JSU student auditioned for BET’s Sunday Best

Tiffany Edmondson
Staff Writer

Yovonkas Kenyatta Smith is not your typical traditional student but she is making moves in academics at Jackson State University and the gospel music industry. Recently, Smith, a sophomore political science major, auditioned for BET’s Sunday Best.
Before Smith and others auditioned for the show in Atlanta, Hallelujah F.M. 95.5 in Jackson, Miss. sponsored a call-in competition that allowed interested singers to compete to be the winning caller No.9.

Once they were on-air, they were able to sing a song of their choice while listeners called in and voted on the singers who sounded the best. The singers with the most calls and votes won a seat on a tour bus that 95.5 sponsored to take singers to the audition.  The trip to Atlanta was an all-expense paid trip with the exception of food.

After several attempts, Smith was caller No. 9 and she sung “I am Your Child,” a gospel song. Listeners quickly responded to Smith’s melodic voice by flooding the phone lines and  voted  her on the bus. On the night of March 18, all the winners departed for Atlanta.

The auditions were held at a church and Smith sung a song that was downloaded off of BET’s Sunday Best website.

“While I was there, I heard some amazing and talented voices. We got a chance to meet a lot of people,” said Smith.

Smith also said that since they were on the bus they received a little VIP treatment.

“The audition lines were very long and we didn’t have to wait in them. All we did was fill out our application and we were given a number and that’s how we auditioned,” she said..

After everyone on the bus auditioned, they traveled back to Jackson. On the way there and back, they had raffles on the bus that gave them a chance to win CD’s, tapes, and  t-shirts.

Before Smith and the other winners traveled to Atlanta to audition for Sunday’s Best, they received a little voice coaching and auditioning advice from Terez Harris at 95.5 and JSU mass communications professor Dathan Thigpen.  They gave the singers advice and tips on what the judges would be expecting.

Thigpen was a contestant on Sunday’s Best along with another local female Mississippian a couple of seasons ago. This year Thigpen was serving as a judge for the audition alongside Kelly Price and Donnie McClurkin.

“When I sing, I feel like I’m in a different place. It soothes me and makes me feel good to sing to inspire and encourage people,” Smith said. She also said once she starts singing, she just closes her eyes and then the song takes her over.

Smith said much of her inspiration comes from the campus of JSU.

“God gave me a chance to come back to school and be able to sing,” said Smith.

She added that being able to express her talent is not about the fame, fortune or shine. It’s about God.

“God gave us a gift, whether you can sing, write or do whatever. Just be the best you can be.”

Since the age of 9 she has been singing and writing songs and has kept that passion for music throughout all of her life experiences and struggles. One thing she notices about her singing is that she doesn’t sound good when she is recording in the studio.

“In the studio, I’m horrible, but if I use my voice the way God wants me to, it takes control.  It’s an experience I can’t explain.”

“Even though no one from Mississippi was selected to be on the show, a blessing did come out of the whole bus experience. I can’t release the details yet but I just encourage people not to give up on their dreams no matter what age you are,” said Smith.