McDonald's Gospelfest

Over the years the competition performances have taken place at Palace Theater,[6] the Hammerstein Ballroom,[7] Westbury Music Fair, Newark Symphony Hall, Madison Square Garden,[8] and New York City Center.

[14] Newark Symphony Hall is home to the NSH Special Ensemble,[23] which was selected as the Gospelfest Youth Choir Winner in 2011,[24] and hosts the "When Praise Goes Up!"

The program includes Yolanda Adams, Kelly Price, Hezekiah Walker with his Love Fellowship Tabernacle Choir, Tramaine Hawkins, Deitrick Haddon, Jonathan McReynolds, with special guest appearance by Erica Campbell.

[34] The line-up included Tamar Braxton, Yolanda Adams, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, and the Greater Allen AME Cathedral Mass Choir.

This year's event features Donnie McClurkin, Erica Campbell, Hezekiah Walker, Israel Houghton, Bishop Paul Morton, Fantasia Barrino, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, and Greater Allen AME Cathedral.

Saturday, May 7, 2016, on Mother's Day Weekend, featuring Yolanda Adams, Tamela Mann, Bishop Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, Jennifer Holliday and others.

[43][44] The show, which lasted eight hours, took place May 11, 2013 and included performances by Aretha Franklin,[45] Donnie McClurkin, Smokie Norful, John P. Kee and Lecrae.

[51] The festival was also seen as a tribute to Whitney Houston,[52] with roots in Newark, who had died earlier in the year and whose funeral services were held at the New Hope Baptist Church.

Headliners included Dionne Warwick,[58] Roberta Flack, Hezekiah Walker, Vickie Winans, Cissy Houston, Regina Belle, J Moss.

[61][62] On June 14, 2008, its twenty-fifth anniversary, the Gospelfest increased its participant and audience capacity and for the first time was held in the arena recently opened Prudential Center.

Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir, Byron Cage, Vickie Winans and Cissy Houston were among the headliners who performed in the evening concert.