About a month ago I was talking to a couple of nice people who work at Mandisa‘s record label about giving away some CDs, and during the course of the conversation I said something along the lines of, “Hey, you know what? I would love to ask Mandisa some questions.”
LIKE I’M A JOURNALIST OR SOMETHING.
Much to my surprise, they didn’t hoot and guffaw at my idea – they totally made it happen.
And oh, were my questions for sweet Mandisa ever hard-hitting. Because any good journalist will tell you that the path to interviewing success is to ask your subject WHAT KIND OF MAKE-UP SHE LIKES.
I mean, Diane Sawyer has built her whole career on that very strategy.
Anyway, Mandisa was oh-so-gracious to answer all of my questions – and there was so much good stuff from her that I’m actually going to post the interview in two parts. Part One will be today, and I’ll post Part Two this Friday when I announce who has won the fabulous prizes.
What fabulous prizes, you ask?
Well, since Shannon is having the Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway this week, I thought it would be a great chance to give away five copies of Mandisa’s new book, Idoleyes – and ten copies of Mandisa’s upcoming full-length CD, True Beauty. To be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.
And also: as you read the interview, be sure to notice that Mandisa actually mentioned Emma Kate in one of her answers – probably because I mentioned Emma Kate in one of the questions. But still. It’s really only a matter of time before Emma Kate has a t-shirt made that says, “MANDISA MENTIONED ME IN AN INTERVIEW, Y’ALL. ON THE INTERNET.”
So here’s part one.
Now tell me the truth, Mandisa: did you ever dare to dream that one day, as the result of a new book and a new CD, you’d have the opportunity to answer questions for a blog with a klassy name like “BooMama”?
Now I feel like my dreams have finally come true!!!
I’m a Southern girl by birth, and I know you’re a Southern girl by choice, so I think we need to get a few Southern girl questions out of the way. Ready?
– favorite brand of make-up?
MAC eye shadows & lip glosses and Estee Lauder’s Double Wear foundation.
– favorite place for BBQ?
My best friend Chandra’s dad’s house in Conway, AR. He can throw down!
– Coke or Pepsi?
I’m a Pepsi girl.
– favorite home-cooked meal?
Fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and corn bread…mmmmm!
– favorite place to shop?
Ashley Stewart
Another Terribly Important question: what do you use to clean your face? I ask because YOUR SKIN IS GORGEOUS, and I want to do whatever you’re doing. Rightthissecond.
Awww, thanks! I use Proactiv Solution because I have battled acne and this not only helps with that but gives my skin a really smooth surface.
All righty – now that the important stuff is out of the way, let’s talk about singing. Because you can’t just sing – you can SANG, and there is SUCH a difference.
I first heard you sing (SANG) at a Living Proof Live event in Knoxville back in 2005, and I hummed “Shackles” the whole way home – because YOU ROCKED IT. How did you first meet Travis Cottrell and the LPL praise team?
I used to work in the customer service department of LifeWay Church Resources and would sing in their chapel services occasionally. One year they were having a spring revival featuring special guest Travis Cottrell and they put together a praise team of employees to sing with him. He called shortly after and invited me to sing with him at a Beth Moore event in Charlotte, NC. I became a part of his team from that moment on and continued with those events for 5 years.
Do you look back on your time with LPL and think OH YEAH – God was totally laying the foundation for the time on “American Idol”?
Absolutely! I can trace the hand of God all over my life, including my time with Living Proof Live. I certainly wouldn’t be the woman I am today if I had not been trained and taught through those very crucial years.
I remember looking on the “AI” website the day after the competition was down to twelve finalists, and you mentioned Beth Moore in your Q & A. It really resonated with me because her ministry has affected me (and so many of the women who read my blog) in a huge way. What kind of impact has her ministry had on your life?
