Karen Clark Sheard (born Karen Valencia Clark) is an American gospel singer… Read Full Bio ↴Karen Clark Sheard (born Karen Valencia Clark) is an American gospel singer, member of seminal group The Clark Sisters, and mother of contemporary gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard.

Brief Biography

Karen Clark Sheard was born the youngest of six children born to Pastor Elbert Clark and Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a pioneering gospel choral director. Clark-Sheard is best known for being a member of iconic gospel group The Clark Sisters.

Karen's involvement in the Island Inspirational All Stars' "Don't Give Up" in 1996 (along with Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, and Kirk Franklin) led to her signing with Island Records.[1] Her solo career began with the release of her debut album Finally Karen in 1997. The album, consisting of half studio recordings and half live recordings, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 1998. The set did however win the Lady Of Soul award for Best Gospel Album the same year.[2]

After Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard became the 2nd gospel artist to sign to Elektra Records. She released her Elektra debut album 2nd Chance in 2002 led off by the single "Be Sure". Though Clark-Sheard was in excellent form vocally, the slick, progressive sound of the disc was not received well. The 2003 followup The Heavens Are Telling fared well, but came at an awkward time when Elektra Records was being dissolved into Atlantic Records. In 2005, after a bidding war with several labels, Karen Clark Sheard finally signed with Word Records and issued It's Not Over, the following year.

Singers Mariah Carey, Faith Evans and Beyoncé all count Karen Clark-Sheard as one of their greatest vocal influences.[3]

Personal life

On June 16, 1984, Karen Clark-Sheard wed John Drew Sheard, a minister. Her husband is senior pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. Together they have 2 children: Kierra, who is also a gospel recording artist, and John Drew Sheard II, a young musician and up-and-coming producer.

In 2001, Clark-Sheard was faced with a life-threatening crisis when a blood vessel burst during a scheduled hernia surgery. Her doctors only gave her a 2% chance of survival due to her complications. After the blood clot was surgically removed, Clark-Sheard fell into a coma. The coma lasted three and a half weeks[4], but Clark-Sheard made a miraculous [5][6]recovery and recorded her sophomore album, 2nd Chance (named so because of the "second chance" given to her by God) [7], in 2002. Clark-Sheard's near-death experience is referenced in her daughter Kierra's song "You Don't Know".

Voice

* 1st Soprano

Highest Note

* Eb6 in "Name it and Claim it" (Gospel, motion picture, 1982) and "Livin'" ("You Showed Me" was a C6 natural)

Lowest Note

* G3 in "So Good" and "Its Not Over" (version from album of same title)

The Heavens Are Telling
Karen Clark Sheard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The heavens are telling
Of God and His glory
A mighty God we serve
They speak of His character
Awesome Creator
A mighty God we serve

Angels bow before Him

Heaven and Earth adore Him
No other God above Him
A mighty God we serve

Hail the power and glory of God
Hail the power and glory of God

The earth and skies, glory
The land and seas, God's glory
The flowers and trees, glory
You and me, God's glory

Everything He does
He does it well

He does it well
What a mighty God we serve

Overall Meaning

The Karen Clark Sheard song "The Heavens Are Telling" is a beautiful tribute to God and his character. The lyrics speak of how the heavens and the earth alike are testifying to God's glory, and how everything He does, He does well. The song is a call to action, inviting listeners to join in the praise and adoration of God.

The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the might and glory of God. The second verse references angels bowing before Him and all of creation offering praise to Him. The chorus exclaims the power and glory of God, calling on all to join in the praise. The bridge of the song speaks of how everything in creation testifies to God's glory and how He does everything well.

Overall, "The Heavens Are Telling" is a beautiful and inspiring song that reminds us of the power and majesty of God. It calls us to join in the praise and adoration of Him, and to recognize His greatness in all that we see around us.

Line by Line Meaning

The heavens are telling
The skies are proclaiming a message

Of God and His glory
About God and His majesty

A mighty God we serve
We worship a God who is powerful

They speak of His character
They proclaim His attributes

Awesome Creator
An astonishing Maker

Angels bow before Him
Angels kneel in front of Him

Heaven and Earth adore Him
The sky and the land worship Him

No other God above Him
No deity is greater than Him

Hail the power and glory of God
Let us acclaim the strength and splendor of God

The earth and skies, glory
The ground and the heavens display splendor

The land and seas, God's glory
The area and the sea demonstrate the magnificence of God