Contemporary gospel singer Tamela Mann is known for her strong and powerful soprano singing voice. Beginning her professional life as a member of Kirk Franklin's vocal stable, she acted in Tyler Perry projects, including starring as Cora on TV's Meet the Browns, while embarking on a solo singing career. She updated the faith-based gospel sound established on 2005's Gotta Keep Movin' with contemporary R&B touches on 2009's The Master Plan, then hit a career-high number 14 on the Billboard 200 with the gospel number one Best Days in 2012. Her fifth solo album, 2021's Overcomer, included appearances by the likes of Franklin, Wyclef Jean, and Todd Dulaney.

Born on June 9, 1966 in Fort Worth, Texas, the youngest of 14 children, Mann's childhood was centered by the presence of the Church of God in Christ (where her mother often served as psalmist). She was singing in the church's adult choir by the time she was 12, often as a soloist, and continued singing in choirs throughout high school. Her professional singing career began in the '90s, when she joined Kirk Franklin & the Family's gospel organization and eventually was spotlighted on several tracks.