Brian Littrell to Host Christian Reality Show 'Gifted' This Week

|PIC1|As the demand for popular reality talent shows like The X Factor and American Idol continues to rise, Christians in the US have taken a lead on a similar show called 'Gifted', which will air this week on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

Brian Littrell, member of the multi-platinum selling pop group Backstreet Boys and award-winning Christian solo artist, will host the show, which will feature 16,000 contestants, 8 finalists, 3 judges, and 1 winner.

Littrell commented that most popular singers such as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Whitney Houston started in gospel music, and expects plenty of interest from America's churches.

The two-hour prime time TBN television special, which will launch 26 January, culminates months of nationwide searching to find and present the brightest new talent in Christian music, according to a media release obtained by ANS.

According to a release, those tuning in that evening "will share the excitement of 'reality based TV' with the nationwide viewing audience witnessing one contestant being awarded the top prize of a major recording contract with the EMI Christian Music Group."

The television special will be followed by a February 20 release of Gifted, Season One, on CD/DVD from EMI/Sparrow Records. In addition to the CD featuring performances by the eight top finalists on the telecast, the companion three hour DVD will contain the entire two hour televised special with bonus behind the scenes, 'all access' content.

Judges chosen to sit on the panel for the competition include Michael Sweet, lead singer of legendary Christian rock band Stryper, Eddie DeGarmo, founding member of multi-award winning Christian duo DeGarmo & Key and now president of EMI CMG Publishing, and multi-Grammy and Dove Award winning artist, Andrae Crouch.

The release says : "For the debut telecast itself the field of more than 16,000 contestants will be already narrowed for viewers to the eight top finalists, whose performances range from praise & worship, gospel and contemporary Christian music's top hits of today."

It adds : "National auditions for the Gifted talent competition were held
over a year long period in churches situation in major markets throughout the United States. Unique to the competition was the emphasis to create a nationwide talent search for Christian solo artists with a desire to display the gifts that God gave them and to give back that gift by sharing with the world through their music the message of hope in Christ."