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‘Beyond the Gates’ Clifton Davis Sings His ‘Jackson 5’ Hit, ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ in Poignant Moment on Christmas Eve Episode

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CBS

On today’s December 24 episode of Beyond the Gates, grab your hankies! We always knew that Clifton Davis one day would sing his the smash hit recorded by The Jackson 5, “Never Can Say Goodbye’ on the CBS soap opera, we just didn’t know when.

In fact, Davis even teased to Michael Fairman TV that something like this was coming when we caught up with the veteran actor/singer/songwriter at CBS Atlanta Fest a few months back.

But now, in story on Christmas Eve, and after just learning that his beloved wife, Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) was diagnosed with Triple-Negative breast cancer; a very aggressive and difficult to treat form of the disease more likely to occur in Black women, when Vernon takes to the piano at the Dupree family Christmas gathering, the song takes on new meaning. How could Vernon ever say “goodbye” to his wife, if she were to die?

Courtesy/CBS

Will it be revealed that after all the gossip of Vernon having an affair with Anita’s ‘Articulette’ singing sister, Sharon (thanks Leslie!), that the two were just conspiring to surprise Anita with the former senator’s serenade and Sharon (Bonita Brisker) was helping him pull it off? Stay tuned!

As many know, Davis penned the 1971 ‘Jackson 5’ hit and he told Billboard, “It’s quite amazing to think I wrote this song way, way back, and now it’s been written into the show’s story plot. It’s exciting to be singing and sharing this song with another generation. It’s a song that just keeps on giving. I’m humbled as well because it didn’t have to turn out this way. God is good.”

Never Can Say Goodbye was first released 54 years ago as the lead single for the group’s fifth studio album, Maybe Tomorrow, “Never Can Say Goodbye.” The song went No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, and No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Davis also earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B song. Among other artists who have covered the incredible tune are Isaac Hayes and Gloria Gaynor. Davis also wrote the hit title track for The Jackson 5’s 1972 sixth studio album, Lookin’ Through the Windows.

Davis shared the inspiration for the song, which at its core is also amazingly touching, “It was a combination of two things: I was 23, 24 when I wrote the song. I was wrestling with my past, back when I was moving back and forth between my mother’s home and my father’s home. Whenever I left either of them, I cried because I was leaving one to go to the other. That always put a strain on my heart. Then later, I was in a relationship that was difficult to maintain. I wanted to say goodbye to her, but was unable to because of the love in my heart.”

In addition, Clifton, who turned 80 this past October, told Billboard he has plans to release new music! “I released an album in 1990 called Say Amen. But I’ve been writing all along … songs about faith, prayer and angels, the Beyond the Gates patriarch explained. “I’ve got music that nobody’s heard. But we’re going to get it out very soon.” Music to our ears!

Beyond the Gates Christmas Eve episode airs on December 24 at t 2 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+

Now below watch the preview clip as Vernon serenades Anita, who just learned she has breast cancer with the song “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and then weigh-in if you were thrilled to hear Clifton finally sing his smash hit he wrote for The Jackson Five, while on Beyond the Gates, and what you thought of how the writers crafted the story so when Vernon sang it to Anita, it’s meaning was all the more poignant, via the comment section below.

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A poignant moment for this soap, and I do love that Billboard reported this as well. I loved every single second of it!

They celebratin Kwanzaa

Loved it!

The best soap opera Christmas celebration this year.
I was in tears hearing Veron singing that special song to Anita after her devastating news.
I love BTG. Beautiful cast and great storylines.❤️

Yes it was a Superior moment to see Vernon belt out his skills.

Great episode, along with Tuesdays.

Loved it. I was hoping he would sing this hit her wrote for the Jackson 5…sung by a little MJ. It’s timeless and deserves a Grammy even today.

Yes this is a fabulous cast and acting…cabrina green rising .love the backstory for Anita

You make me cry and laugh out loud at least once a week. Love you

Omg I loved hearing him sing one of my favorite songs brings back good memories.

Last edited 4 months ago by Carter Lewis

I loved that episode. It was so poignant and brought joy to my heart to see Vernon serenade Anita, after secretly getting voice lessons from Sharon. I absolutely love Beyond the Gates

I Really Loved this Episode Yesterday on Christmas Eve! It was So Nice to See and Hear Clifton Davis sing His Song He wrote for The Jackson Five! This is a Great Show! I haven’t watched a Soap Opera in about 35 Years when As the World Turns went Off the Air! I Tune in Everyday to watch Beyond the Gates on CBS! If I Miss an Episode or I want to watch an Episode again I go to Paramount Plus! Thank You for Airing This Amazing Show! Love It!

