“Thicker Than Water “ is a high drama, funny, multigenerational Black faith-based show on Bravo, featuring the family of gospel-jazz magnet, “the Godfather of Gospel Jazz”, Ben Tankard. The show just launched its second season, thanks to generating millions of loyal viewers last year. Along with Ben, the 6 foot 6 inch former basketball player, keyboardist, music exec millionaire is Jewell his dynamic wife, a business wiz who claims she was a millionaire before she met her husband. And then there are all the Tankard relatives, including adult children who live with them in a three-story mansion, surrounded by luxurious cars, planes, and a man-made lake. Woven in with family drama, secrets, laughter and the bling is a faith-based approach to the challenges of life. Upstate Gospel had a candid conversation with Ben, Jewell, and their 19-year-old Cyrene.
Upstate Gospel (UG): Congratulations on beginning the second season of “Thicker Than Water”, what was your goal in season one?
Ben Tankard: “I’m just going be honest man, I am so proud of my family, you guys have supported me for 25 years as a recording artist and a record company president. My reason for doing it was I was wanting to brag on my family and let all of our fans and friends and the industry see where I get my inspiration for my music”
Jewell Tankard: “Ministry to the point that I think that every family has their dynamics, and I think you know in church we just don’t want to talk about it. We want to put our best foot forward. We want to just tell everyone I’m blessed, and you are, but itdefinitely doesn’t mean you don’t have control issues, or you’re being mean, it’s just the personality types that our family has.”
“So many people have told me this has been really healing for me watching the show because I’m dealing with the very same thing in my family.”
UG: (19-year-old daughter Cyrene is a freshman at Howard University in Washington D.C.) How has being on your own in college affected you?
Cyrene Tankard: “I have made my fair share of mistakes I must say! Being away from home, it’s been a learning experience. I appreciate it, I would not take it back. I wouldn’t take these four months back because in the end I know it’s making me, still making me stronger. I’m still learning and I’m still getting better. For me I know my story, I know what God has laid out for me. “
I’m thankful that I have parents who love me through my learning phases, my learning stages, and siblings that are supportive, and helping, and giving advice.”
Jewell Tankard: “I have been to campus three times since she left. I’ll probably do it three times before she comes back in May. We talk pretty much everyday! The bible says the word have I hid in mine heart, so that I will not sin against you. So I feel like even when she’s going to go to the right, or to the left-there’s only so far she can go, the Holy Ghost is going to be right there and say mam, mam, mam (laugh). I’m proud of her.”
UG: Jewell you get teased about praying for virtually everything, all the time?
Jewell Tankard: “I don’t pray in the morning when I brush my teeth. But I believe that we should be praying every day, that we are confirmed, affirmed, redeemed, restored, renewed, revitalized, and energized. I do think that you should be confessing of yourself everyday because there are lots of voices out there that will try to move you away from the plan God has for your life. There are lots of influences out there and so I think it’s important to pray throughout the day, every day. I definitely get my day started with it, I definitely end every day with it.”
UG: You all do parenting with a lot of humor and communications,- you talk to your kids, why?
Ben Tankard: “The bible has so much wisdom and my favorite place to park is Proverbs, cause you could just take anyplace in Proverbs and say what daddy thinks is this or mommy thinks this.
If they’re grown and they are past whooping and the time-out stage ain’t nothing you can do but talk! So when you better have something to say and it needs to go beyond your mind and your thinking. And the word of God has a way of doing it. Now if you come preachy they won’t receive it, but if you come with the Proverbs, and the word God is not mentioned in Proverbs at all.”
Jewell: “I think the Christian faith has helped me tremendously. Because if you’re going to communicate with your children ‘communicate anything’ then you’re definitely going to need His wisdom to be able to help you. I just think in today’s world’ because it is so different from when my parents raised me, you just say like I need to know what to do! I don’t even know what to say. I don’t even know what to think! There are moments-and you need to ask Him, ok God will you teach me how to handle this? Show me what to say? I feel ticked-off right now, is this the right emotion? Should I be calm right now?
UG: One of your themes when you preach is that everybody can be a millionaire. We know that’s impossible, so why should people think this way?
Ben Tankard: “It’s impossible if you don’t, it is possible if you do. The reason we believe God wants everyone to be a millionaire was because we believe if you’re successful, debt free and you have more money than you need for your own needs, now you can be a miracle for somebody else, and you can be somebody else’s surprise miracle, where you can buy a home for somebody else, get somebody out of jail, get somebody out of debt.”
UG: Finally, if you were a character in the Bible, who would you be?
Ben Tankard: Several come to mind, David was a minstrel, Joseph was in the pit, I was raised in poverty. But Benjamin because that’s my name and when Joseph came back to bless his brothers, he blessed Benjamin five fold. I have been blessed five fold.”
Cyrene Tankard: (both her parents, Ben & Jewell spoke up and said) “Daniel, in the Lions den because you can’t do everything.”
Jewell Tankard: “Definitely, Esther her ability to pray and fast and birth. Then she changed a nation because of her faith in God, her boldness and her courage. I’m a modern day Esther for sure!
Bravo Media’s “Thicker Than Water” season two premiered on Sunday, January 4 at 9 PM ET/PT. Season two features the unpredictable Tankard clan as they continue to live their lives as best as they can with their strong religious convictions at hand. Ben and Jewel Tankard are back, leading their self-proclaimed “Black Brady Bunch” family with children Brooklyn, Britney, Benji, and Cyrene. Joining the family in the “Tankard Palace” is Ben’s oldest son, Marcus, who returns to Tennessee with his wife, Tish, to a warm welcome from everyone — except Britney.
Tune in at 9PM ET/PT and watch Bravo Media’s “Thicker Than Water”
