By Rubin E. Grant
Soprano Sadie Goodman will perform at a concert in two weeks, but she doesn’t know what she’s going to sing.
She’s perfectly fine with that.
That’s because Goodman will be performing in concert with Charles Billingsley, one of Christian music’s most distinctive artists for nearly 30 years, during the Portraits of Hope’s “It’s Christmas Time Again” concert. The event will be Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Samford University Wright Center, which is also presenting the event.
Goodman, a music lecturer at Samford, is familiar with Billingsley, having performed an operatic duet with him called “Time to Say Goodbye” from his “The Shadow of Your Smile” album last year. She also performed with him during a Portraits of Hope banquet gala in February at The Club.
“The thing with Charles is he’s so laid back,” Goodman said. “Once you get to a certain level and have sung as many concerts as he has, you’re prepared for anything that comes your way.
“So, I’ll roll with whatever Charles has prepared. He’ll probably let me know a week or so before the concert and then we’ll get ready.”
Billingsley and Goodman will be joined by Denver and the Mile High Orchestra at the concert.
Billingsley will likely entertain concertgoers with such carols as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “White Christmas” and “O Holy Night” in a dose of holiday cheer.
Hope for Women and Children
Billingsley also was the headliner of a Portraits of Hope concert in 2022. Portraits of Hope is a nonprofit that provides support, encouragement, love and hope to women and their children facing life’s challenges after incarceration, drug addiction and domestic violence.
Its concerts featuring Billingsley have enabled the charity to help more than 90 women with more than $100,000 to overcome their financial barriers. The funds are used for paying fines to restore licenses, paying unpaid utility fees to reestablish services, assisting with tuition to aid in advancing jobs and providing down payments for cars, as well as meeting other needs.
“The goal is to build off the success of last year’s event and make an even greater impact this year,” said Beverly McNeil, who founded the nonprofit.
McNeil also represents artists and is the originator of the Portraits of Hope book, a collection of original artworks inspired by the women of the Lovelady Center, a faith-based residential center for women recovering from addiction.
McNeil was responsible for Goodman, who lives in Mountain Brook, being a part of this year’s concert.
“I’m blessed to be asked,” Goodman said. “Beverly called me in June and I agreed to do it.”
Goodman learned more about Portraits of Hope during the banquet in February that she attended with her husband.
“They showed videos of some of the women who had been through their program, and we heard stories about their drug use,” Goodman said. “It put me to tears with how they had turned their lives around. My husband and I love to support a cause like this.”
For more information about Portraits of Hope and to purchase tickets for the concert visit: portraitsofhope.charity.
