(BLACK PR WIRE)(April 10, 2009) Roseland, NJ – Gospel fever returns to the New York Tri-State area on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Prudential Center (165 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ). The auditions are complete and competitors are preparing to share the stage with some of the biggest names in Gospel including Patti LaBelle, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans, Regina Belle, J. Moss, Vickie Winans, Cissy Houston, and Bishop Hezekiah Walker.

Produced and directed by Emmy Award winning Producer, A. Curtis Farrow, McDonald’s Gospelfest is a talent competition that features choirs, steppers, praise dancers, soloists, rappers and poets. Rising stars of all colors, ages, cultures and faiths will compete in a variety of categories including Soloists, Youth Choir, Adult Choir, Praise Dance, Step, Spanish language Soloists, Singing Groups, Gospel Comedians, Gospel Rappers and Gospel Poets.

The new state-of-the-art Prudential Center is the first new professional sports and entertainment arena built in metropolitan New York / New Jersey in 26 years. It is located only 12 miles from Manhattan in downtown Newark, just blocks from Newark Penn Station, accessible via New Jersey Transit, PATH, Light Rail Service and Amtrak.

McDonald’s Gospelfest originated in 1983 under the auspices of the McDonald’s Corporation and the McDonald’s Tri-State Owner Association. Twenty-six years later, it has emerged as the nation’s preeminent Gospel celebration, bringing joy, inspiration, encouragement and hope to millions of Americans. Previous McDonald’s Gospelfest participants have gone on to successful careers in entertainment, including the renowned Bishop Hezekiah Walker, who headlines The McDonald’s Gospelfest celebration each year with his Love Fellowship Choir.

Over the course of the past 26 years, The McDonald’s Tri-State Owner Association has awarded millions of dollars in scholarship money. The McDonald’s Gospelfest competition has been an important fundraising event which supports education opportunities within local communities.

Tickets for McDonald’s Gospelfest 2009 are $55 and $25. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 201.507.8900, or at www.ticketmaster.com. For further information, please call the McDonald’s Gospelfest Hotline at 866.898.7772.

About McDonald’s New York Tri-State Area Restaurants
McDonald's is the world's best-known brand and is the global leader in food service. There are more than 600 McDonald's restaurants, owned by 100 franchisees, located throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state area. For more information, please visit www.mcdonaldsnymetro.com.

SOURCE: McDonald’s NY, NJ, CT Tri-State Restaurants