A new scripted series has been ordered for BET Networks. American Soul, a ‘70s period drama, will chronicle the untold story of the Soul Train era that the late Don Cornelius brought to small screens to celebrate Black culture.
Kelly Price and Kelly Rowland have been tapped for the prominent series. Price will portray Brianne Clarke, a fearful mother of two rising stars in Los Angeles. Rowland is set to play the Empress of Soul Gladys Knight, who happens to be one of Cornelius’ first booked musical guests on Soul Train. Their career-long friendship lasted until his death in 2012.
The series will feature Sinqua Walls (Power) as a young Cornelius, as well as, Jason Dirden (Greenleaf), Iantha Richardson (This Is Us), Christopher Jefferson, Katlyn Nichol, and Jelani Winston.
American Soul will premiere on February 5 at 9 p.m. ET on BET.
See the first look of the series below.
Words by Megan Ambers