Oh Happy Day...Viewers Name LeAndria Johnson Winner of Season 3 of 'SUNDAY BEST'

Oh Happy Day...Viewers Name LeAndria Johnson Winner of Season 3 of 'SUNDAY BEST'

More Than 2 Million Americans Cast Their Vote to Choose Season 3 Winner

NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The votes are in! LeAndria Johnson , 27, from Orlando Florida has been named this season's SUNDAY BEST! The 27 year old single mother from Orlando, Florida won over America's hearts against Elder Goldwire McLendon, 79, during last night's season finale. Over the gospel singing competition's 12-week season, Johnson's heartrending story and soulful voice captured the hearts of viewers, bringing in the larger percentage of the more than 2 million total votes. Along with the title of SUNDAY BEST, Johnson brings home a national recording contract, 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and a cash prize courtesy of Degree Nature Effects.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100621/NE24135 )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100621/NE24135 )
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

During the one-hour season finale, viewers were treated to special performances from gospel artists Hezekiah Walker, Kim Burrell and Donald Lawrence featuring season two winner Y'anna Crawley and season two finalists Jessica Reedy and Latice Crawford. Johnson concluded the season with a medley performance of songs "I Love The Lord," "He Was There All The Time," "In The Midst Of It All" and "I Shall Leap Into My Destiny."

Prior to joining the competition, Johnson lost her home in the mortgage crisis. Motivated by the look in her children's eyes and their many questions about where they would live, she made her way to the New Orleans auditions. Quickly becoming a fan and judge favorite, she began to shine episode after episode. Johnson has been singing gospel music since the age of two and is currently a praise and worship leader at HQ Ministries in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

"God will do what he says he will do," said SUNDAY BEST season three winner, LeAndria Johnson. "I'd like to thank everyone who has prayed for me."

Additional sponsors for SUNDAY BEST season three include Pillsbury Grands, Nationwide Insurance, General Mills and contestant makeovers provided by Design Essentials

For more on SUNDAY BEST and this season's winner LeAndria Johnson, visit www.BET.com/sundaybest

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 98 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100621/NE24135
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100621/NE24135
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO
Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Tricia N. Newell, +1-212-975-8230, tricia.newell@bet.net, or
Zabrina Horton, +1-310-481-3737, zabrina.horton@bet.net

Web Site: http://www.bet.com/

-------
Profile: intent