TIFTON — Sunday’s Best finalist Corey Webb will be performing in Tifton this weekend during the 14th Annual Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration.

Main Street’s Economic Development Director Lequrica Gaskins said they’ve incorporated a mini “Gospel Fest” to take place from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Tift Theatre. Webb will kick off the event at 8 p.m. and then The Downings (Ray and Leslie Ann Downing of Tifton) will take the stage at 9 p.m. Also, prior to the Gospel Fest, Carolyn Ellis School of Dance will present “Tis The Season” at 7 p.m.

“We are pleased to have Corey Webb to grace the stage of the Tift Theatre,” Gaskins said.

Webb, 35, was first introduced to the world when he appeared on the first season of BET’s hit gospel singing competition Sunday Best in 2008.

During a phone interview from Atlanta, Webb told The Gazette that Sunday Best television commercials caught his attention and he “felt led to audition.”

Out of 5,000 people who auditioned for the show in Atlanta, Webb was one out of six chosen to go to Los Angeles, Calif. He stated that thousands of people auditioned in Atlanta.

He let out a slight laugh and said when auditioning for a competitive show such as Sunday Best, “you have to have some type of self confidence.” However, when seeing so many people at the audition in Atlanta, he stated that “your faith takes a hit.”

“But, when you believe hard enough and stick to it, anything is possible,” Webb said.

Of all the cities where the auditions were held, 20 hopefuls were chosen to compete on the show.

Webb, who was one of those hopefuls, said all day long from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., they would sing and take part in interviews, including those for television commercials.

“It was very stressful,” he admitted.

When asked if he was intimidated by the other contestants, he stated, “I wasn’t intimated because you can’t focus on other people. You have to focus on the talent that God has given you.”

He stated that as a contestant, all he was trying to do was show his talent.

Webb ended up being a top 10 finalist, which he says was a blessing from God.

“Sunday Best was the best experience that I could ever have in my life,” he stated. “It exposed me to a different type of pressure. It offers interviewing skills to know what to say in certain situations, and it shows you how to be professional. It opened up so many doors.”

He described the show, and many like it, as being a “training ground”.

“It’s like going through an accelerated boot camp,” Webb said. “It was months of dealing with professionals and singers. You can’t help but learn quickly.”

Ever since he was a small child, Webb has always dreamed of singing gospel music, he says. He grew up singing and playing the piano. He is originally from Kenosha, Wis. and is the son of a pastor, Mark Webb, and his mother is Sandra Webb. He stated that his parents still reside in Kenosha, Wis. He moved to Atlanta in 2005 to pursue his music.

Since starring on Sunday Best, Webb has performed with or opened up for gospel artists Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Marvin Sapp, Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Kim Burrell and many others. He also performed with India Arie.

He’s traveled all over the world and will be featured on a new reality docu-series, “Before the Fame”, which will air in 2013 on the television network VH1.

Also, Webb and his wife, Tomika Bailey Webb, a native of Tifton, are CEOs of their own entertainment label, World Impact Entertainment, Inc. in Atlanta. Tomika is also the manager. She noted that the label is based on event and talent management. Webb said all forms of entertainment is coming from a Christian perspective. Currently, 12 gospel artists and entertainers have been signed.



Webb has also released an album titled “Lifeline”, which is distributed nationally by Central South Distribution, Inc. out of Nashville, Tenn. It’s available on Amazon.com and iTunes, as well as in stores at Target, Best Buy and Walmart.

Webb said 12 songs are featured on the album. His favorite song, which is the lead single on the album, is “Lifeline”. He explained that the song is a story about the struggle that a person has when they’re going after their dream and feel they have failed.

“At the end of the day, no matter how hard life gets, when going after your dream, always remember there is a lifeline,” Webb said. “Jesus is my lifeline.”

Another song on the album that Webb really likes is titled “Make A Way”. He explained that this song is about when there seems to be no way out of a situation, “God is making a way and clearing a path for you”.

Webb’s album is currently No. 45 on the Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart.

To be charted and have an independent label, he stated, “That is major for us.”

Webb said his future plans include pushing other gospel artists through his label, World Impact Entertainment, Inc. He also wants to branch off into television, films and broadcasting.

“I really want to touch the whole totality of the Christian entertainment market,” he said, adding that it’s a growing market.

Webb stated that this is just the first phase of his plans.

The overall message that he wishes to share with others is: “God loves His people. He cares and He’s real. He’s there to help us and love us.”

With his wife being a “hometown girl”, Webb is familiar with Tifton. He stated that he’s excited about coming back to a place that he fell in love with. He said what he likes about the City of Tifton is that it’s a very family-oriented community.

He stated that those who attend Saturday’s Gospel Fest will be entertained with “good gospel, Christian music with an inspiring message.”

For more information on Webb, visit worldimpactentertainment.com.



To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.