Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson; born June 9, 1966)[1] 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 a major commercial success, as well as receiving a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance.[2]
Mann is known for her role as Cora Simmons 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 Madea Goes to Jail 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 reprising her role as Cora Simmons in the new television comedy, Tyler Perry's Assisted Living, scheduled to debut on BET in summer 2020.
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.
Aside from her musical and acting pursuits, Mann launched a new line of clothing, the Tamela Mann Collection, in 2019.[3] The brand offers a variety of athleisure and workout wear for the curvy woman.
Mann's musical career began when she joined Kirk Franklin and the Family.[6] 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.