I really loved this episode! I am so glad Dani and Nicole did not say anything to their mother Anita before hearing the truth! And I can’t wait until Haley is caught!!!

Loved this episode and Tuesday’s❤️ BTG touches on so many topics. Love the love Anita and Veron have. Please don’t ever change their storyline. Thank you Clifton Davis for taking me down memory lane!! It was a great episode.

I enjoyed the song KUDOS

I loved it

I just absolutely love this show and the cast, they are amazing. No matter what I’m doing or how my day going,I make sure I catch beyond the Gates weekdays. Keep it up!

A beautiful moment indeed! Clifton Davis is a gem.

I love this song and another reason to always look at the writing credits.

Yes, Clifton Davis or Vernon is the type of husband everyone desires to have, so genuinely caring and loving!

This was by far one of BTG’s best episodes this year. We still have a couple of episodes left to watch in 2025 before we officially say farewell to the year that was.

I loved every minute of this episode. Thank you BTG!!

What a Wonderful Christmas Episode. Thanks writers for portraying that not all Black Men cheat on their wives.

That alone should put him up for a Daytime Emmy. I’ve enjoyed his work since the 70’s with the comedy show ‘That’s My Mama’ . Still a great talent! Well done

This episode truly touched my heart. Just listening to the lyrics of I Never Can Say Goodbye, took on a profound meaning for me. Life is precious and way too short. God used Clifton Davis in a miraculous way to pen the song and to present it to the world.

I am wondering if Clifton received a royalty check when he sings a song he wrote?

Absolutely Beautiful the chemistry of these 2 is wonderful! They work is so effortless.

Love Sharon superior actress.

My favorite girl kat if am watching and I don’t see kat i don’t feel good she really bring out the show next bill wife must get caught for all those poison what she is putting in his tea

I love Beyond The Gates. It is by far the best show on TV! The cast are amazing and beautiful. The writers and the storyline are outstanding. Please let Ted and Cherise fall madly in love peacefully; they deserve it. Can’t wait to see what karma has in store for Haley and Leslie (Dana).The Christmas episode truly touched my heart. Thank you for creating such a dynamic show that exhibits black excellence in a world that has forgotten the truth and the importance of love. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

When I first heard that my favorite TV station was getting a new soap called beyond the gates I could hardly wait, especially knowing that the cast was based around an African American prominent family, the storyline has never failed my expectations, I try not to ever miss it and if I do I can just about know what went on from where the next day pick up, next to my favorite that I grew up watching from day 1 which is The Y&R it rates #2. I could basically have wrote the script for both, that’s just how in tune I am.

They should have Kat and Tomas get closer and have a lasting relationship like Anita and Vernon that interesting and they can show the struggles they have in getting there but also the strength they gain

Loved everything! Although I loved the Jackson 5 version….. MY version of Never Can Say Goodbye was by Miss Gloria Gaynor! That version kicked ass on the dance floor !
I was in ninth grade in 1974-1975 and I was a huge Days fan due to my Mama!

Did not know he wrote much less he is 80 my goodness Such a treat

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Nicole Plays the Field: Who Is Her Ultimate Love Match?

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Who would have thought that more uptight of the Beyond the Gates Dupree sisters, Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix), would be the one cavorting around with a few different suitors at one time and living it up!  Such as the case of the psychiatrist at Garland Memorial Medical Center.

In story, after her decades-long marriage went bust with Dr. Ted Richardson (thanks to the bombshell by Leslie that Ted and her had an affair the result of which was her having his daughter, Eva), Nicole divorced the renowned plastic surgeon and since that time has two men actively vying her attention, newcomer in town, Dr. Kial Robbins (Greg Vaughan) and Ted’s plastic surgeon partner, Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Michael Christopher Riley).

What’s refreshing for daytime is, this is a woman taking control of her personal life, and not making excuses that she is not being mutually-exclusive, She has even explained to both Kial and Carlton that after the stormy ending and the betrayal of her marriage to Ted (Keith D. Robinson), she’s not rushing into anything with any sort of short or long term commitment. So, everyone knows what they are getting themselves into.

For Nicole, let the fun begin and this week on all new episodes of Beyond the Gates come the Friday, May 8 episode while with Carlton, Nicole runs into Food Network Chef, Sunny Anderson who is also a regular contributor and official “Drew Crew” member on The Drew Barrymore Show. Meanwhile, Ted is thinking about another woman who Shanice thinks is Leslie, but doesn’t he just love Nicole and wants her back, try as he might to move on with anyone that isn’t her? Stay tuned.

