19 Facts About Mandisa

Mandisa Lynn Hundley, known mononymously as Mandisa, was an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist.

Mandisa began her solo career as a contestant in the fifth season of American Idol finishing in ninth place.

Mandisa Hundley was born on October 2,1976, in Citrus Heights, California, where she was raised.

The Hundley family lived in Citrus Heights during Mandisa's growing up years and she attended school there, graduating from El Camino Fundamental High School in 1996.

Mandisa then transferred to study at Tennessee's Fisk University for vocal performance, and was a member of the school's "Jubilee Singers".

Mandisa graduated from Fisk in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.

In 2005, Mandisa auditioned in Chicago for the United States talent competition television show American Idol.

The comments and others drew the ire of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, and was one of the reasons Mandisa entitled her 2007 album, True Beauty.

Mandisa performed a rendition of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" which drew praise from all three judges.

Mandisa was among the 12 contestants chosen on March 9,2006, as a finalist in Idols fifth season.

Mandisa was eliminated from American Idol on April 5,2006, in the top nine.

Mandisa joined Gladys Knight and others at the Apollo Theater for the benefit concert "Back to Harlem," to raise money for various charities.

Mandisa was featured alongside Kirk Franklin on tobyMac's song "Lose My Soul" from his album Portable Sounds.

Mandisa personally spent time with the album's writers before the songwriting process began, sharing her vision for the project and what she hoped to communicate through the songs.

In November 2007, Mandisa released a holiday EP, Christmas Joy EP, which features the song "Christmas Makes Me Cry", a duet with frequent collaborator Matthew West.

On October 14,2008, Mandisa released a full-length Christmas album, It's Christmas.

The third single, "Good Morning", features fellow Contemporary Christian musician tobyMac, with whom Mandisa collaborated on "Lose My Soul".

Mandisa won the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Overcomer at the 56th Grammy Awards.

Mandisa reportedly weighed 488 pounds at the time of her death.