Music

For over two decades, Tamela Mann has been one of the most recognizable and impactful artists in contemporary gospel music. While the genre’s mainstream presence has waned in recent years, Mann’s moving, door-busting voice has helped tracks like “Take Me to the King,” “I Can Only Imagine” and “God Provides” become formidable crossover hits. Perhaps best known for “King,” which spent 25 weeks atop Gospel Airplay, Mann’s other accolades include an American Music Award, a BET Award and a Grammy for best gospel performance/song (2017, “God Provides”). 

Earlier this year, “Working for Me,” the lead single from her new Live Breathe Fight album (Oct. 11), helped Mann break a tie with longtime collaborator and friend Kirk Franklin for most chart-toppers on Gospel Airplay. With 11 leaders dating back to 2012’s “King” and Billboard’s decade-end No. 1 Top Gospel Album of the 2010s (2012’s Best Days) to her name, Tamela Mann is a musical force – as well as a theatrical one.  

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Next year will also mark 25 years since she originated the beloved character of Cora Simmons in a different kind of MCU: Tyler Perry’s Madea Cinematic Universe. From stage plays and sitcoms to box office-topping films like 2023’s The Color Purple, Tamela Mann’s medium-agnostic talent has allowed her to expertly navigate both the sanctified and secular worlds with her signature grace and passion. 

Back with her sixth solo studio album ahead of a highly anticipated tour, Tamela Mann caught up with Billboard for an emotional conversation about the making of her new album, her working relationships with Franklin and Perry, and her 30-year faith journey in the entertainment industry.

1. Why did you decide to experiment with country music on “Working for Me?” 

“Working for Me” was actually my second country song! Me and David [Mann Sr.] had a song called “Mason Jar” on our [2018] Us Against the World album. I was nervous about doing that one, even though I already have the Southern drawl! When my producer [Phillip] Bryant brought the song to me — with this young lady named Tia Sharee, another writer on the project — immediately, I was like, “Yes.” What really caught me [was] the chorus, “I can’t see it/ But I still believe.”  

I’m more of a lyric-driven person, so when I heard that I was like, “Yes… but maybe I’m not gonna sing with as much twang as the demo.” We dived right into writing and finishing out that first version of the song. I was afraid to release it at first because people really try to put me in a box of just doing ballads. I stepped out on faith and trusted my heart that this was what the Lord was leading us to.  

I think “Working for Me” is very encouraging to both Christians and non-believers. Even when we can’t see Him, we still believe that he’s working on our behalf. I was so shocked at the response to the song and how much radio loved it. I think it surprised people – especially when they hear that banjo! It’s country, but we still go to the foot-stomping gospel at the end and really take it to church. That’s what I love most about it; it gives me something for the people to sing along with me. 

2. “Working for Me” became your record-breaking 11th No. 1 single on Gospel Airplay, helping you break a tie with longtime friend and collaborator Kirk Franklin. What does it mean to you that you two are still performing at such a high level after all these years? 

It is amazing to me. Words can’t even express… and I told myself I’m not going to cry! [Laughs.] We met as teenagers and we’re still great friends to this day working in the same vein that we started in and still giving God glory for what he’s done. I’m just happy that [my generation of gospel artists is] still out here spreading the good news. It makes me feel good that we are right there, neck and neck.  

With friends, it’s not like you’re competing. We never talk about it, we’re really proud of each other. I thank God for the friendship and the covering that we have for each other. I’m grateful that we’re still doing it together and I say let’s keep going up and up! 

3. What advice do you have for younger artists who are aiming for that kind of career longevity? 

I prayed for longevity in the industry — especially after looking at our forerunners who’ve paved the way for us: Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland, Walter Hawkins, The Clark Sisters. I asked the Lord to give me longevity like that and to keep my voice intact. Seeing Shirley still jumping around at 80-something and seeing Dr. Bobby Jones still doing the work is a blessing.  

I want to encourage our young people to remember what our message is and to live life. You’re not going to be perfect. You’re going to make mistakes. Things are not going to turn out the way that you want them to turn out all the time, but you just keep loving the Lord. One thing my mom told me that I’ll share with them is to love the Lord with all your heart, and the Lord will take you far.  

