Anyone in the music industry knows just how talentedKelly Rowlandis. For Grammy nominee Kelly Price, she learned this up close and personal during a table read for the new BET show,American Soul. In fact, Price reveals she was left in tears upon hearing Rowland’s “entrancing” vocals.
“I had the first line coming out of the song at the table read. I was so entranced, I forgot to say my line. It was wonderful and we had water in our eyes,” Price, 45, told PEOPLE.
Rowland is appearing in a recurring role inAmerican Soulas Gladys Knight, and viewers can expect to see her performing Knight’s hit song “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
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Price had high praise regarding 37-year-old Rowland’s appearance in the BET series.
“She is always one of the sweetest, most genuine people in this industry,” she said. “It was really great to see her translate Gladys Knight. She did it effortlessly.”
Kelly Rowland.Jace Downs/BET
However, Rowland won’t be the only former Destiny’s Child member to appear in the series —Michelle Williams will appearin a guest role as Diana Ross.
American Soulwill tell the story of Don Cornelius and his success and struggles during the creation of the legendary music program.
Along with the story of the Cornelius’ music program,American Soulalso touches on race relations during that time period, which relates to Price’s role as African-American mother Brianne Clark.
“For Brianne, her intrigue and purpose is to show what a black family looked like,” the singer says. “You literally watch her go through a new journey from episode one to episode ten. She’s forced to find her voice that she lost and gave up.”
While the BET show is based on Don Cornelius, another Cornelius is involved in the production behind the scenes: his son, Tony, and he has hopes for what viewers can learn about his father’s legacy.
“My hope is that, as he said a long time ago, you kind of work on the fine points in life,” Cornelius said. “You see what it took to hold onto a business and at the same time, you lose a couple of things, too. You lose your relationship with your family sometimes. I think the audience will really understand who this man really is.”
However, being involved in a show honoring his father wasn’t an easy ride for Tony. He confesses that the first scene, in particular, is most difficult for him.
“I was actually there for my father when he committed suicide. Suicide was a vale of shame for a lot of people for a lot of years. I’m just here to talk about it. It’s a healing process for me.”
The show will additionally air a PSA throughout the series to allow people to know who to reach out to if they are dealing with mental health issues and suicide.
American Soulairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m ET on BET.
source: people.com