This week, in the latest promo for Beyond the Gates, things are getting hot and heavy in the bedroom between Nicole and Carlton, while previous she had quite the time with Kial.

Check out the latest video teaser for episodes airing May 4-8 below.

So, who do you think will be the ultimate love match for Nicole? Will she wind up back with Ted, choose to be exclusive with Kial or Carlton, or will no one get Nicole, and she will just continue to be single and happy for the rest of her life? Let us know your picks via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

CBS Daytime Preemption Schedule for UEFA Champions League Games: What This Means for ‘Beyond the Gates,’ B&B and Y&R

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Your favorite soaps operas on CBS, have a scheduling shift over the next few days for the network’s fifth annual broadcast for the UEFA Champions League Soccer games in Europe.

This will effect the Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29; and next week’s Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 line-up of Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.

First, and the most affected is all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates which will not air today or tomorrow. As well, game show Let’s Make a Deal will also be preempted. The two shows will also be fully preempted on May 5 and May 6.

Photo: UEFA

However, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful will air as normal for East Coast viewers, but those on the West Coast in Mountain and Pacific Time Zones will have a full preemption. Only, the top-rated The Price is Right will air coast-to-coast with no interruptions because of its time slot of 11am ET/10am PT.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCHEDULE

The UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, semi-final matches begin airing today on April 28 when  Paris Saint Germain PSG plays a home game in France and goes up against Bayern Munich, and on April 29, viewers can look for Atlético de Madrid plays at home vs. Arsenal FC.

Next week, on Tuesday, May 5, Arsenal FC plays at home in England vs. Atletico Madrid, while Bayern Munich faces Paris Saint-Germain, on Wednesday May 6, in Munich, Germany.

CBS will air a one-hour UEFA Champions League Today before each of the matches at 2pm ET as the matches begin each day of the tournament at 3pm ET.

BEYOND THE GATES PREVIEW

When Beyond the Gates returns this Thursday, April 3o it will be the pick-up of the Monday, April 27 cliffhanger which found the Dr. Lia Whitmore (Cecelia Specht) threatening Grayson (Jordi Vilasuso) and Ashley (Jen Jacob) and Dani (Karla Mosley) becoming even more suspicious of Hayley (Marquita Goings) and her plans for Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett).

Photo: CBS

In addition look for, Leslie (Tricia Mann-Grant) to be confronted by Anita (Tamara Tunie), while exes, Ted (Keith D. Robinson) and Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix) share a close moment witnessed by Shanice.

For those wanting to catch all episodes of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful if you are in the West Coast time zones and usually watch them during the day. you can catch the action via CBS.com, CBS app or Paramount+

As Beyond the Gates heats up with who’s behind and involved in the black market blood plasma snatching story, don’t forget to check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s recent interview with Cecelia Specht on all things Dr. Lia Whitmore below.

So, what do you think of the preemption schedule and how it may affect your viewing this week and next of Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section.

 

 

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Ashley Jones Joins the Cast of Beyond the Gates

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Ashley Jones is the newest addition of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates.  The veteran soap actress has posted some teasey Instagran stories revealing the intel; especially her latest wearing a Beyond the Gates emblazoned robe while in her dressing room.

As to who Jones is playing that is still hush-hush. Ashley follows other former daytime notables to Fairmont Crest which have included Greg Vaughan (ex-DAYS, Y&R, GH) and Jordi Vilasuso (ex-Y&R, AMC, DAYS and GL).

A spokesperson for Beyond the Gates confirmed the news to Soap Opera Digest expressing, “We can confirm Ashley Jones will be appearing in Beyond the Gates.” It should be noted: Beyond the Gates does tape four months ahead of air.

Soap fans first met Ashley when she played Megan Dennison on The Young and the Restless (1997-2000). She then went on to The Bold and the Beautiful to play Bridget Forrester in her initial run from 2004-2010 and since then making recurring appearances throughout the next 15 years. In addition, Jones appeared on General Hospital in the role of Parker Forsyth from 2016-17.

Earlier this week, Beyond the Gates was renewed for two more consecutive seasons its 3 and 4th by CBS, giving the youngest soap on the air, a big confidence boost. The series debuted back on February 24, 2025 as the first hour-long Black-led soap opera, and which tapes in Atlanta, Georgia instead of Los Angeles, California.

Who do you think Ashley Jones will play on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts below.

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CBS unveils Beyond the Gates season 2 promo and Jordi Vilasuso joins the cast. Leave A Comment

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