Let me start off by saying that I love getting my Precious Times magazines in the mail! I know that the web and blogging has changed our reading habits drastically, but magazines are still close to my heart.
The cover for the Spring 2012 Precious Times is Sunday Best 3 winner, Le’Andria Johnson.
I was surprised to see her on the cover because of the backlash she has received after announcing her pregnancy. Le’Andria is not currently married. This will be her fourth child, with the first three born under the confines of marriage.
In the article, which is done in a before and after pregnancy format, Le’Andria just puts it all out there. There were a lot of wow and I didn’t know that moments in the article for me.
I love Le’Andria’s honesty and transparency. While she acknowledges that she does not condone her situation, she believes that she’s pregnant and having her baby for a reason.
She said that a lot of people in the Gospel industry have abortions and sweep it under the rug, but she plans on being the spokesperson for the next woman who comes across a situation like hers. “I’m not condoning it, but I believe we should help one another and support one another.”
I know a lot of people are wondering about who the father of the baby is. She said that the father is a musician and he said that he would be there for her. It’s his first child, so he is excited. She said that she is not going to get married because she is pregnant, but she will be marrying soon.
This part of the interview was interesting to say the least.
PT: Are other artists rallying around you or are you the leper?
LJ: I’m the leper to most, but the artists who have contacted me in support are just like me. They realize that we’re not perfect. Many have thanked me for being transparent. I hope that women across this nation will focus on who they are and not what man thinks they are.
We all watched in excitement and anticipation as Le’Andria was crowned the winner of Sunday Best, but did you know that she tried out for American Idol the year before? Below are her thoughts during the 10-hour car ride to the Sunday Best auditions in New Orleans.
On the ride there, I thought about my kids and hoped that I had made the right decision. I tried out for American Idol the year before. That was going through my mind.
Honestly, if I had won American Idol, I probably wouldn’t be singing Gospel right now. While I stood in the Superdome I kept thinking about being a single mother who’s not perfect, has no job, a good heart, and a gift to sing from God.
I said, “God if there is anything that you can look back on my life and say it was good, I need that right now. I need that mercy; I need that grace right now to bless me.” Then I saw God unfold.
So there you have it. Like so many of us Le’Andria’s life is continually unfolding. She has had to deal with many of her personal issues like drinking, smoking and now her pregnancy in the public eye, which makes it even more difficult.
My prayer is that her transparency and honesty will help others. We all should be striving to live as Christ would want us to live.
Be sure to pick up the Spring 2012 issue of Precious Times magazine to read the rest of Le’Andria’s interview. The feature is eight pages long, so there is a lot more to discover about Le’Andria. She talks quite a bit about growing up in the faith and how it sheltered her.
Pick up the magazine in your favorite bookstore and be sure to subscribe on their website to get your copy in the mail. I didn’t see an option for iPad subscriptions, but hopefully that’s coming soon.
Follow 1-800Gospel on Twitter at @GospelMusic and like us on Facebook!
Recent Comments