Tyler Perry brought church to The Tabernacle. Netflix hosted the global premiere of Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas Monday night in Atlanta, and Perry, who wrote, directed and produced the film, turned the evening into a full-blown celebration of faith, family and gospel music.
He was joined by star Durrell “Tank” Babbs and a cast stacked with some of the biggest names in gospel.
The film follows Isaac, played by Tank, a struggling pastor who inherits his family’s church in a broken New York neighborhood. As he battles doubt, temptation and a sinister adversary, Isaac must rediscover his faith and the power of prayer to save his church, his family and his community before Christmas. Fantasia Barrino Taylor co-stars as his wife, Rebecca.
For Perry, assembling gospel royalty was the point. “It was really important to me to have some of the most incredible gospel artists there are on the planet,” he told Netflix’s Tudum. “If you know gospel, you know these people, and if you don’t know gospel, just wait until you see this movie.”
That lineup showed up in force on the red carpet. Pastor John Gray, Ricco Ross, Carl Lentz, Mason Douglas and Eric Wiltz walked alongside gospel icons Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Jacky Clark-Chisholm, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Ann Nesby, Le’Andria Johnson and Jekalyn Carr, as well as R&B star Chanté Moore. Producers Angi Bones and Tony Strickland were also in attendance.
The premiere drew a crowd from well beyond Hollywood, too. Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, who recently named Perry a co-chair of her “Georgia’s Promise” transition team, came out to support, along with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, producer DeVon Franklin, Crystal Renee Hayslett, Eva Marcille and Bryan Tanaka.
After the screening, the night turned into a concert. Perry hosted a celebration featuring the film’s gospel legends, with the Red Hand band backing cast members through seven songs, including the film’s climactic rendition of Do You Hear What I Hear?
Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas premieres globally on Netflix on Wednesday, November 11.
Photo Credit: Netflix
