Crystal Lewis + Tamela Mann + Nu Nation - Lean On Me - Kirk Franklin Tribute The Essence Awards - 19

"Lean on Me" is a song by American gospel artist Kirk Franklin. Released in 1998, the song greatly helped ascend Kirk Franklin's album The Nu Nation Project.[1] The Nu Nation Project went on to top the Billboard Contemporary Christian Albums chart for 23 weeks and the Billboard Gospel Albums chart for 49 weeks, and brought Franklin his third GrammyReleased as the first single in 1998, "Lean on Me" helped catapult The Nu Nation Project to becoming a 2x platinum gospel album.[3][4] The single is also an interpretation of the Bill Withers song “"Lean on Me”.[2] The song was a collaboration with artists Bono, Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, and R. Kelly. The song was heavily praised for reaching both the gospel and secular radio. 1.5 million copies of the single have been sold to date and the single was nominated for Song of the Year Category for the 41st Grammy Awards.[5] The single was also nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.[5]

Kirk performed "Lean On Me" at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on 24 February before a TV audience of 1.5 billion people alongside Bono, Crystal Lewis, and Mary J. Blige.

Tamela Jean Mann (née Johnson; born June 9, 1966)[1] is an American gospel singer, and actress.

Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. She was a featured soloist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Don't Take Your Joy Away", "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R. Kelly, and Bono. She released her debut studio album in 2005. Her third studio album, Best Days was certified Gold by the RIAA, and lead single "Take Me to the King" was a major commercial success, as well as receiving a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance.
She went on to act in Meet the Browns, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Class Reunion, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and What's Done in the Dark. She has appeared on television shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, BET Soundstage, the 1999 Grammy Awards, the Dove Awards, the United States of America World Olympics, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns, in which she portrays Mr. Brown's daughter.She has appeared in movies, including the 2001 comedy Kingdom Come, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Meet The Browns. She also had a role in 2009's Tyler Perry movie Madea Goes to Jail. Mann appeared in the 2012 film Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, alongside Whitney Houston and American Idol winner and R&B singer Jordin Sparks, making her film debut.She has appeared in movies, including the 2001 comedy Kingdom Come, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Meet The Browns. She also had a role in 2009's Tyler Perry movie Madea Goes to Jail. Mann appeared in the 2012 film Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 film of the same name, alongside Whitney Houston and American Idol winner and R