{"id":24762,"date":"2023-04-21T09:38:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T13:38:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=24762"},"modified":"2023-04-21T09:38:57","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T13:38:57","slug":"chloe-bailey-says-praise-this-merged-her-love-of-music-and-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2023\/04\/chloe-bailey-says-praise-this-merged-her-love-of-music-and-god.html","title":{"rendered":"Chloe Bailey Says “Praise This” Merged Her Love of Music and God"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Starring in a movie focused on gospel music felt natural for five-time Grammy nominee Chloe Bailey. She told The Christian Post, \u201cI grew up singing in my nana\u2019s church in South Carolina with my sister. All the Sundays that we would be down there, we\u2019d be singing. My late cousin, Sherry, was a choir teacher, and my aunt Sandy plays the piano in church every Sunday, and she was the music director as well. So it\u2019s sprinkled throughout my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her new film \u201cPraise This,\u201d Bailey plays Sam, a talented and ambitious upcoming musical artist forced to join her cousin\u2019s struggling church choir in Atlanta against her will. As Sam reluctantly leads her teams of differing personalities through a national gospel singing competition, she finds redemption, grace, and gratitude along the way. The film also stars Tristan Mack Wilds, internet personality Druski, Quavo, and Anjelika Washington.<\/p>\n

Bailey said that Sam has a lot of \u201cgreat qualities,\u201d but she also has some \u201ccrooked\u201d ones that see redemption as the film progresses. Her heart starts to soften as she finds value in the church community. Bailey said, \u201cI really love her persistence. I love how she doesn\u2019t take no for an answer. And I love that no matter what people say about her, she continues on the path she feels is right for her, and she stands up for herself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The film isn\u2019t explicitly faith-based due to its TV-14 rating and sexual innuendo, but it\u2019s filled with musical numbers that turn popular rap and R&B songs into gospel tunes. Some popular worship hits are also covered, like Tasha Cobb Leonard\u2019s \u201cBreak Every Chain.\u201d Director Tina Gordon reportedly visited churches nationwide to ensure accuracy when bringing the gospel choir to life.<\/p>\n