Genre: Pop/Rock, R&B/Urban
For fans of: Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans, Natalie Grant, Janna Long
Label: Sparrow Records/EMI

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It's hard to believe that it's been just over a year since Mandisa shot to instant fame when millions of TV viewers across the nation were captivated by her winning smile and powerhouse vocals as she sang her way into the final rounds of "American Idol's" fifth season. Not only did she garner a multitude of new fans who now simply refer to her as "Mandisa," but she wowed critics with her stunningly expressive voice.

"Mandisa is powerful and has tremendous breath and pitch control, and there's no reason that woman should be working as anything other than a singer," Daily Variety associate editor Phil Gallo told USA Today after watching Mandisa's performances on "Idol."

Entertainment Weekly also chimed in with praise ("It's all about Mandisa!"), claiming Mandisa turned "American Idol" into a one-woman show. "Following her powerful performance of Chaka Khan's soulful classic 'I'm Every Woman,'" EW raved, "if you weren't doing a little bit of couch dancing when 'Disa! cut loose on the piping hot arrangement, then you'd better check the cushions for your soul."

"I never expected that kind of support," Mandisa shares. "Honestly, I looked around and was really honored and humbled that they would pick me because there was so much great talent there."

It's not surprising that Mandisa made such an impression on the millions who heard her TV performances. Music has been the backbone of her life since growing up in Sacramento, California. "I don't ever remember not singing," she says, recalling the years she spent performing in church and school choirs before heading to Nashville, Tenn., to attend Fisk University and earn a degree in vocal performance.

While in Nashville, Mandisa has done session work and performed backup for a wide variety of artists including Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Take 6, Larnelle Harris, Sandi Patty, Charlie Daniels, Travis Cottrell and more. She has also traveled across the nation with various worship conferences and women's events and retreats (Integrity Music, Living Proof Live featuring Beth Moore, LifeWay Christian Women's Conventions) as a worship leader.

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