing."

Franklin serves as host of BET's "Sunday Best" and is the musical co-host of the Game Show Network's "The American Bible Challenge" with Jeff Foxworthy. He also hosts a Sirius gospel radio program.

Franklin is the author of the New York Times best-seller "The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms," a book that describes his troubled young life and his journey to redemption.

Born to a teenage mom who didn't want him and to a father he never knew, Franklin was adopted by his aunt. Though introduced to Christianity early on, his home environment was harsh and unloving. Yet Franklin writes that God reached down and transformed his life — something he said he lives to repay.

"I have a saying that I exist to make God famous," Franklin said.

In addition to his nine Grammy Awards, Franklin has garnered 39 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards, eight NAACP Image Awards and many others.

He's also the chairman of his own entertainment company and an active record producer.

How does he juggle everything?

"I'm a proud father and husband and we try to ask God for balance every day so that home and family are top priority," Franklin said.

Franklin and his wife of 16 years, Tammy, are the parents of four children.

Yet he confided what he misses most in his life: sleep.

"The thing I like more than anything else is sleep," Franklin said with a laugh. "I love sleep. Sleep is a rare commodity. I appreciate a good sleep. I'm talking about the kind of sleep where you slobber all over the pillow."

Asked when he last enjoyed a good rest, Franklin said, "About two weeks ago, I slept until about 2 in the afternoon, and it was great."

Franklin said he has no specific album project in the works right now but he recently has detected the stirrings of inspiration.

"I can always feel when it's time for another album because I always say 'I feel pregnant with music,'" Franklin said. "And right now, I'm beginning to feel a little bump."

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YOU CAN GO

What: SpiritFest 2014

When: 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31 (Doors open at 4 p.m.)

Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N. Academy St.

Tickets: $38 to $45

Information: 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com