Katie: In the book you talk about your drama teacher Mr. Robinson.
He was the first to see your musical ability. Did you consider him a role
model at that time?

Mandisa: Honestly, I did. He was my choir director, and it’s funny, but when
I first went to high school I was going down a very dangerous path. But God used
my involvement with the choir to steer me in the right direction. In my freshman
year I couldn’t stand Mr. Robinson. I thought that he had it out for me, that he
didn’t like me. He kept forcing me to do positive stuff that I didn’t want to do.
I kept asking myself, why he was making me sing all these high notes. Since
then, I’ve been back to my high school to see Mr. Robinson, and of course,
he always wants me to tell the story of how we just didn’t get along in my fresh-
man year. I will say however, that after a period of time I began to listen to him
and I’m so glad I did. Today I’m so thankful for good teachers - They can really
mold and shape a student onto the right path. I really believe that if Mr. Robinson
had not taken a vested interest in me, and seen beyond the hard exterior, and
realized that there was a gift inside of me, who knows what might have
happened. I just don’t know, where I would be right now.


Katie: Who are your role models today in the music world? Have you
had the opportunity to meet any of them?

Mandisa: CeCe Winans is my hero. But It’s funny, growing-up I listened to
Whitney Houston. I remember how I would lock myself up in the bathroom and
use my curling iron as a microphone. I would play my Whitney Houston CD ’s
and pretend that I was her. Once I became a believer, I felt like CeCe Winans
was my Christian “Whitney Houston”. I adore her and I think that she is such
a sweetheart. There was a full circle moment for me just a couple of months
ago. I was standing on stage singing my songs at a conference that CeCe
does for young girls, and there in the front row cheering me on were Whitney
Houston and CeCe Winans and I thought to myself: Wow! I don’t know whose
life I’m living, but I can go home a happy woman right now.


Katie: You have such a wonderful sense of humor, a gift that worked in
your favor during the American Idol interviews, even with Simon. From
whom did you inherit your quick wit?

Mandisa: That’s hard to say because I have quite a few very funny people in
my family. Growing up with my brother was great fun, he is just hilarious. My
brother can endear anybody to himself. Probably just hanging out with him is
where I get my humor, but I would say that I have several jokers in my family.


Katie: In your book you talk about your graduation from prestigious
Fisk University. What was it like to finish your studies and suddenly
realize that you did not have employment or a place to live?

Mandisa: I’m very thankful that I got my Bachelors Degree in music, with
a concentration in vocal performance. I feel as though right now I’m using all
the lessons I learned. In high school as well as college, I was really focused
on learning my craft. But I will say, that when you graduate from a University
with a Bachelor of Music Degree, it does not open up a lot of doors for you.
I remember Immediately after graduation how glad I was to have my degree,
but then I said to myself, “now what, what do I do with this? “. For some
reason I kept thinking about Life Way Christian Bookstores, not knowing
at the time that they were a Sunday school publisher, located in Nashville.
Consequently something happened through a series of events that showed
me that God was steering me in their direction. Of course my first reaction
was ”OK God, I have a degree, and you’re going to make me go work at
a Christian bookstore? “However, I was obedient to what He called me to
do, and as a result, I met a lot of people in the music industry.

God used my working at in the Corporate Offices of Life way church resources
to direct my path to doing music full-time. I’m so very, very thankful that God
made my pathway so clear.


Katie: Congratulations on your nomination for “Best Pop/ Contemporary
gospel Album”. Will you eventually set your sights on doing more main-
stream projects?

Mandisa: I wouldn’t exactly say setting my sights on mainstream projects.
When I came off American Idol I had to make a decision as to what type of
music I wanted to do. Christian music comes most naturally to me, so after
a lot of prayer I just felt like that’s the road God wanted me to travel for right
now. I say that but I grew up on Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Aretha
Franklin’s music and I love that kind of music. Sometimes in my shows I’ll do
a medley of some of their music. I feel I can do that type of music as long as
it in no way misrepresents me or especially my Lord. I think its okay to do main-
stream music it’s just not the path that God has me on right now. That’s not
to say it won’t happen and he’ll take me back to “old school” music. I don’t
know if there’s a market in that venue for someone like me, but I’m open to
whatever the lord wants me to do. If it’s to reach more of a mass audience with
that style of music, because they may never step foot inside of a church and
I can reach them that way, then certainly I’m open to the possibilities I’m not
going to go out my way to do it, but if God directs me, I will.


Katie: What’s next for Mandisa? Movies, Broadway, or any other future
plans that you can share with us?

Mandisa: Oh, gosh I don’t even know. I feel like I’m on the wildest ride of my
life. I just wanted to be a singer, but when I came off American Idol I was a singer,
a model, author, and now Grammy nominated singer. That is so far beyond any-
thing I ever dreamed for myself. I just say God you’re in the driver’s seat, just
take me wherever you want to. Who knows where that’s going to be, I just know
God is able. I completely trust him with my life, my music, my ministry, and my
career. So whatever he wants to do I’m all aboard with him.

Mandisa on the backlash from the gay community.

Mandisa on Simon Cowell


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