MAHALIA JACKSON’S GLORI-FRIED CHICKEN

I reported, produced, and hosted this story, which won a James Beard Award for Best Audio Feature.

In addition to her work as an international recording artist and civil rights activist, the Queen of Gospel entered the restaurant business in the late 1960s with Mahalia Jackson’s Glori-fried Chicken. The fast-food chain was more than a brand extension for the star; it was the first African American-owned franchise in the South. Producer Betsy Shepherd explores how Mahalia used the gospel bird to push for economic empowerment in the Black community.