Just when you thought reality series were not for Christian folk, you learn that gospel duo Mary Mary have their own show. Basically, reality shows are about celebrities bragging about their lush lifestyles and for staunch Christians, vanity is a sin. So what exactly is going on here?
Not only has their first season of Mary Mary come and gone, but sisters Erica and Tina Atkins-Campbell have returned with a new set of exciting episodes about what they’ve been up to.
Tina was in the news last year after going public about her husband Teddy’s infidelity. It was rumoured their relationship would not survive his dalliance, but to date the couple is still together.
If there is any truth to a reality series, we also want to see that bad patch in the show, right? Now, we are not celebrating the couple’s problems, but we are saying that if you put your life out there during the good days then you might as well be available in the bad times of your relationship too.
On the same point, the contemporary gospel duo have been on top of their game over the years with no stiff competition in their genre. Their last album, Go Get It (2012), won them a Grammy so the sisters remain what most gospel outfits aspire to be.
That said, we can’t ignore the fact that the album released before Go Get It, which was called Something Big (2011), almost went unnoticed. Because they are already talking about their successes, here’s hoping they talk about their failures as well.
But as a concept, the Mary Mary reality show is a refreshing one that has some sort of substance. Here we are not watching a bunch of children trying to appear important as they drive their fathers’ expensive cars, drink all they can and argue with their friends.
On Mary Mary we see grown married women juggle their home lives with their professional lives. Coming from a Christian background we see how their celebrity status does not get in the way of their duties as mothers and wives.
They are superstars to us, but once you watch this show you’ll see that they are humans first and singers second. After releasing their first hit song Shackles (2000), they have managed to break into the secular world, but have not changed their beliefs or let fame get to their heads.
Let’s see what season two brings and which music project they are busy with.
• Mary Mary airs every Sunday at 4pm on e.tv.