Starring in a movie focused on gospel music felt natural for five-time Grammy nominee Chloe Bailey. She told The Christian Post, “I grew up singing in my nana’s church in South Carolina with my sister. All the Sundays that we would be down there, we’d be singing. My late cousin, Sherry, was a choir teacher, and my aunt Sandy plays the piano in church every Sunday, and she was the music director as well. So it’s sprinkled throughout my family.”

In her new film “Praise This,” Bailey plays Sam, a talented and ambitious upcoming musical artist forced to join her cousin’s struggling church choir in Atlanta against her will. As Sam reluctantly leads her teams of differing personalities through a national gospel singing competition, she finds redemption, grace, and gratitude along the way. The film also stars Tristan Mack Wilds, internet personality Druski, Quavo, and Anjelika Washington.

Bailey said that Sam has a lot of “great qualities,” but she also has some “crooked” ones that see redemption as the film progresses. Her heart starts to soften as she finds value in the church community. Bailey said, “I really love her persistence. I love how she doesn’t take no for an answer. And I love that no matter what people say about her, she continues on the path she feels is right for her, and she stands up for herself.”

The film isn’t explicitly faith-based due to its TV-14 rating and sexual innuendo, but it’s filled with musical numbers that turn popular rap and R&B songs into gospel tunes. Some popular worship hits are also covered, like Tasha Cobb Leonard’s “Break Every Chain.” Director Tina Gordon reportedly visited churches nationwide to ensure accuracy when bringing the gospel choir to life.

Bailey recently sparked criticism and controversy with her performance in the Prim”e series “Swarm,” but “Praise This” emphasizes faith and healing through worship. She also said the role let her merge music and her love of God. She told The Christian Post, “Singing is one of my favorite ways to praise God, as well as just the good old praying. Whenever I feel sorrowful and heavy, I put on my favorite gospel song playlist, and I just sing my heart away, and instantly my spirits are lifted. Music is what heals us, as well as God. So when you have these two forces that bring such love to the forefront, it’s an incredibly powerful thing.”

A self-described “huge gospel fan,” Bailey identified CCM artists Jonathan McReynolds, Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin as some of her favorite artists. And several gospel music legends appear in the film, including Jakala Carr and Koryn Hawthorne. Destiny’s Child star and outspoken Christian Michelle Williams also has a brief cameo.

Bailey says she hopes “Praise This” encourages viewers, saying, “I hope viewers take away from this is that we all have our own journeys and our own paths. And no matter which way or form we come, God will accept us no matter what, and that family is everything. You don’t have to go down a dark path to make your dreams come true.”

“Praise This” is currently available for streaming on Peacock.