After a season of tough competition and difficult challenges, BET has a new “Sunday Best” winner.
Melvin Crispell III won Season 9 of the cable network’s gospel singing competition on Sunday night, after competing in the finale against Joshua Copeland.
Melvin, 22, and Joshua, 38, were announced as the finalists last weekend, with online voting open to fans on BET’s website.
Before the winner was revealed, special guests Tasha Cobbs Leonard and VaShawn Mitchell delivered stirring performances. Judges Jonathan McReynolds, Kelly Price, and Erica Campbell also performed, with Campbell debuting her new single “Praying & Believing.”
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Melvin and Joshua teamed up to perform a duet of Mary Mary’s “I Can’t Give Up Now.”
Then it was time for host and executive producer, Kirk Franklin, to announce the winner. In addition to taking the title of “Sunday Best,” Melvin of Charlotte, North Carolina, was awarded a recording contract with RCA Inspiration and a cash prize of $50,000.
He closed out the show with a performance of “Wonderful Is Your Name,” which has special meaning for the up-and-coming singer.
Melvin comes from a family with deep gospel roots. His mother, Tunesha Crispell, was a celebrated gospel singer; and his father, Melvin Crispell Jr., wrote Hezekiah Walker’s “Wonderful Is Your Name” and “Jesus Is My Help.”
Both of Melvin’s parents died when he was a teenager. He has credited God with getting him through life’s challenges.
Watch Melvin perform “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” on Sunday Best below.
