Mandisa's 'Overcomer' Song Helps Her Overcome Her Own Battles
In a recent interview, gospel singer Mandisa admitted she draws strength from her own music while on tour.
"I'm fighting every day -- it's not just for a final destination," Mandisa said to MLive.com, regarding her life and the encouragement of her song, "Overcomer."
In the interview the singer reveals one of her biggest struggles is with weight. She has lost 100 pounds since 2006.
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"It's an every-day, one-decision, one-temptation at a time battle I'm choosing to fight," she said in the interview.
A particular stinging comment from Simon Cowell when Mandisa was "American Idol" about her weight put the issue in front of a national audience.
"When he made those comments it put my story out there very publicly, and I think people will say, 'If she can do it, I can do it, too," she said concerning Cowell's remark about her figure in regards to being an "American Idol."
They two met again in 2009 after she had lost 70 pounds and Cowell was encouraging and said he was "proud" of her.
She is currently on the "Brandisa Tour," a play of her name and fellow tour mate, Brandon Heath.
Mandisa performed the National Anthem this past Sunday in honor of Breast Cancer Month for an NFL game that featured the 49ers and Texans on the NFL Network.
While Mandisa was singing, survivors of Breast Cancer joined her on stage.
The NFL and NFL Players Association are supporting National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their fifth annual screening initiative, "A Crucial Catch: Annual Screening Saves Lives," and a fundraising campaign. The initiative reminds women 40 and older about the importance of having an annual mammogram.
The Grand Ole Opry also asked Mandisa to unit with them on Tuesday, Oct. 22, for Women Rock For The Cure to battle breast cancer at the fifth annual "Opry Goes Pink" show.
Mandisa's music video for "Overcomer" debuted two weeks ago exclusively on the "Good Morning America" website.
The video features appearances with former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Captain Mark Kelly, Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton, and "GMA" host Robin Roberts.
"We chose each of them because when we thought of who has been an example of an overcomer in a very public battle, it is hard to imagine anyone more appropriate than the amazing people in my video. They have all fought, and continue to fight victoriously. I pray that sharing their inspirational stories throughout the video will leave people saying, 'If they can do it, so can I!'" Mandisa said in a press release.
"I was really inspired by Mandisa's song 'Overcomer' because its message is one of hope, perseverance and faith," said Gabby Giffords, former U.S. Congresswoman about the song in a statement. "We can't always control what happens to us in life, but we can control how we respond. Like the song says, if we keep positive and 'stay in the fight till the final round,' we can overcome more than we ever dreamed possible."
