Naman Shrestha
The fourth film in the ‘Terry McMillan Presents’ franchise, Lifetime’s ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love’ is a romantic drama movie helmed by Damon Lee. It acquaints us with a talented and successful rapper named Charlisa “Charlie” Jones. Besides allowing her to reach a wide audience, her provocative personality and music get her in trouble with the law. She spends some time behind bars and is later ordered by the court to do community service, which leads her to cross paths with Pastor Kyrus Owens.
In an unexpected turn of events, despite all the differences, sparks begin to fly between the rapper and the charming minister, who is busy fundraising for the construction of a new home for his congregation. On one hand, the pastor’s commitment is questioned by his congregation. On the other hand, Charlie looks to redeem herself in the eyes of the public, especially her fans, after her prison stint. Their unlikely romance works wonders for them as they build a good reputation among their communities. The imagery of religion, fame, and romance that runs throughout the narrative is effectively showcased through various locations, including a place of worship and a music studio.
Where Was Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love Filmed?
The shooting for ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love’ was conducted in Georgia, particularly in and around Atlanta. From what we can tell, principal photography for the romantic film took place in the summer of 2025, possibly between the months of June and July. The musician, Dayvia, expressed her gratitude for being a part of the film, stating, “@karrueche and @markjphood it was a pleasure… you are both some real superstars 🫶🏾⭐️ Thank you @tinoburna for including me and @jamesguss007 … you’re an Angel.💯💯💯 Can’t wait to see it!”
Atlanta, Georgia
The production team chose the city of Atlanta as the filming location for ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love.’ The choice is not surprising, considering that the capital city of Georgia has established itself as a significant hub for the entertainment industry. Therefore, the crew likely settled on several locales of the city to paint the visual canvas of Charlie and Kyrus’ intertwining words. The diverse landscape of Atlanta served as the perfect backdrop to bring to life the dynamic contrast between the rapper’s glitzy and glamorous world and the calm and grounded life of the minister.
Atlanta’s valuable contribution to the film and television industry has also earned it the nickname Hollywood of the South. It offers a unique blend of first-rate production facilities, seasoned technicians, easy availability of talent, friendly locals, generous tax incentives, as well as a varied landscape that presents an array of backdrops ranging from bustling streets and charming suburbs to serene outskirts and historic neighborhoods that can stand in for diverse settings. All of these factors and more make it a highly sought-after destination for filming. Over the years, it has hosted the production of many thrilling movies and shows, such as ‘Ozark,’ ‘Prisoners,’ ‘Game Night,’ ‘Secret Life of a Dominatrix,’ and ‘The Secret Life of Amy Bensen.’ Additionally, several Lifetime movies, including ‘A Lover Scorned,’ ‘My Amish Double Life,’ ‘Single Black Female 2: Simone’s Revenge,’ ‘Newlywed Nightmare,’ and ‘His Killer Fan,’ were also filmed in Atlanta.
Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love Cast Details
Karrueche Tran and Mark J.P. Hood lead the cast of ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love.’ The winner of two Daytime Emmy Awards, Karrueche has also served as a producer of ‘The Bay.’ On the other hand, Mark is also a talented composer who has showcased his musical talents in projects like ‘I Am,’ ‘Creativity,’ ‘It’s S.A.D.,’ and ‘Grace Notes.’
Karrueche Tran as Charlisa “Charlie” Jones
Karrueche Tran steps into the role of Charlisa “Charlie” Jones, the provocative rapper, in the Lifetime drama. Considered one of Hollywood’s sweethearts, Karrueche is widely recognized for her portrayals of Tally-in-Porn in ‘The Nice Guys,’ Nikita in ‘Divinity,’ and Vivian Garrett in ‘The Bay.’ She appears in several other TV shows, including ‘Bel-Air,’ ‘The Chi,’ ‘Claws,’ ‘Deputy,’ and ‘Games People Play.’ Her film credits include ‘House Party,’ ‘Searching for a Serial Killer: The Regina Smith Story,’ ‘Embattled,’ and ‘Never Heard.’
Mark J.P. Hood as Pastor Kyrus Owens
Mark J.P. Hood essays the character of Pastor Kyrus Owens, the charismatic minister and Charlie’s love interest, in ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love.’ You might find his face familiar as he stars in ‘Churchy’ as Rodney Joseph, ‘The Resident’ as Camron Broome, ‘House of Payne’ as Professor Luis, ‘Black Monday’ as Herbie, and ‘Grand Crew’ as Jerry Pipe. His acting talents are also on display in ‘Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie,’ ‘Love You Right: An R&B Musical,’ ‘Signature Move,’ ‘Sirens,’ and ‘Chicago Fire.’ Other talented actors who feature as supporting yet important characters in ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love,’ include Tobias Truvillion, B. Simone, Reginae Carter, and Da Brat.
Read More: Terry McMillan Presents His, Hers & Ours: Filming Locations and Cast Details
