Tamela Mann

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, 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. 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?.

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".

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. 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.

Filmography Film

Television

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

Discography

Studio albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales CertificationsUS USGospel USIndie Gotta Keep Movin Released: July 19, 2005 Formats: CD, digital download — 3 26 US: 103,000The Master Plan Released: November 3, 2009 Formats: CD, digital download 97 2 10 US: 155,000Best Days Released: August 14, 2012 Formats: CD, digital download 14 1 3 US: 481,941 RIAA: Gold One Way Released: September 9, 2016 Formats: CD, digital download 45 1 7 US: 200,000Us Against the World: The Love Project(as David & Tamela Mann) Released November 9, 2018 Formats: CD, Digital download — 3 38Overcomer Released August 6, 2021 Formats: CD, Digital download — 3 —Live, Breathe, Fight Released October 11, 2024 Formats: CD, Digital download — 18 —"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Live albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions SalesUS USGospel USAdult R&B US R&B/HH "Speak Lord" 2006 — 4 — — Gotta Keep Movin'''

RIAA: 2× Platinum

13

4 Choirmaster''"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Awards and nominations American Music Awards The American Music Awards are awarded annually. Mann has received 1 award. Year Award Nominated workResult 2022 Favorite Gospel Artist Herself

BET Awards

The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Mann has received 1 award from 9 nominations. Year Award Nominated workResult 2010 Best Gospel Artist Herself 2013 2014 2016 2017 Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award "God Provides" "My World Needs You" (with Kirk Franklin, Sarah Reeves, and Tasha Cobbs) 2021 "Touch From You" 2023 "Finished (Live)" 2025 "Deserve to Win"

Dove Awards

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

Year Nominated work AwardResult 2011 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year The Master Plan Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "The Master Plan" 2013 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Best Days Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Take Me To the King" Gospel Performance of the Year Song of the Year Artist of the Year Herself 2014 Gospel Performance of the Year "I Can Only Imagine" 2015 Gospel Artist of the Year Herself Traditional Recorded Song of the Year "This Place" 2017 Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Change Me" Gospel Artist of the Year Herself Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year One Way 2016 Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year "One Way" 2021 Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Touch from You" 2022 Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Help Me" (with The Fellas) 2023 "Finished (Live)" Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Overcomer Deluxe 2025 Live Breathe Fight Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Deserve To Win"

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.

Year Award Nominated workResult 2013 Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance "Take Me to the King" 2017 Best Gospel Performance/Song "God Provides" 2026 Best Gospel Album Live Breath Fight

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.

Year Award Nominated workResult 2011 Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary) The Master Plan 2013 Best Days Outstanding Female Artist Herself 2014 Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary) Best Days Deluxe Edition 2017 One Way Outstanding Song, Traditional "God Provides" 2018 Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series The Manns 2019 Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author Us Against the World: Our Secrets to Love, Marriage, and Family 2021 Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song "Touch From You" 2022 "Help Me" (with The Fellas) Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album Overcomer 2024 Outstanding Short-Form Series - Reality/Nonfiction Mama Mann's Kitchen 2025 Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album Live Breathe Fight Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song "Working For Me"

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

Year Award Nominated workResult 2006 New Artist of the Year Gotta Keep Movin'''

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year

Female Vocalist of the Year Producer of the Year

Female Vocalist of the Year

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year

Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year

Artist of the Year CD of the Year Praise and Worship CD of the Year Traditional CD of the Year Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year Urban/Inspiration Single or Performance of the Year "Take Me To The King"

Special Event CD of the Year Best Days Deluxe Edition|

Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year

Artist of the Year Producer of the Year Traditional CD of the Year Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year CD of the Year Urban/Inspiration Single or Performance of the Year "God Provides"

James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement award Herself Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year

Contemporary Female Artist of the Year Album of the Year Artist of the Year Contemporary Album of the Year Song of the Year "Help Me"

Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year

Album of the Year Contemporary Album of the Year Contemporary Female Artist of the Year

Album of the Year