Monica Lisa Stevenson

Monica Lisa Stevenson is a minister and contemporary gospel artist with a muscular voice evincing a strong foundation in traditional church music. The Atlanta-based singer and songwriter rose in 2009 with Finally...In God's Time, a self-issued debut album that led to a pair of Stellar Awards nominations. Her subsequent recordings include Live in Atlanta and Kainos (The Acoustic Documentary), Billboard-charting sets released respectively in 2013 and 2016, and "I'm Not Ashamed," a galvanizing single that topped the Gospel Airplay chart in 2021. The triumphant "It Is Well" followed in 2023. Stevenson, born Monica Felicia Bowen, was encouraged in both faith and music by her parents, who raised her and her five younger siblings in Wetumpka, Alabama. After moving to Atlanta, she and Derrick Stevenson, her husband and musical director, joined the New Life International Family Church and the Gospel Music Workshop of America. She became a licensed minister and in 1997 established the group Lisa Stevenson & Company. Stevenson's debut album, Finally...In God's Time, was self-released in 2009 and earned her Stellar Award nominations in the categories of Best New Artist and Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year. After an appearance in the movie Madea's Big Happy Family and tours of Italy and Switzerland, Stevenson released Live in Atlanta, which rose to number 14 on Billboard's Gospel Albums chart in 2013. She followed that recording three years later with the more intimate Kainos (The Acoustic Documentary). Featuring appearances from Lisa Knowles and Pastor Walter E. Ellis, the album landed at number eight on the Heatseekers chart and was promoted with a 50-city tour of churches across the U.S. Stevenson had another big year in 2021. She contributed to National Geographic's anthology series Genius: Aretha by recording a vocal lip-synced by the actress who portrayed Sammie Bryant, and her single "I'm Not Ashamed" topped the Gospel Airplay chart. Stevenson returned in 2023 with "It Is Well."
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