Tamela Mann

She began her solo career by releasing the albums Gotta Keep Movin (2005), 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. 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.

• Name — Tamela Mann • Birth Name — Tamela Jean Johnson • Born — 9 June 1966 • Birthplace — Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. • Occupation — Singer, actress • Children — 4

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.

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?. • Illustration — Tamela Mann in 2017

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, 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, 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, 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. 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 was released in 2021; it received positive reviews from critics.

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.

• Illustration — Tamela and David Mann in 2018 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.

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.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1996 — New York Undercover — as part of the church choir with Kirk Franklin and the Family — Episodes: "A Time of Faith" Part 1 & 2 • 2007-2008 — Tyler Perry's House of Payne — Cora Simmons — Recurring role, 4 episodes • 2009-2011 — Meet the Browns — Series regular, 140 episodes • 2013 — In the Meantime — Minnie — Television film • 2015-2017 — Mann & Wife — Toni Mann — Series regular, 30 episodes, also executive producer • 2015-2016 — It's a Mann's World — Herself — Reality series, 20 episodes • 2017 — The Manns — Reality series, 10 episodes • 2020–present — Tyler Perry's Assisted Living — Cora Simmons — Series regular

• 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

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales — Certifications • US — US Gospel — US Indie • Gotta Keep Movin — * Released: July 19, 2005 * Formats: CD, digital download — — — 3 — 26 — * US: 103,000 • The Master Plan — * Released: November 3, 2009 * Formats: CD, digital download — 97 — 2 — 10 — * US: 155,000 • Best 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: 200,000 • Us Against the World: The Love Project (as David & Tamela Mann) — * Released November 9, 2018 * Formats: CD, Digital download — — — 3 — 38 • Overcomer — * 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.

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales • US — US Gospel — US Indie • The Live Experience — * Released: May 8, 2007 * Formats: DVD/CD — — — 29 — — • "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. • Soundtracks • Diary of a Mad Black Woman • Meet The Browns

List of singles, as a lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name • Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Certifications — Album • US Bub. — US Gospel — US Adult R&B — US R&B /HH • "Speak Lord" — 2006 — — — 4 — — — — — Gotta Keep Movin • "The Master Plan" — 2010 — — — 13 — — — 100 — The Master Plan • "Joy Of The Lord" — — — 14 — — — 96 • "Step Aside" — — — 30 — — — — • "Take Me to the King" — 2012 — 4 — 1 — 9 — 44 — * RIAA: 2× Platinum — Best Days • "I Can Only Imagine" — 2014 — — — 2 — 29 — — — Best Days (Deluxe Edition) • "This Place" — 2015 — — — 3 — — — — • "God Provides" — 2016 — — — 2 — — — — — One Way • "Change Me" — 2017 — — — 1 — — — — • "Through It All" (featuring Timbaland) — 2018 — — — 5 — — — — • "Potter" — 2019 — — — 8 — — — — • "Good Love" — — — 14 — 18 — — — Us Against the World: The Love Project • "Ups & Downs" — — — 22 — 21 — — • "Touch from You" — 2020 — — — 4 — — — — — Overcomer • "Help Me" (featuring The Fellas) — 2021 — — — 9 — — — — • "He Did It for Me" — 2022 — — — 13 — — — — • "Finished" — — — 19 — — — — • "Working for Me" — 2024 — — — 12 — — — — — Live, Breathe, Fight • "Deserve to Win" — — — 7 — — — — • "Hello God" (featuring Wyclef Jean and Kirk Franklin) — 2026 — — — 25 — — — — • "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

List of singles, as a featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name • Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Album • US Gospel • "My World Needs You" (Kirk Franklin featuring Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs & Tamela Mann) — 2017 — 4 — Losing My Religion • "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

List of soundtrack and promotional singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name • Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Album • US Gospel • "Father Can You Hear Me" (with Tiffany Evans, Terrell Carter and Cheryl Pepsii Riley) — 2005 — 21 — Diary of a Mad Black Woman • "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name • Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Album • US Gospel Digital Sales • "Now Behold the Lamb" — 2013 — 13 — Best Days (Deluxe Version) • "You're the Lifter" (Ricky Dillard featuring Tamela Mann) — 2020 — 4 — Choirmaster • "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

The American Music Awards are awarded annually. Mann has received 1 award. • Year — Award — Nominated work — Result • 2022 — Favorite Gospel Artist — Herself

The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Mann has received 1 award from 9 nominations. • Year — Award — Nominated work — Result • 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"

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Mann has won 6 awards from 17 nominations. • Year — Nominated work — Award — Result • 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"

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 work — Result • 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

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 work — Result • 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"

The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Mann has received 15 awards and 1 honorary award. • Year — Award — Nominated work — Result • 2006 — New Artist of the Year — Gotta Keep Movin • 2008 — Contemporary Female Artist of the Year — Tamela Mann - The Live Experience • Female Vocalist of the Year • Producer of the Year • 2011 — Female Vocalist of the Year — The Master Plan • Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year • 2014 — Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year — Best Days • 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" • 2015 — Special Event CD of the Year — Best Days Deluxe Edition • 2017 — Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year — One Way • 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" • 2018 — James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement award — Herself • Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year — Overcomer • 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" • 2024 — Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year — Overcome Deluxe • Album of the Year • Contemporary Album of the Year • Contemporary Female Artist of the Year • 2025 — Album of the Year — Live Breathe Fight • Artist of the Year • Contemporary Album of the Year