Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson) (born June 9, 1966) is an American gospel singer, 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 huge commercial success, and well as received Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance nomination.
Mann is known for her role as Cora in Tyler Perry's plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and What's Done in the Dark. Mann has appeared in movies including Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea's Big Happy Family. She recorded some songs on the soundtrack for Diary of a Mad Black Woman, including participating in the song "Father (Can You Hear Me)".
Mann is married to David Mann. They starred on the TBS sitcom Meet the Browns from 2009 to 2011. In 2015, they began starring on the Bounce TV sitcom Mann & Wife.

Early life


Mann was born Tamela Jean Johnson 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.

Career


Kirk Franklin and the Family


Tamela’s musical career began when she joined the multi-Grammy Award-winning and double platinum gospel phenomenon Kirk Franklin and the Family. She has also enjoyed collaborating and performing with artists such as Yolanda Adams, Excell Amos, Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Celine Dion, Bono, R. Kelly and Fred Hammond. 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 began acting in 1999 when she was discovered by Tyler Perry. She debuted in the stage play I Can Do Bad All By Myself.
She went on to act in 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, the United States of America World Olympics, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns, in which she portrays Mr. Brown's daughter.
She has appeared in movies, including the 2001 comedy Kingdom Come, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Meet The Browns. She also had a role in 2009's Tyler Perry movie Madea Goes to Jail. Mann appeared in the 2012 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 is currently filming a new cooking show with her husband David, Hanging with the Manns. Also their show on BET "It's a Mann's World"

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. In 2007 she released her first live album, The Live Experience. Mann’s explosive songs "Father Can You hear Me" and "Take It To Jesus" can be heard in the movie and on the soundtrack album of Diary of a Mad Black Woman.
In 2009 her second studio album, The Master Plan, was released. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Gospel Album Chart, and peaked at number 97 on the Billboard 200.
Mann's third studio album, Best Days, was released on August 14, 2012. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart, and #14 on the Billboard 200.
Tamela 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.

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 four children together: David's daughters Porcia and Tiffany, from a previous relationship; their children together, David Jr and Tia; and Tamela's niece, Sonya, whom the couple raised. David and Tamela also have eight 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.

Films


Sparkle (2012) as Sarah Waters
Madea's Big Happy Family (2011) as Cora Simmons
Madea Goes to Jail (2009) as Cora Simmons
Meet the Browns (2008) as Cora Simmons
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) as member of church choir
Kingdom Come (2001) as Lady #2

Television


Mann and Wife as Toni Mann (30 episodes 2015-2017)
In the Meantime as Minnie (TV Film 2013)
Meet the Browns as Cora Simmons (82 episodes 2008–2011)
Tyler Perry's House of Payne as Cora Simmons (4 episodes 2007, 2008)
Down Home with the Neelys as Tamela Mann (1 episode 2010)
New York Undercover, "A Time of Faith" Part 1 & 2 (1996) as part of the church choir with Kirk Franklin and the Family
It's a Mann's World as Tamela Mann (2015–present)
The Manns as Tamela Mann (2017–present)

Plays


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

Awards/nominations


Stellar Awards nominations:2006: Gospel Album of the Year – Gotta Keep Movin'
2008: Female Vocalist of the Year – The Live Experience
2008: Contemporary Female Artist of The Year – The Live ExperienceDove Awards nominations:
Traditional Gospel Record Song of the Year – The Master Plan
Traditional Gospel Album of the Year – The Master Plan: winner
2013 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Best Days: winner2013 NAACP Image Awards nominations:
Gospel Album of the Year – The Master Plan2017 Grammy Awards nominations:
2017 Best Gospel Song/Performance - God Provides: winner2013 Grammy Awards nominations:
2013 Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance – "Take Me to the King"2014 Stellar Awards nominations:
Praise and Worship CD of the Year: winner
Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year: winner
CD of the Year: winner
Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year: winner
CD of the Year Award: winner2014 BET Awards nominations:
Best Gospel Artist: winner

