Janice Gaines - old

“I had my own plans for so many years. But one day, I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do. And it started me on this journey.”

This is the testimony of singer/songwriter Janice Gaines. Like most people, she had plenty of ideas for her life, especially as it related to a career. But God also had His ideas, and He was preparing her for something far greater than she could imagine.

Growing up in Memphis, Janice was surrounded by music and ministry. “It’s just what we did,” she jokingly recalls. “We sang and we went to church!” Janice led songs in every church choir her mother directed, and listened intently to each of her father’s sermons. As a teenager, she was the youngest member of O’landa Draper & The Associates, while also singing in a local group led by her brother, Jon Reddick.

By the time she finished college, Janice had gained more experience through studio session work, as a background vocalist for R&B/Gospel singer Howard Hewett, and as a vocalist in the major motion picture The People vs. Larry Flynt. She also traveled to sing internationally in Japan, Italy and Germany.

But it wasn’t until early 2009, as she worked on her second Master’s degree, that Janice began to even consider that her musical experiences might have been more than a mere pastime. She began to wonder what God really wanted from her. And one day, prompted by a friend, Janice laid down her own will, and asked about His.

As if He were simply waiting for her question, God immediately began opening doors in music. Moving with her husband from New York City to Nashville, Janice transitioned from schoolteacher to full-time singer, immediately stepping into her artistry.

Within months, she joined the worship team of the popular Women of Faith conferences, where she currently leads as many as 12,000 women in worship each weekend in arenas across the country. In addition to these thousands of attendees, Janice Gaines has garnered the support of several of the biggest names in Gospel and Christian music, including Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Donald Lawrence, Natalie Grant and Mandisa.

But perhaps the most profound work was done in Janice’s own heart. “I finally accepted the truth that God’s plans for my life are much better than mine. And the evidence of it was that, once I started to dive into my music, I was more at peace and felt more alive than I had ever been.”

Janice is currently working on the release of her debut album. With a contemporary gospel vibe, her songs are steeped in truths learned both from her seminary education (she holds a Master of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary) and from everyday life.

“We’re in an age where a lot of the church is actually getting its theology from songs, so we’d better have it right,” Janice shares. “But I also want people to experience God through real life, so my songs are a reflection of my walk with Christ as a woman, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a friend.”

With relatable music and lyrics, a soaring soprano range and a rich, clear tone, Janice Gaines is positioned as one of the leading female vocalists in gospel music’s new generation of artists. And with that platform, she wants to make clear the simple truth of God’s presence and love for each of His children– “God is with us. He’s with us and He wants us.”