MELINDA DOOLITTLE

MELINDA DOOLITTLE, who became a household name on season six of American Idol, has continued to thrill… Most recently with her 2011 Christmas single, “God Bless Us Everyone”. Co-written with renowned songwriter, Regie Hamm (“Time of My Life”), “God Bless Us Everyone” is destined to become a new holiday classic. “We were really trying to create a fresh take on the timeless themes of Christmas,” Melinda says. “In fact, many people may recognize the phrase, "God Bless Us Everyone", as the closing line of the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, spoken by the character of Tiny Tim. The story has become so intertwined with the holidays; it was the perfect sentiment for a new Christmas song!" Her debut album, Coming Back to You (2009), garnered rave reviews from critics, including The New York Times which hailed Melinda as one of the most 'phenomenally gifted' in years. The album soars as a soul-baring tour de force with Melinda transforming lively soul, jazz, pop and R&B stylings into a definitive collection of songs that urge the listener to come back again and again. Coming Back To You was followed by Beyond Me (2010); Melinda’s poignant, often humorous book recounting the life lessons that have shaped who she is today. Raised by a single mom who had to struggle to make ends meet, Melinda has defied the statistics and followed her dreams. The lessons, or “Mommyisms” as Melinda likes to call them, provide practical guidance to overcoming personal obstacles and achieving the next level in any area of life. Tone deaf as a child, Melinda went on to graduate with a music degree from Belmont University in Nashville, TN and hone her skills as a background singer with the Gospel group Anointed. She eventually carved out a niche in the Nashville music scene, singing background for musical legends such as Michael McDonald, Aretha Franklin, and Aaron Neville, before finishing third on the sixth season of American Idol. Since her time on Idol and her transition into the spotlight, Melinda has wowed audiences everywhere with her ‘big voice’ and ‘soulful’ performances, from the White House to the Musicians Hall of Fame, from the Kennedy Center to Carnegie Hall. Melinda also blazed new trails this year on ‘Twas The Night Before Easter as ‘Cassie Cassava’, the first African American character of Veggie Tales, the tremendously popular children’s cartoon. Melinda’s love for music is eclipsed only by her love of giving back, as she dedicates much of her time to working with numerous charities, especially those that center on improving the lives of children, such as Ronald McDonald House and Malaria No More. She is currently in the studio, writing and recording songs for the release of her next album.