Discography


Studio albums


Live albums


Soundtracks
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Meet The Browns

Singles


"Speak Lord" (2006) #4 Gospel Songs
"The Master Plan" (2010) #13 Gospel Songs
"Joy Of The Lord" (2010) #12 Gospel Songs
"Step Aside" (2010) #30 Gospel Songs
"Take Me to the King" (2012) #1 Gospel Songs, #125 US Bubbling Under
"Change Me" (2017) #12 Gospel Songs

References


External links


Official website
Tamela Mann on IMDb

You're The Lifter You're The Lifter - Ricky Dillard - Tamela Mann

Hallelujah Hallelujah - Tamela Mann

Potter Potter - Tamela Mann

We Exalt Your Name We Exalt Your Name - Tamela Mann

God Provides God Provides - Tamela Mann

Final Answer Final Answer - Tamela Mann

Speak Lord Speak Lord - Tamela Mann

Father Can You Hear Me Father Can You Hear Me - Tiffany Evans - Terrell Carter - Cheryl Pepsii Riley - Tamela Mann

The Master Plan The Master Plan - Tamela Mann

Don't Take Your Joy Away Don't Take Your Joy Away - Tamela Mann

Change Me Change Me - Tamela Mann

Now Behold The Lamb Now Behold The Lamb - Tamela Mann

Touch From You Touch From You - Tamela Mann

Closer Closer - Tamela Mann

This Place This Place - Tamela Mann

In Him In Him - Tamela Mann

My World Needs You My World Needs You - Kirk Franklin - Tamela Mann - Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Sarah Reeves

