Community Spotlight: Twinkie Clark on decades of gospel and staying anointed

Ahead of her live recording Sunday, October 12, 2025, gospel legend Twinkie Clark sat down with Emmanuel Williams Jr, Jackson Advocate’s media collaborator, for an intimate, wide ranging conversation. Known as a pivotal force in shaping modern gospel music, Clark has spent more than four decades innovating, teaching, and leading choirs, all while holding firm to the faith that has guided her life and work. The discussion was as much a look back on a remarkable career as it was a discussion of her vision of where gospel music and gospel artists are headed next.

“I’ve been in gospel for over 50 plus years,” Clark reflected early in the conversation. “It has changed tremendously from one generation to another. We have more praise and worship now, but I miss the choir sound. It’s not as effective as the praise and worship but it still has power.”

For Clark, that “choir sound” is more than nostalgia. It’s a vital spiritual tradition she grew up with. She recalled attending conventions with her family, listening to strong voices rise from the choir stand, and learning the value of blending skill with anointing. “My mother made us learn hymns,” she said, reminiscing about classics like ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. “Those songs still have their place, but young people don’t sing hymns anymore. If we’re not careful, we’ll lose the audience that loves them.”

Still, Clark recognizes the need for flexibility and evolution. “This generation has to be versatile,” she said. “If they are in the Spirit, then the Holy Ghost will lead them when to do praise and worship and when to give a real good choir sound.” It’s that balance between old and new, between tradition and innovation that she believes will keep gospel music vibrant. “Some pastors prefer praise and worship and you always have to go with the pastor’s flow. It’s very effective as long as they balance it.”

During Williams’ media group, EDW Media, a division of The EDW Group, and the Jackson Advocate’s collaborative interview, Clark, a member of the incomparable Clark Sisters who helped popularize the choir sound in gospel music, was asked her opinion on whether or not gospel still has a defining sound? Her answer underscored both her deep roots and her wide reach. “The sound is unique,” she explained. “You have contemporary music, that up to date stuff, and you have the traditional, old fashioned stuff. Each denomination has its own sound. That’s what makes gospel what it is.”

As the conversation turned to Clark’s own groundbreaking work, she recalled moments when she helped push gospel music into uncharted territory. Inspired by secular artists like Stevie Wonder, Clark fused funk and contemporary rhythms with gospel messages, creating hits reaching far beyond church walls. “When they started playing it in the clubs and on secular stations,” she said, “people started coming to the Lord, especially the backsliders. We got testimonies from people who were in the clubs and came back to the church with a prayer life and a hunger for the Word. It was just an overwhelming success.”

This approach drew criticism from some who believe gospel should remain confined to sacred spaces. But Clark saw the crossover as part of her calling. “You limit your ideas and your ability to reach souls when you can’t do both, contemporary and traditional,” she said firmly. “To bridge the gap, you’ve got to be able to do both.”

Throughout the conversation, her passion for young musicians surfaced again and again. She cautioned that while new technology and backing tracks have made it easier to produce music, they can also “distort the sound” and sap performances of the power that comes from true consecration. “If they’re not trained, then they lose the anointing,” she warned. “And the anointing comes from being consecrated, taking time to pray. For us to have an anointing that brings in young people who are depressed or suicidal, we have to be set apart.”

Clark’s love for Mississippi is personal. She praised Jackson as one of the country’s true “gospel meccas,” a city with deep roots in the genre and a vibrant community of believers and artists. She spoke fondly of her collaborations with producer Byron Stevenson, who encouraged her to revisit some of her earlier work while partnering with local universities to nurture the next generation of gospel talent.

Clark’s humility stood out just as much as her accomplishments. Despite her status as one of gospel’s most innovative figures, she spoke softly of her influence. “I’ve seen so many people who are great but don’t get the recognition they deserve. But it’s not about that. It’s about the anointing.”

Looking ahead, Clark is hopeful. “I think we’re going to go into a new dimension. The anointing is being talked about more and more. Folks are yearning for it. But they have to be willing to pay the price and make the sacrifice to be anointed,” she said.

For Clark, that price has always included time with God. It’s what sustains her after decades of recording, traveling, and ministering. “You just can’t be alone. You have to take out time to spend with God. And when you get in the sanctuary, you bring in the Holy Spirit. That’s when the anointing will come.”

As the conversation wound down, Clark’s words resonated as both advice and testimony. Gospel, she says, isn’t just a sound. It’s a calling, a lifestyle and a bridge between generations. “We’re reaching more people. We’re going to another dimension.” 

Now, three decades later, Clark returns to share that same anointed gift with a new generation. On Sunday, October 12, 2025, 6 p.m., at Jackson State University in the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium, 1400 J.R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS, the gospel legend will present an unforgettable live recording alongside Reverend Matthew Donaldson and a powerful combined choir featuring members from Jackson State University, the Jackson community, and surrounding cities and states. This historic musical gathering promises to demonstrate the spirit of gospel excellence and celebrate the enduring power of faith through song. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness Clark live in Mississippi. Tickets are available now at http://www.iconictwinkie.com.

Publisher’s Note: EDW Media and the Jackson Advocate are collaborating on highlighting small businesses throughout the state.