Beth is the godliest person I know. I did her “Breaking Free” Bible study in college and it resonated with me so deeply. You can imagine my elation when I met her in person and became a part of her ministry. I could have died a happy woman right then! Beth tells a story of one of her mentors, Buddy. She was a young, green, bound up girl when she attended a Bible class Buddy was teaching. She left crying out to the Lord that “whatever it is he has, I WANT IT!”. I found myself praying the same thing about Beth. When I saw her passion for God and love for His Word, I prayed that He would bless me with the same passion. God used my time under her teaching to shape me into who I am today.
Singing seems so natural to you – effortless, almost. But when did singing start to feel like God’s calling on your life? Was it just a general impression you had – or something much more specific?
I have been singing since I was a little girl. Even as a child, when people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always a singer. As I grew older people would begin to follow up with, “What will you fall back on if that doesn’t work out?” My reply would always be, “I’m not planning on falling back”. It is what I have always wanted to do and I believe God placed the desire in me at a very early age.
My best friend Emma Kate was FURIOUS when you were voted off of “AI” – so will you please assure her that you’re okay? I mean, things seem to have worked out pretty well for you, what with your fabulous new CD and a #1 single and all.
While I must confess that being eliminated was very difficult for me in the beginning because of some controversies surrounding me, I am a living witness that you don’t have to win American Idol to be successful from it. When I got off of the AI tour I had a recording contract, a book publishing contract, and a modeling contract. Please assure Emma Kate that I am better than okay. I am living a bigger dream than I ever dreamt for myself!
She is, in a word, delightful.
And for more great giveaways, visit Shannon’s place. All week long.
wonderful interview! please enter me in the super cool giveaway.
Please enter me into the drawing! Thank you!
I don’t know much about her only that she was on American Idol which I don’t want. I do know everyone says great things about her. I would love to learn more and hear her singing.
Count me in! Also, thanks for sharing the interview. I loved the “hardhitting questions” best!
Oh, I just love Mandissa!! Count me in on this one.
I would love to win. Please count me in. Thank you.
–tanyetta
http://calimckoys.blogspot.com
Please count me in! Loved the interview!
Here’s a “Boo” out, er….shout out to Boo Mama for a job well done. Would love to win.
Blessings,
~Toni~
great interview! add me in too please!
oh, good gracious, I’m # 310! Thanks for the interview, BooMama, and thanks for a great blog to bring women together to talk about our “stuff” and to glorify God in the midst of it all!
Fun interview, BooMama! Count me in on the drawing, please.
Thanks for all of your great giveaways lately!
Fun interview, looking forward to the rest of it….count me in too please! I love Mandissa’s voice.
Friday is my birthday and I’d love to get this as a gift!
Cool interview! And man, would I love to hear that CD!
How very cool, please count me in!
i loved your interview. Please enter me.
Cool! I heard the book was great! Count me in!
what fun! your interview was a fun read. i am so not southern, but really enjoy learning about your culture! ;o)
I live you blog!! Count me in.
Wow, the odds of winning are getting worse and worse! Still, a girl can hope!
Jan
Sounds great!
Thanks.
count me in please
I am happy to be the 323 comment (I think that’s me!) and I would be delighted to win a copy of anything Mandisa produced!
A fabulous giveaway!!! Please enter my name in your draw:-) Thank you!! xo
OK, I’ll bite even though I’m more of a classical/fold kind of girl. I’m always ready to try something new.
Wow – thanks! What a great giveaway! Count me in.
And if you find the time, stop by for my giveaway!
Count me in girlfriend!! Thanks!!
How cool!
Count me in, please!
And I’m giving away Scripture this week. Stop on by and enter. :)
Blessings,
Janne from
Janne’s Jabberwocky
Wouldn’t that be too cool to own these? What a great interview!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Wow! It’s like Christmas in July! Thanks to all of the wonderful bloggers that are participating in this great give-away!!!
I’d love to win one of the CD’s! Great giveaway and thanks!
Loved your interview. My husband and I fell in love with Mandisa on American Idol. I loved the grace she poured onto Simon in the final pick. Her life is her witness!
Loved reading this! Count me in, I’m a weirdo that hasn’t heard her yet! I don’t watch AI, well I have some but I didn’t on her season.
