ATLANTA — Tyler Perry brought out the stars for the premiere of his new holiday movie Monday night and made it clear that Georgia will remain home, even as he plans to work in Puerto Rico for a while.
Perry’s latest project, “The Gospel of Christmas,” premiered at the Tabernacle. The faith-based musical holiday drama was filmed primarily in Atlanta.
Channel 2 Action News was the only local television station at the premiere.
“To have all these legends in a movie that I wrote to inspire us with everything that’s going on in the country, all the sadness, the war, the anger, the frustration, the division. I want to do something to make everybody just feel good and pray,” Perry said.
Perry said holding the premiere at the Tabernacle was especially meaningful because of the venue’s connection to his career.
“It was really important tonight for me to be here at the Tabernacle because this is where my whole life should be. I was at the 14th Street Playhouse, and it started there seven years later. It was here at The Tabernacle, so I was like, I have to be there tonight,” Perry said.
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Fantasia Barrino, who won Season 3 of “American Idol” in 2004, said this is the second time Perry has called on her to appear in one of his films.
“He called me one day and said, I have a role for you. And I said, you know what? The good Lord works in mysterious ways. That’s ‘The Color Purple,’ by the way. And He can call me for anything, and I will always be there for him,” Barrino said.
Perry also discussed Georgia’s future and his involvement with Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms’ transition team.
He said one of the first things he did after her victory was call Gov. Brian Kemp.
“The first thing that I did when she won was call Governor Kemp. I’ve had a conversation with them because I’ve had a great relationship with them. I said, how do we continue the level of business and amazingness that you’ve done and to be able to give her all the tools she needs to make sure that all of Georgia thrives, everybody in Georgia, no matter what the race,” Perry said.
And despite plans to spend time working in Puerto Rico, Perry said he is not leaving Georgia.
“No, no, no. The studio will still be here. I’ll be working out of Puerto Rico for a while, and I’ll be doing some things down there, but no, I’m still here. Georgia’s still gonna always be home even though I’ll be living there full-time for a while,” Perry said.
Keisha Lance Bottoms also attended the premiere.
“The Gospel of Christmas” premieres on Netflix Wednesday, Nov. 11.