::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

By Mona Austin Last Fe b ruary Leandria Johnson auditioned for B ET's Sunday B est and emerged as the season 3 winner.  Her story alone captured viewers' attention (she'd lost her home and auditioned in New Orleans wearing jeans and flip flops) and her undeniably gifted voice gained fans who have been anticipating her first professional CD.  Until she performed on Celebration of Gospel last December and at a King Day event in Atlanta this January , the buzz about Johnson had fizzled.  Recently, a video was posted on You Tu be that offers insight as to why we have not seen nor heard much from the Florida-bred singer.  In the clip Johnson testifies at New Life Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York   that after winning Sunday Best she she didn't want any parts of this (apparently referring to a career in entertainment.) "Pray that my mind stays focused on Jesus. . . Even after Sunday B est I found myself going b ack to where I had came from. . .I didn...

Photos: Finale shots of finalists sharing a duet and interacting with host, Kirk Franklin. Leandria Johnson has "leaped  into her destiny."  Crowned the season three winner of BET's SUNDAY BEST, the 27-year-old Orlando, FL native discovered last night literally what it means to gain from losing.  The praise and worship leader came to the New Orleans auditions with nothing but the clothes on her back, but left with the title Sunday Best, keys to a 2010 Ford SHO  and a future overflowing with professional possibilities. Viewers voting online, by text, or phone sealed her fate as the third woman to win the title in the three year run of the show, while many followers commented online they wanted her opponent to break the all female winning streak. The man to beat was 79-year-old Elder Goldwire McClendon of Philadelphia, PA.    Christians have seen Leandria Johnson's type before in the pag...

The top `10 finalist of Sunday best were determined by judges' decision Sunday Night. Competing for a national recording contract, a 2010 Ford Taurus, a cash prize and the title Sunday Best they are: Dewar Davis Franklin Davis Twanna Tarvin LeAndraia Johnson Orlando Wright Brian Smith Tiffany Carlin David Wilford Dathan Thigpin Elder Goldwire McClendon HIGHLIGHTS The display of talent from group 2 of the top 20 was par excellent. In fact, the majority of the Top 10 were selected from the second week performers. Among them, is the competition's fist Hebrew contestant, David Wilford. My favorites this week were Dathan Thigpin (singing "Open the Eyes of My Heart") and Twanna Tarvin (she sang "Walk with Me"). I'm truly impressed with the top 10 and although there were several others who I thought could have made it, I think all the finalists deserve to be there. Like many of you, I was glad to see Elder Goldwire McClendon make the finals and I hear there...

CD TO DEBUT THIS JULY BET's (Black Entertainment Television) "Sunday Best" winner Y'Anna Crawley has signed on as an endorser with Shure Pro Audio. The volcanic gospel vocalist leaped to fame during the 2009 second season of BET's hit television talent competition where she wowed viewers with her electrifying performances of songs such as Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands" and the Rev. James Cleveland's "No Ways Tired." "What can I say about Shure? The sound is consistently crystal clear, the quality of the product is the BEST, and it prevents me from having to work as hard vocally," Crawley says. "I've been requesting this product in my rider for years so to finally be partnering with them officially is great. Shure. Yes, that's my sound product of choice without question." "Y'Anna Crawley's powerful, soulful voice is a fresh light in Gospel music," says Ryan Smith, Regional Manager,...