Say Oh Say Oh - Tamela Mann

Here I Am Here I Am - Tamela Mann

For My Good For My Good - Tamela Mann

Stretch Stretch - Tamela Mann

Help Me Help Me - Tamela Mann

Press Press - Tamela Mann

Overcomer Overcomer - Tamela Mann

Take Me to the King Take Me to the King - Tamela Mann

Source Source - Tamela Mann

I Can Only Imagine I Can Only Imagine - Tamela Mann

You Deserve My Praise You Deserve My Praise - Tamela Mann

Hymns - The Blood Medley Hymns - The Blood Medley - Tamela Mann

Send Me Send Me - Tamela Mann

Healer Healer - Tamela Mann

Anoint Me Lord Anoint Me Lord - Tamela Mann

Finished Work Finished Work - Tamela Mann

Alright Alright - Tamela Mann

Conqueror Conqueror - Tamela Mann

Feels Like Feels Like - Tamela Mann

Safety In His Arms Safety In His Arms - Tamela Mann

I'll Hold On I'll Hold On - Tamela Mann

All to Thee All to Thee - Tamela Mann

In Your Corner In Your Corner - Tamela Mann

I Am I Am - Tamela Mann

Joy of the Lord Joy of the Lord - Tamela Mann

Gotta Keep Movin' Gotta Keep Movin' - Tamela Mann

Through It All Through It All - Tamela Mann

Best Days Best Days - Tamela Mann

One Way One Way - Tamela Mann

Heaven (The Love Song) Heaven (The Love Song) - Tamela Mann

Lay It On The Altar Lay It On The Altar - Tamela Mann

Rain Rain - Tamela Mann

Step Aside Step Aside - Tamela Mann

Superheroes Prayer Superheroes Prayer - Tamela Mann

Jesus Again Jesus Again - Tamela Mann

Take It To Jesus Take It To Jesus - Tamela Mann

Finished Finished - Tamela Mann

Back in the Day Praise Back in the Day Praise - Tamela Mann

God's Got It All In Control God's Got It All In Control - Tamela Mann

Guest of Honor Guest of Honor - Tamela Mann

Good Love Good Love - Tamela Mann

Alright 2017 Version Alright 2017 Version - Tamela Mann

He Did It For Me He Did It For Me - Tamela Mann

What Christmas Really Means What Christmas Really Means - Tamela Mann

Lord We Are Waiting Lord We Are Waiting - Tamela Mann

You You - Tamela Mann

Signs Signs - Tamela Mann

Hello God Hello God - Tamela Mann

Making Up Making Up - Tamela Mann

Still Do Still Do - Tamela Mann

Father Can You Hear Me Father Can You Hear Me - Tamela Mann

Greater Greater - Tamela Mann

Us Against The World Us Against The World - Tamela Mann

Ups And Downs Ups And Downs - Tamela Mann

I Love You I Love You - Tamela Mann

That's What He Did That's What He Did - Tamela Mann

The Battle Is The Lord's The Battle Is The Lord's - Tamela Mann

Mason Jar Mason Jar - Tamela Mann

Mysterious Ways (Mörda Remix) Mysterious Ways (Mörda Remix) - Tamela Mann

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Albums & Songs

  • Mysterious Ways (Mörda Remix) [From the Original Motion Picture “The Color Purple”]
  • Help Me (feat. Tim Rogers & The Fellas)
  • Finished Work (feat. Todd Dulaney)
  • He Did It for Me
  • Final Answer
  • Finished
  • I Am
  • Source
  • Hello God (feat. Wyclef Jean & Kirk Franklin)
  • Conqueror
  • Superheroes Prayer (feat. Yolanda Adams)
  • Touch from You
  • Forever Yours
  • Overcomer
  • Finished Work (feat. Todd Dulaney)
  • I Am
  • Source
  • Help Me (feat. The Fellas)
  • Hello God (feat. Wyclef Jean & Kirk Franklin)
  • Healer
  • Conqueror
  • Overcomer
  • Touch From You
  • He Did It For Me
  • Final Answer
  • Finished
  • Good Love
  • Ups and Downs
  • Touch From You
  • Anything for You
  • Heaven (The Love Song)
  • Safety in His Arms
  • In Your Corner
  • Still Do
  • Us Against the World
  • You'll Never Find a Love
  • You
  • Ups and Downs
  • Good Love
  • I Love You
  • Making Up
  • Feels Like
  • Still Do
  • Signs
  • Mason Jar (feat. LaTia Mann)
  • Us Against the World
  • Favorite Things
  • Don't Save It All
  • Your Presence with Me
  • Maybe Next Year
  • Mary, Did You Know
  • Let It Snow
  • Brazilian Sleigh Bells
  • The Christmas Song
  • O What a Night
  • Christmas Time is Here
  • My Favorite Things
  • Grown up Christmas List
  • Jesus King! (feat. Tamela Mann)
  • Avé Maria (feat. Patti LaBelle)
  • Brahms Lullaby
  • One Way
  • Through It All (feat. Timberland)
  • Jesus Again
  • God Provides
  • We Exalt Your Name (feat. Tia Mann)
  • Potter
  • Thats What He Did
  • For My Good
  • Change Me
  • Greater
  • Press
  • Say Oh
  • Best Days
  • I'll Hold On
  • Guest of Honor
  • Take Me to the King (feat. Kirk Franklin)
  • All to Thee
  • Lord We Are Waiting
  • This Place
  • Stretch
  • Here I Am
  • Back in the Day Praise
  • Rain
  • Hymns: "The Blood" Medley
  • Guest of Honor (Live)
  • Best Days (Live)
  • Take Me to King
  • I Can Only Imagine
  • All to Thee
  • I'll Hold On
  • Lord We Are Waiting
  • This Place
  • Here I Am
  • Now Behold the Lamb
  • Rain
  • Stretch
  • Back in the Day Praise
  • Alright
  • Speak Lord
  • Gotta Keep Movin'
  • Safety in His Arms
  • In Your Corner
  • Hallelujah
  • You'll Never Find a Love
  • You Deserve My Praise
  • Trust Him
  • Praise Medley
  • Joy of the Lord
  • The Master Plan
  • In Him
  • I Trust in You
  • Step Aside
  • Here I Am
  • Anything for You
  • Send Me
  • Lay It on the Altar
  • Heaven (The Love Song)
  • Anoint Me Lord
  • The Lord's Prayer
  • Alright
  • Gotta' Keep Movin'
  • Hallelujah
  • Speak Lord
  • Speak Lord / I Need You Now (Reprise) [Live]
  • Safety in His Arms
  • You Deserve My Praise
  • In Your Corner
  • In Your Corner (Reprise) [Live]
  • Trust Him
  • Marvelous
  • Praise Medley