4. Talk to me about how “Big Facts” came together. 

Jevon Hill out of Jacksonville, Fla., brought me the track. Throughout the last year, the Lord had been giving me little nuggets to plug into the songs. In the last year and a half of our lives, there’s been a lot of chaos from the business to family life. But every time I get ready to do a project, that’s how the enemy attacks and tries to distract me – and I refuse to be defeated. I was talking to some of the writers, and I was like, “Y’all, we have to really look at ourselves and figure out what it is that we’re doing.”  

A lot of times, we look at everybody else to make changes when we’re the ones who need to change. “Big Facts” came from self-examination instead of pointing the finger at anybody else. Another young man named Stanley came in and he said, “Don’t just say ‘Face the facts,’ say ‘Big facts!’” I was actually gonna make it longer, but it makes me hit repeat the way it is. It makes me drive fast – so y’all be careful out there! 

5. How did you land on this album title? 

We’re living like heaven is our destiny, we breathe in every breath with purpose, and we’re fighting till we get the victory. The title of the album is encouragement: When I told people about it, they were like, “Wow, we need that.” I want us to really face the facts of ourselves. Let’s grow together. Let’s do better with our world, just loving more and judging less. It’s a spiritual thing that I’m doing — from the inside out, I’m building myself and trying to make myself better in everything that I’m doing and trying to accomplish. 

6. When did work begin on this album? 

Well, it was time — because it had been three years since my last project! I had planned a time to start recording, but then filming jumped in there, so I called my producers in and tried to get the whole project done as quickly as possible. We had one room with people laying tracks and singing BGVs [background vocals], in another room, they were doing actual tracks for the music, and in another room, we were writing. I stepped in more than I ever had on any other project.  

I’ve been a part of every piece of this album, so it was different for me. We started in March and we pulled together 17 songs in three weeks. We created a book. We created a journey. I feel like this is my best body of work so far, and I pray to God that we continue to go higher because I feel like people should see growth from when I started in 2004 until now. 

7. What do you think it was about this particular project that spurred you to get so involved? 

What I was dealing with in life — as y’all young people say, “Life was life-ing!” [Laughs.] Life was really pushing me… I wasn’t mad, but a lot of disappointment hit me. I did a lot of crying and talking about it in the music, but at the end of it, I really felt victorious. I didn’t allow [those feelings] to distract me or cause me to quit. I didn’t say, “I can’t do this right now,” I used the disappointment as strength. I refused to let it consume me. 

8. Which three songs would you say are most representative of the album? 

“Working for Me,” “Hand on Me” and “Deserve to Win.” I think they’re all great messages regardless of what you’re dealing with. No man can take whatever God has for you. And after all you’ve been through, you deserve to win. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be on top. A lot of times, we talk ourselves out of a lot of happiness or victories because we’re concerned with what others might think. I don’t think there’s nothing wrong with being sure of yourself and allowing people to see the glory of God living in you and flowing out of you. 

9. Was it always your plan to make a completely solo album? 

That was more of a fluke of timing. I really wanted to bring in some other people but time just didn’t permit. I plan on going back in and bringing those people in, which I think will be massive. I want them to be a surprise! 

10. Earlier this year you tied Kirk and Travis Greene as BMI’s gospel songwriter of the year. What does your typical songwriting process look like? 

It changed for me in terms of actually writing down little nuggets and ideas in my phone. First, I always begin with a prayer, “Lord, what do we need to give the people?” We’re not out here song-chasing. This time, the Lord didn’t give me any rhythms, it was moreso lyrics, so I talked about what those lyrics meant to me and that’s where the writers took off from.

11. What song was the most difficult for you to write or record? 

“Carry On” was a little challenging in terms of actually recording it. It took me a couple of tries to catch the rhythm. My producers are all in their 30s, and doing new things with cadence. [Laughs.] I was like, “My tongue is heavy, it don’t move that fast!” I had to work at it, but I took it as a challenge. They stretched me to do something new. I kept telling them don’t try to take me too far into R&B because that crowd already has R&B – they want to hear what we have to say and what our message is in gospel. 

12. What’s your favorite song you’ve ever written in your entire career? 

Right now, “Hand on Me,” because it brought back childhood memories. I started singing at 8 and now I’m 58, to see how the hand of God has been on me my whole life – even before the career got here – and how the Lord was connecting me with the right people… it’s almost overwhelming. When I sing “Hand on Me,” it not only makes me want to cry, but it also makes me grateful and thankful that even when I failed or didn’t make the right decision, the Lord kept his hand on my life. 