Loved your interview. I have been wanting to read Idol Eyes. Count me in and thank you!!
Count me in!
This post was also delightful!
Thanks!
I would love to win her cd!
Enter my name for the drawing (either one!) Do you think the random # generator will actually pick 337? Oh, please!
Hopefully the random number generator will pick 338!
Mandisa is great!
Would LOVE this!!! She was great singing Shackles on American Idol!!
wow! how neat
Thanks for the chance!!
Count me in… Would be a great gift for my wife!
Check out my giveaway here
Great prize!
Wow – what a great prize. I can’t believe you were able to ask your questions too! thanks for sharing!
What a great prize!
Thank you for hosting a giveaway.
A Cd please add my name to the drawing
Great interview and great prizes! She was one of my favorites on AI. Please put my name in.
Thanks!
Here I was all excited over my email from my pretend bff, famous Egyptologist Dr. Kara Cooney of Discovery Channel’s ‘The Lost Queen’ fame and you have to go one up me with Mandisa…jeez :))
Would love to win this! Please enter me!
ooooh!i love her!count me in!
Sign me uppp,yo.
Please enter me in the contest!
Please enter me in your contest. What a wonderful give-away! God bless!
I adore your name and I love your blog…I imagine you write just the way you type and I think you are probably oh so fun :o) The interview with Mandisa was great and I would love to be in on the contest!
BooMama, please enter me in your giveaway! I love the interview Q&A. Thanks for sharing!
If you haven’t already, please stop by and enter my free earring giveaway.
http://www.ladybugsandlilypads.com
Count me in. Go take a look and enter our give a way too!
I’d love to win! Please enter my name in your drawing.
kblaidlaw at yahoo dot com
I love Mandissa! I too heard her for the first time in 2005 at a LPL event! Please enter me!
Love her!! stacibrown@hotmail.com
You are great, BooMama! Loved the interview and would LOVE to win one of your prizes!
Count me in! I’m exhausted. Too many giveaways!
Count me in!
Trina :0)
Enter me please!
Tammy
crazymamma1966 at hotmail dot com
Sounds good. (get it?? ha ha)
I’d love to win these!
Count me in!
This is so good! I love Beth and Mandisa! GO BOOMAMA!
Please enter me in this giveaway. Thanks! serving_theKingofkings@yahoo.com
I’d love to win this!
Count me in!
That is so awesome Boomama! I’m so proud of you for doing that interview. What a neat opportunity for you. Please count me in on the contest. I would love to win one of these prizes! Thanks!!
Count me in! What a fablous giveaway!
Great blog…I’m bookmarking it so that I can come back later. ;)
Come on over to check out my giveaway.
How very fun that you got to do this interview! Please include me in the CD giveaway, and thanks for sharing with all of us!
I have never heard of her, but now I want to hear her sing. Yay for contests and new discoveries!
Your blog is a joy to read! Thanks for sharing the interview… Please count me in- Thanks!
enter me please.
Thanks for sharing the interview & Mandisa CD. Mandisa had the most fabulous voice that AI has ever presented. She was a winner in every way!
Great prizes. Please enter me.
I would love to be counted in! Thanks.
What a great girl!
I have to plug the proactiv solution too…have used it for 7 years and won’t use anything else!
VERY cool, I love her too!!! And I love reading your blog. When I stop entering giveaways…..I want to come back and read this whole interview! I hope I win yours!
Count me in!!
jazlynnesmomma@yahoo.com
Awesome interview and awesome giveaway! Please enter me – I love me some Mandisa!
I love me some Mandisa! Count me in please!
I would love one of those prizes.
Thanks for entering my name in the draw!
mommarobin@gmail.com
Sign me up!! Thanks!
Great journaling boomama!
I’m game :)
How cool … enjoy your life’s musings! please enter me!
please include me!
Would love to win one of the CDs. Put my name in the hat.
Since the odds are ridiculously small (and it’s nearly nine o’clock central time) – I’ll put my name in the hat. Thanks Boomama.