Mandisa

Mandisa Lynn Hundley () (October 2, 1976 – ), known mononymously as Mandisa, was an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist. She began her solo career as a contestant in the fifth season of American Idol finishing in ninth place. Her album Overcomer won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album; she was the fifth American Idol contestant to win a Grammy.

== Early life == Mandisa Lynn Hundley was born on October 2, 1976, in Citrus Heights, California to John D. Hundley (b. 1943) and Ruby Jewell (née Berryman; born 1940), where she was also raised. She was the youngest child of four children with two older brothers and one older sister. 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 1994. Following high school, she attended American River College in Sacramento, where she studied vocal jazz. She 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.