From Associate Editor Troy Lilly…

After a year-long hiatus, Sunday Best returned to the BET airwaves Sunday night to premiere season four of the popular gospel singing competition. And with it were all the familiar faces fans have come to love.

Kirk Franklin, the multi-award-winning songwriter and producer, returns to host the show, proving he hasn’t lost a bit of his excitement. He’s still unpredictable and over the top, which is exactly why he’s so beloved as the show’s official hype man.

At the judges’ table, Donnie McClurkin and sisters Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary, are again on board to evaluate the talent (and occasional lack of talent) presented by the thousands of singers who audition for a chance to be named “Sunday Best.”

Tina clearly is still the judge who’s not afraid to dish out some tough love when an audition “ain’t workin,’” as she put it. Erica, on the other hand, maintains the middle ground, issuing balanced critiques and with little wavering. But you’ll notice that is seems Donnie has settled into his role as a judge and doesn’t hold back on would-be contestants quite like last year, either.

For the most part, though, things remain the same, and that’s not a bad thing.

As always, the most interesting and unpredictable part of Sunday Best is the contestants. If you watched the first three seasons, you’ll remember that there have been three strong female winners: Crystal Aikin in season one, Y’Anna Crawley in season two, and LeAndria Johnson last year.

After making stops in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles among other cities, this year’s Sunday Best Top 20 is split between ten men and ten women who represent an interesting variety of vocal styles and textures. While I heard a lot of runs and vocal acrobatics during the audition footage, it was mostly from singers who didn’t make the final cut. There were, of course, those few who I could’ve thrown my hands at. But I remember that it’s a competition and an even playing field isn’t always fun to watch.

With the exception of a few singers, I think we’ll get to see some voices explore tones and techniques besides the traditional growls and groans we’re used to on the show. We might even get a little reggae this year! I like surprises, though, and Sunday Best is always full of them, so only time will tell if there’s any truth to my gut-feeling.

What ultimately remains to be seen, however, is if a male singer will snatch the title away this year. I hate to make this a battle of the sexes, but I’m not the only one who’s just a bit curious, right? Right!?

Here’s your Top 20:

• Timesha Sampson
• Toneisha Harris
• Sue Roseberry
• Shandandolan Reynolds
• Roosevelt Griffin
• Ricky Valentino Lafontaine
• Quentin Bethea
• Monica Smith
• Michael Washington
• Michael Pugh
• Latrice Smith
• Isaiah Freeman
• Felicia Russell
• Eric Drew
• Chase Stancle
• Carlington Roberts
• Brian Ezra Bates
• Annalisha Robbins
• Andrea Helms
• Amber Bullock

We’ll all have to stay tuned to find out for sure…

So remember, the Top 20 head to Atlanta this coming week for the first round of performances and cuts. Be sure to tune in to at 8 p.m. EST on Sundays this summer!

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What’d you think of the Sunday Best premiere?

Did you like the judges’ Top 20 picks?

Who are you rooting for so far?  Everybody?  Nobody?