(September 18, 2026) You could create an extensive playlist from the gospel songs made by Kirk Franklin and Karen Clark Sheard. Sheard has been gospel music royalty both as a member of the family group The Clark Sisters and with her distinguished solo career. Franklin has added many songs to the gospel music canon. Franklin’s songs have been performed by choirs and praise and worship teams for more than three decades.
Pairing Sheard and Franklin makes sense because both artists are skilled at using the production techniques of secular styles like R&B, funk and hip-hop to deliver an uncompromising message of God’s love and faithfulness. They can also stand in front of a choir and deliver a classic gospel song.
Franklin and Sheard do that latter on that new collaboration “Thank You For Everything” which is featured in this First Listen. Franklin wrote and co-produced “Thank You For Everything” with Adam Blackstone. The lyrics draw inspiration from Romans 8:28 and 1 Thessalonians 5: 18. Those lyrics remind listeners to give thanks in all circumstances because all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
“Thank You For Everything” is a classic Kirk Franklin arrangement in which he engages in call and response with his choir. Sheard brings her power packed vocals to this praise song’s second half where she engages in a passionate and heartfelt testimony about how total faith in God’s healing and delivering power carried her through.
This is a song will be another addition to the gospel music canon from two of the genre’s legendary voices. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