13. What gospel song has been most impactful on your life? 

My first song that I ever sang – and I’ve been using it as a part of my testimony on “Hand on Me” — was “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired.” It was my first solo at eight years old, and I didn’t understand what I was singing about then, but now I know that the Lord didn’t bring me this far to leave me. I’m so glad that he is still with me and covering me as we continue this journey. I’ve just been praying, “Lord, give me more time. Give us more time to get it right.” Not just for me, but for everyone in general. I’ve seen a lot of my friends get out of here, and not necessarily old people. I will give “No Ways Tired” my stamp because it was my beginning and it’s still with me to this day. 

14. Next year marks the 30-year anniversary of the landmark Kirk Franklin and The Family Christmas album. How do you even begin to assess the impact of that album so many years later, especially “Now Behold the Lamb?” 

You never know which songs are going to take off and what they’re going to do. Even “Take Me to the King,” Kirk and I didn’t know. But for me to sing “Now Behold the Lamb” all these years later and people still love it? I’m just so grateful to God for the people loving on us and walking this journey with us. It’s a “wow factor” moment for me. I’m thankful that people think about the Lamb of God like that. 

15. What are your thoughts on the current contemporary gospel scene and how can we preserve the integrity of gospel music as CCM continues to grow? 

The scripture says that His Word won’t return void. Some may fall away, but the scripture also says that there will be a great falling away in the last days, which we see in our churches. It’s like pulling teeth trying to get everybody to come together. “I’m watching online!” But, honestly, are you really watching online? 

All I can say is that I’m going to keep holding up the blood-stained banner. Souls are still going to be saved, and people are still going to be reached. The blood of Jesus reaches the highest mountains and the lowest valleys. Some of us [in gospel music] are going to keep fighting. We’re going to keep loving the Lord. We’re going to keep singing for him and singing about how His blood still works. 

16. Talk to me about your relationship with Tyler Perry and the projects you two have on the way. 

Oh my God, I’m so thankful for Tyler Perry seeing something in me that I didn’t see myself. And I’m so thankful to my husband for coaching and directing me. It wouldn’t be Cora if it wasn’t for them pushing me because I was fighting them! I was like a little cat! Our journey has been almost 30 years, so it has really been a blessing that I didn’t see happening. It’s incredible how the Lord is helping us keep the characters alive with Assisted Living. We got a new movie that’s coming out next year called Madea’s Destination Wedding. It’s going to be hilarious. It’s funny to me though, because when people see us outside, they’re like, “Hey, Mr. Brown! Hey, Tamela Mann!” I can have my name, but he’s Mr. Brown! [Laughs.] 

17. We’re also coming up on one year of The Color Purple movie musical. How do you look back on that experience? 

That experience was amazing because it was the first time that I had done dancing and singing at the same time. David has coached me so much that even when I’m shooting a music video, I’m signing with the track to really get those feelings. But the Lord put the right people around me because they were able to push and encourage me to dance like, “You got it, Mama!” 

Ms. Oprah Winfrey came out of hiding — we were coming out of COVID when we were filming — like, “You know, I came to see you. I came out for you. I don’t know if I should be out here.” I said, “You gonna be fine. The Lord gonna watch over you and cover you.” It was a great experience, especially working with Fantasia and Taraji [P. Henson] and all of the other talented actors. 

18. What advice do you have for young gospel artists who are looking to navigate both sanctified and secular spaces at the same time as you have done for so much of your career? 

We just go in and try to set the tone. As David would say, we’re the thermostat. We set the temperature and go in with peace and light. It has been a blessing to be able to go into all these different walks of life, but I know who I’m representing. I remember my representation is not about me, it’s about God.  

19. What is your favorite holiday song of all time?  

[Sings “O Come All Ye Faithful”]. It’s Jesus’ birthday, so that is my favorite! 

20. What can fans look forward to from you in 2025? 

We’re touring the album! I’m also looking at doing some relationship tour stuff. But we’re looking at starting the Live Breathe Fight Tour at the end of March through June, so get your tickets! I’m excited for y’all to see what we got coming next year. 2025 gonna be live!