Tamela Mann

Biography

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×The Master Plan3 November 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Joy of the Lord4:402The Master Plan5:503In Him3:464I Trust In You4:415Step Aside4:086Here I Am5:077Anything for You4:518Send Me4:019Lay It On the Altar3:5310Heaven (The Love Song)3:0511Anoint Me Lord5:0812The Lord's Prayer3:57 (2009).
Her third studio album, Best Days×Best Days14 August 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Best Days4:162I'll Hold On4:273Guest Of Honor4:204Take Me To The King4:485All To Thee5:236Lord We Are Waiting5:057This Place5:178Stretch4:089Here I Am4:0510Back In The Day Praise3:3411Rain3:5212Hymns: The Blood Medley8:52 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. 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.
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), A Madea Homecoming (2022) and Madea's Destination Wedding (2025). 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, a Billboard Music Award, an American Music Award, and a BET Award. In 2022, she was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. In 2023, she broke the record for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart, with ten of her songs topping the chart; including "Take Me to the King", which spent 25 weeks on the top.

Early life and 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, through which they have released several projects. In 2005 her solo album, Gotta Keep Movin'×Gotta Keep Movin'19 July 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Be Alright4:302Speak Lord4:533Gotta Keep Movin'4:174In His Arms4:525In Your Corner4:216Hallelujah4:567Never Find A Love4:158You Deserve My Love4:459Tell Me Why5:3210Worship Medley4:21, was released. The lead single "Speak Lord" peaked at number 4 on the 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×The Master Plan3 November 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Joy of the Lord4:402The Master Plan5:503In Him3:464I Trust In You4:415Step Aside4:086Here I Am5:077Anything for You4:518Send Me4:019Lay It On the Altar3:5310Heaven (The Love Song)3:0511Anoint Me Lord5:0812The Lord's Prayer3:57, was released, adding a 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×Best Days14 August 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Best Days4:162I'll Hold On4:273Guest Of Honor4:204Take Me To The King4:485All To Thee5:236Lord We Are Waiting5:057This Place5:178Stretch4:089Here I Am4:0510Back In The Day Praise3:3411Rain3:5212Hymns: The Blood Medley8:52, 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 the lead single "Take Me to the King" was certified platinum and had major commercial success, as well as received 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 the Stellar Award for "Best Female Gospel Artist of the Year" in 2014 and 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×Us Against the World: The Love Project9 November 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1You3:432Ups and Downs3:373Good Love3:364I Love You4:365Making Up4:456Feels Like3:397Still Do3:568Signs3:219Mason Jar3:2910Us Against the World3:15.
On August 7, 2020, Mann released the single "Touch from You" from her upcoming album. The single spent five weeks on the top and was her seventh number 1 on Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart. Her sixth studio album called Overcomer×Overcomer6 August 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Finished Work6:362I Am5:143Source3:544Help Me5:235Hello God4:196Healer4:557Conqueror3:458Overcomer3:559Touch From You3:5710He Did It For Me4:2411Final Answer4:5412Finished4:11 was released in 2021; it received positive reviews from critics.

Clothing

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.

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 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 married to 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.
The two 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 daughters, Porcia, Tiffany and Tamela's niece Sonya, and their two children together, David Jr and Tia. They also have 8 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.

Stage

Madea's Farewell (2019) as Cora Simmons
What's Done in the Dark (2007) as Cora Simmons
Meet the Browns (2004) as Cora Simmons
Madea's Class Reunion (2003) as Cora Simmons
Madea's Family Reunion (2002) as Cora Simmons
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2001) as Myrtle Simmons
I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2000) as Cora Simmons

Live albums

Soundtracks
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Meet The Browns

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards are awarded annually. Mann has received 1 award.

BET Awards

The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Mann has received 1 award from 9 nominations.

Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Mann has won 6 awards from 17 nominations.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Mann has won 1 awards from 3 nominations.

NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Mann has won 9 awards from 14 nominations.

Stellar Awards

The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Mann has received 15 awards and 1 honorary award.