BET’s “Sunday Best” season two runner-up, Jessica Reedy, didn’t walk away with the title, but her life has undeniably changed from the experience. Her amazing voice and compelling back story endeared her to the show’s many viewers and set the stage for a meteoric rise straight to the top of the gospel charts with her debut album.
Reedy opens up to rolling out about her trials and efforts to help others.
What was life like for you before “Sunday Best” and how has the experience with the show changed it?
My life before Sunday was a mental, spiritual and physical struggle. I had to deal with the struggle of giving up my dreams to work as a technician so I could get off of welfare to provide for my son. But God had this planned out from the beginnin,g and He let me go through all of that so I would cry out to him and finally start trusting in him, so my heart would be ready to be on the show. He was humbling me. So now He has made all things new. He’s transformed my whole life inwardly and … it has helped everything outwardly.
I’ve been listening to gospel all my life and voices like yours are rare. Did you consider your voice “gospel” while growing up?
Honestly, I never boxed my voiced into any category. I just knew I had a gift and I wanted to become a singer. Growing up, that’s all I thought.
We have all these mainstream singers who can barely push out a note these days without electronic assistance, but you can go into a church and hit 15 great singers with one stone — explain that phenomenon.
The only explanation I can give is Jesus. He gave me the gift, He tells me how to use it. He shows me how to deliver my voice; He does all the work. I don’t do anything but show up and listen for His voice. [Smiling.]
In terms of your personal taste, do you prefer gospel, traditional or contemporary music and why?
I just love great music, [whether it’s] contemporary, traditional [or] gospel. If it is a song of substance, I love it, no matter how its delivered.
Your new album is in stores now, what’s it called and how much creative input did you have in the making of it?
My new album is called From The Heart and I had about 95 percent creative input. God gave me favor with the label, the president, CEO, everyone and I was able to express my heart and they actually listened to me. I had input on every song except one. So I was very happy.
Is it geared toward a specific segment of the gospel community or music-loving community in general.
It is for everyone, but specifically for people who have felt like me, depressed, suicidal, alone, unloved, unforgiven, guilty, ashamed, worried, angry, faithless, impatient. I just want them to know what I now know, believe and understand, that Jesus loves you!
