Tamela Mann

Tamela Mann
Mann in 2017
Born
Tamela Jean Johnson

(1966-06-09) June 9, 1966 (age 58)[1]
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Spouse
​
(m. 1988)​
Children4
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active1992–present
LabelsTilly Mann Music Group
Websitewww.tillymannmusic.com

Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson; born June 9, 1966) is an American gospel singer and actress. She began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. Mann was a primary vocalist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R Kelly and Bono. She began her solo career by releasing the albums Gotta Keep Movin (2005), and The Master Plan (2009).

Her third studio album, Best Days reached No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel albums chart, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The lead single "Take Me to the King" was a commercial success, and earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance.[2] Her fourth studio album One Way (2016), also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart; and spawned the single "God Provides", which won her the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song in 2017.[3]

Mann also is known as a stage and film actress. She has worked in multiple Tyler Perry productions playing the role of Cora Simmons. She appeared in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (both the stage play and the motion picture, and recorded some songs on the soundtrack including participating in the song "Father (Can You Hear Me)", Meet the Browns (2008), Madea Goes to Jail (2009), Madea's Big Happy Family (2011) and A Madea Homecoming (2022). On television, she starred in the TBS sitcom Meet the Browns from 2009 to 2011, and in 2020 began starring in the BET sitcom Tyler Perry's Assisted Living. She also starred in and produced the Bounce TV sitcom Mann & Wife (2015–17).

Along with her Grammy Award, Mann has earned many other accolades and honors, including multiple NAACP Image Awards,[4] a Billboard Music Award,[5] an American Music Award, and a BET Award.[6] In 2022, she was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.[7] In 2023, she broke the record for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart,[8] with ten of her songs topping the chart; including "Take Me to the King", which spent 25 weeks on the top.[9]

  1. ^ "Tamela Mann Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Tamela Mann". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  3. ^ https://www.grammy.com/artists/tamela-mann/4223 [bare URL]
  4. ^ "NAACP Image Awards 2022: Here Are All The Winners". HuffPost. February 27, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  5. ^ GMA (May 24, 2017). "Tamela Mann's 'One Way' Receives Billboard Music Award". The Gospel Music Association. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  6. ^ Premier (June 30, 2014). "Tamela Mann wins 'Best Gospel' at BET Awards". Premier Gospel. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Aderoju, Darlene (June 13, 2022). "Black Music Month & Juneteenth 2022: Industry Celebrations (Updating)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  8. ^ Asker, Jim (March 23, 2023). "Tamela Mann Notches Record 10th Gospel Airplay No. 1: 'With Your Love and Support, We Did It!". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (August 5, 2021). "Gospel Superstar Tamela Mann Talks 'Overcomer' and the Blessings of Staying Independent". Billboard.