Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1966-06-09
- Born Place: Limestone County, Texas, USA
Also Known As:
Tamala Mann, Tamela Johnson , Tamela J. Mann
Tamela Mann
Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson; born June 9, 1966, in Fort Worth, Texas) is a Grammy-winning American gospel singer and acclaimed actress. The youngest of 14 children raised in the Church of God in Christ, she began singing in her church choir by age 12 and later joined Kirk Franklin & The Family, lending her powerful vocals to tracks like “Now Behold the Lamb” and “Lean on Me” . Tamela launched her solo career in 2005 with the albums Gotta Keep Movin’ and The Master Plan, but it was her third album, Best Days (2012), that topped Billboard’s Gospel albums chart, earned Gold certification, and featured the hit single “Take Me to the King,” nominated for a Grammy and certified 2× Platinum. Her dynamic transition into acting began in 1999 when Tyler Perry discovered her. She created the role of Cora Simmons in stage plays like I Can Do Bad All By Myself and Diary of a Mad Black Woman, later reprising the character in multiple Madea films and the BET sitcom Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living . Alongside her husband, actor David Mann, she starred in TBS’s Meet the Browns (2009–2011) and Bounce TV’s Mann & Wife (2015–2017). Tamela’s many accolades include a Grammy Award, BET Award, Stellar Award, Billboard Music Award, and multiple NAACP Image Awards. She was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022 and holds the record for the most Billboard Gospel Airplay No. 1 singles—ten in total as of 2023. In 2019, she launched the Tamela Mann Collection, a plus-size activewear line, and became a weight-loss ambassador for WW, losing over 40 pounds. Devoted to faith, family, and community, Tamela is married to David Mann since 1988. They have four children—Joy, Daniel, Faith, Tamera—along with his daughters from a previous relationship and a niece they raised, and are grandparents to eight. Her journey—from church choirs to chart-topping gospel anthems, from stage to screen, and from personal transformation to entrepreneurial ventures—has made Tamela Mann a beloved and inspirational figure in both entertainment and faith-based circles.
