Kirk Franklin Talks ‘LONG LIVE LOVE’ Album, Clark Sisters Biopic & More

Thirteen-time Grammy Award-winner Kirk Franklin recently sat down with EBONY to discuss his upcoming LONG LIVE LOVE album and tour. Franklin, who recently hosted the 34th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, is preparing to drop his 13th studio album on May 31. While he may be a songwriting pro and a music industry veteran, Franklin opened up about a ‘first’ he encountered while preparing the project. “This will be the first time that I am able to marry the tour and the album, even the sale of the album is connected to the ticket to the tour,” he explained. “It’s kind of like this marriage that I’ve been trying to get together for years in my career, but it hasn’t always been able to line up like it has this time.” As far as the message in his music goes, he said, “Every day we’ve been reminded about how important the subject of love is within culture and how important it is to see it from the lens of God’s heart.” Thrilled over news about the Clark Sisters landing a biopic, Franklin said, “I think that it’s beautiful that culture now has a chance to celebrate these men and women of faith who sacrificed very much and received little acclaim because they talk about Jesus.” There’s only one person Franklin would like to star in an autobiographic film about his life. “Emanuel Lewis, like Webster from the TV show… Because he’s little. He’s the only person that can see eye to eye with me,” he said. Booked and super-busy, Franklin is headlining the 2nd annual Exodus Music & Arts Festival on May 26. He’s also set to hit the road on the LONG LIVE LIVE tour beginning July 11. The songwriter will also reprise his role as a host on BET’s singing competition, Sunday Best, when it airs this summer.