By EEW Magazine Editors // Entertainment News

The one and only Ms. Patti LaBelle is joining the cast of “Greenleaf," a faith-based drama that centers on an African-American family’s powerful megachurch in Memphis.

The 73-year-old legendary vocalist will play Maxine Patterson, a famous Christian motivational speaker and the CEO of a global Christian self-help empire.

“Greeneleaf” takes viewers inside the unscrupulous world of the fictitious Calvary World Fellowship Ministries, where scandalous secrets and lies are as numerous as the faithful. It is a place where the Lord’s work should be done, but often, the devil’s work flourishes, leading to infidelity, love triangles, substance abuse, resentment, greed and revenge.

The series centers on the journey of estranged daughter and disillusioned preacher Grace Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge) who has returned home after 20 years on the occasion of the mysterious death of her sister, Faith. As she reenters the world of Calvary Fellowship World Ministries, the Memphis megachurch run by her powerful parents Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) and Lady Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield), it becomes evident that things are not as virtuous as they seem and that the family’s outward display of faith hides sin and misdeeds. Deborah Joy Winans, Kim Hawthorne, Tye White, Rick Fox, Desiree Ross, Lamman Rucker and Lovie Simone also star.

The addition of LaBelle makes room in the plot for an old friend of Mae’s from college days.

LaBelle's Maxine will be a sort of sounding board for Lady Mae, and an ally, as Mae tries to shore up her power at Calvary.

Greenleaf is produced for OWN by Lionsgate in association with Harpo Films and Pine City. Executive producers are Oprah Winfrey, Craig Wright and Clement Virgo.

Greenleaf Season 3 is currently in production in Atlanta and returns to OWN this summer.