Tamela Mann
Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson born June 9, 1966) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, producer and actress. Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. She was a featured soloist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Don't Take Your Joy Away", "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R. Kelly, and Bono. She released her debut studio album in 2005. Her third studio album, "Best Days" was certified Gold by the RIAA, and  lead single "Take Me to the King" was a major commercial success, as well as receiving a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance. In 2017, she won Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song for "God Provides". Mann is four-time NAACP Image Awards winner. She has total seven No. 1 on "Billboard"’s Gospel Airplay chart singles, while "Take Me to the King" spent 25 weeks on the top. Mann also is known as actress. She worked in a many Tyler Perry productions playing the role of Cora Simmons. She appeared in films  Diary of a Mad Black Woman (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 and producer Bounce TV sitcom "Mann & Wife" (2015–17). Aside from her musical and acting pursuits, Mann launched a new line of clothing, the Tamela Mann  Collection, in 2019. The brand offers a variety of athleisure and workout wear for the curvy woman. Early life and music career. Mann was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the youngest of 14 children. She and her siblings grew up in a very spiritual home grounded in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). They were reared by their mother, "Mother Eppe," who believed in and exercised solid biblical principles. By the age of 12, Mann was singing in the church's adult choir and was often selected to sing solos. Although she was bashful, she blossomed in the local  church and high school choirs. Kirk Franklin and the Family. Mann's musical career began when she joined Kirk Franklin and the Family. She has also enjoyed collaborating and performing with artists such as Yolanda Adams, Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Celine Dion, Bono, R. Kelly and Fred Hammond. "Local legends" that have collaborated with Mann include" Demarcus Williams, Myron Williams, Kermit Wells, Excell Amos, Myron Butler and a host of others. She went on to join the gospel musical cast of David E. Talbert as he directed the stage play "He Say... She Say... But What Does God Say ?". Solo musical career. In 2005, Mann and her husband David created their own label, Tillymann Music Group, which they have released several projects through. In 2005 her solo album, "Gotta Keep Movin", was released. The lead single "Speak Lord" peaked at #4 at US Gospel chart. In 2007 she released her first live album, "The Live Experience". Mann's songs "Father Can You hear Me" and "Take It To Jesus" can be heard in the movie and on the soundtrack album of 2005 comedy-drama film "Diary of a Mad Black Woman". In 2009 her second studio album, "The  Master Plan", was released with adding contemporary R&B sound. It peaked at number 2 on the "Billboard" Gospel Album Chart, and at number 97 on the "Billboard" 200. Mann's third studio album, "Best Days", was released on August 14, 2012. It debuted at number 1 on the "Billboard" Top Gospel Albums chart, and number 14 on the "Billboard" 200. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA and lead single "Take Me to the King" was certified platinum and had a major commercial success, as well as receiving a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian  Music Performance. In 2019, "Billboard" announced that "Best Days" was named the Gospel Album of the Decade. Mann won Stellar Award's "Best Female Gospel Artist of the Year" in 2014, as well as Best Gospel Artist at the 2014 BET Awards. In 2017, she won Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song for "God Provides". In 2018, Mann released a duet album with her husband entitled, "Us Against the World: The Love Project". On August 7, 2020, Mann released the single "Touch from You" from her upcoming album. The single spend five weeks on the top and was her  seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart. Her six studio album called "Overcomer" was released in 2021. It received positive reviews from critics. Acting career. Mann began acting in 1999 when she was discovered by Tyler Perry. She debuted in the stage play "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" in 2000. The following year, she appeared in the comedy film "Kingdom Come". She went on to act in Perrys plays "Meet the Browns", "Madea's Family Reunion", "Madea's Class Reunion", "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "What's Done in the Dark". She has appeared  on television shows including "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, BET Soundstage, the 1999 Grammy Awards, the Dove Awards, and the United States of America World Olympics. In 2005, Mann appeared in the romantic comedy drama film "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" which was inspired by the play of the same name. She reprised her role in the 2008 film "Meet The Browns", having more screen time. The following year, she began starring on TBS sitcom "Meet the Browns", the series ran to 2011 and 140 episodes was produced. She also appeared in "Madea Goes to Jail" (2009), "Madea 's Big Happy Family" (2011). In 2012, Mann appeared in the musical film "Sparkle", a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, alongside Whitney Houston and "American Idol" winner and R&B singer Jordin Sparks, making her film debut. She co-starred opposite Lisa Arrindell Anderson in the 2014 drama film "First Impression" and starred and produced 2018 Christmas film "Merry Wish-Mas" with her husband. In 2021, she starred in the another holiday film, "Soul Santa". From 2015 to 2017, Mann starred in the Bounce TV comedy series, "Mann & Wife". The series was canceled after three seasons. In  2020, she returned to her role as Cora Simmons in the BET sitcom "Tyler Perry's Assisted Living". In 2022, she appeared in "A Madea Homecoming" on Netflix. She later was cast in "The Color Purple", a film adaptation for the screen from the 2005 stage musical of the same name. Personal life. Tamela is the wife of actor David Mann, known for his role as Deacon Leroy Brown in some of Tyler Perry's plays. In the Madea TV shows and movies, she plays Mr. Brown's daughter, Cora. They have always worked together professionally. David and Tamela renewed  their 25th wedding vows in the spring of 2013. They raised five children together: David's daughter, Porcia, niece Sonya, David’s daughter Tiffany, and their children together, David Jr and Tia. They also have thirteen grandchildren. In January 2015, a reality show about their family, "It's A Mann's World", premiered on BET. David and Tamela are devout Christians, and in this program are able to show how they have a fun-loving, balanced family, centered in godly principles and coping with real-life obstacles. In 2019, Tamela joined the WW International family as a weightloss ambassador. On  July 23, 2019, Tamela had double knee surgery just a couple of months after starting her weight loss journey. She recovered quickly and went on to lose 100 pounds of weight by January 1, 2020. In 2019, Mann joined the Weight Watchers community as an Ambassador. She loss over 40 pounds to the end of 2019. She lost more weight in 2020 and 2021.