Shari Addison

Chicago served as both birthplace and upbringing ground for gospel singer and theatrical actress Shari Addison. Her mother, a choir director, provided early encouragement that prompted Addison to begin singing at age three. Victories in multiple singing competitions followed, along with appearances in stage productions and a steady schedule of tours that included Carnegie Hall plus stops in South Africa, Russia, and Brazil. The pivotal moment arrived in 2007, when she entered the first season of BET’s gospel competition Sunday Best. Already in her mid-forties, Addison finished second, converting the resulting exposure into a recording deal. Verity Records issued her debut album, the self-titled Shari Addison, in 2009.