Sparkle Actress Tamela Mann talks Working with Whitney, New Music & Shedding the Pounds

Tamela Mann’s new single, “Take Me to the King,” written by Kirk Franklin, is captivating the hearts and minds of gospel lovers around the country. As she gears up to release her new album, “Best Days” August 14, the singer/actress is also opening up about what it was like to work alongside the late Whitney Houston on her new movie Sparkle.

“It was a wonderful experience. I had such a good time,” Mann told Essence.com. “We talked about the Lord; we talked about family and about singing.”

Houston, who was a big fan of gospel music (She loved Fred Hammond and John P. Kee.), had the opportunity to listen to two cuts off Mann’s upcoming album and gave her stamp of approval—an experience Mann, who plays the deceased icon’s best friend in the move, cherishes.

“I was very hurt when I got the call about her passing,” she says. But there was an earlier call that evoked feelings of elation rather than grief. “I actually got a phone call for the part. I was shocked, but happy at the same time,” she shares, also adding that she dressed up like a woman from the 1950’s in her audition tape to help her get into character.

Mrs. Mann, who is working on a cooking show, “Hanging with the Manns” with her husband, funnyman, David Mann, has lost quite a bit of weight.  So, how has she managed to drop extra pounds and keep them off?

She says, “I’m working out. I have a trainer. I’m trying to eat right, not a whole lot of desserts. No sodas. Every now and then I’ll take a swig of somebody’s.”

Good for her.

Sparkle opens in theaters this weekend.

To read the full interview with Tamela Mann, click here.

Comments

[Tomeka]

Congratulations! She is a beautiful lady, with a beautiful spirit!