If you’re looking for an R&B artist who represents the spirit and sound of Detroit, look no further than Charity Ward. Her sound, sculpted from her upbringing as a preacher’s kid, inspired her debut album in 2020, “Tended Headed.”

After years as a part-time musician, and after a major collaboration with rapper Snoop Dogg on her single “Cruel,” she entered 2025 on a mission to commit to music full-time.

She joined The Metro during our fall fundraiser and shared how transformative her dedication to music has been and what listeners can expect from her upcoming album.

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Twenty years ago, professor Robert Darden at Baylor University wrote an op-ed in the New York Times in which he called for gospel music from its “golden era” to be preserved. That idea eventually cam to fruition with the creation of the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program. 

Stephen Newby, an ambassador for the program and a professor of music at Baylor University, joined the Metro to explain what “golden era” of gospel music is, why its still being archived today, and how Detroit artists fit into all of it.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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