Darlene McCoy

Born Darlene Jenise Johnson, Darlene McCoy is a Christian singer, actress, writer, and radio host whose music has landed on the gospel and R&B charts. An Atlanta-based native of Greenville, South Carolina, she was raised in the church, eventually becoming a praise & worship leader. After landing a record deal with EMI in 2004, her first single, "Fallen in Love," was included on the soundtrack to the film adaptation of Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, released in early 2005. McCoy's eponymous debut album, which included the song, followed in 2007 and reached number 22 on the Billboard gospel albums chart. Another track from the LP, "Already Got Joy" (aka "Simply Because"), became a Top 30 Adult R&B hit. Her next major release would be in the literary realm. McCoy's Jenimac Moments: Inspirational Words of Wisdom was published by Jenimac in 2010.

After parting ways with EMI, she charted again in 2011 with the stand-alone single "I Shall Live and Not Die," which peaked at number 21 on the gospel songs chart. A year later, she appeared in a supporting role in the TV movie In Sickness and in Health. Further expanding her scope, she released a parody song called "Take Me to Burger King" in 2013 and followed it with a church-themed comedic version of Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable." She was also a co-founder, producer, and writer behind the Rickey Smiley comedy singing group Joe Willie & the Deuteronomaires. Devoting much of her time in the 2010s to radio, she hosted the mid-day shift at Atlanta's Praise 102.5 before launching the nationally syndicated weekday show Nightly Spirit with Darlene McCoy in October 2015. ~ Marcy Donelson, Rovi