About
Stephanie Summers

Stephanie Summers is more than a gospel singer with an exceptional voice. She is a resilient, experienced artist, whose genuine love for her craft, as well her divine love for Christ speaks volumes. With her solo debut album, Mighty Strong God (RCA Inspiration), slated for release this fall, there is no doubt that Summers is on her way to being one of the most influential and dynamic inspirational artists of our time. 

Hailing from Colorado Springs, CO, Summers grew up in the church but being a gospel singer was not part of her plan — at first. “I actually wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but as I continued in church, where my mother and father were very active, music became a part of my life. My father was a preacher who played the piano and the guitar, and my mother and siblings also sang and played instruments, so music was all around me,” she says. “I realized that singing was something I could do, I really started to enjoy it and then it became something I wanted to pursue.” 

Summers sang in her local church’s choir for several years, but it was not until she joined the Colorado Mass Choir (CMC) as one of the lead vocalists in the mid 1990s that she got her official start in the gospel industry. In 1996, she recorded the track, “He’s Worthy to Be Praised,” with CMC, under the leadership and tutelage of the late Reverend James Moore, who also took Summers to several retreats hosted by the Bobby Jones Show, where she met gospel greats such as Yolanda Adams, Albertina Walker, Donald Lawrence, and Byron Cage. “I was able to sit in on the teachings and take the classes. That’s how I learned about the industry and the TV side of the industry,” Summers says. She and the Colorado Mass Choir performed “He’s Worthy to Be Praised” on the Bobby Jones Show and Summers also began sharing the stage and opening up for various gospel artists, including Pastor John P. Kee and Dorinda Clark-Cole, whenever they visited Colorado. 

Summers continued singing, but would soon be dealt a series of blows that would derail her career for a bit. In 2017, she was diagnosed with cancer and shortly after coming home from having surgery to remove the cancer, her father died. Then, only a week after his death, she was suddenly homeless. These unfortunate events completely shattered Summers. “I continued to sing in the church, but I was devastated, so much that I shared with my pastor that I just felt like I needed to sit down and recoup. What I was singing, I wasn’t actually believing. I wasn’t seeing what I was telling the people,” Summers admits. “Singing about Him being a way maker and providing while I was sleeping on the floor at my kid’s place did not feel right. I didn’t believe what I was singing about.” 

Fortunately, those feelings did not last long. Thanks to her deep faith in God and her remarkable resolve, Summers was able to pull herself up, get her footing, and continue pursuing her dreams. In 2020, she tried out for BET’s inspirational singing competition show Sunday Best (for the third time), and after an invigorating, yet arduous competition, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Summers was crowned the season 10 winner, and awarded a recording contract with RCA Inspiration along with a cash prize of $50,000. “After losing my dad and my home, I really wanted to be a light and share my story that yes, you can go through things, but you can make it through. I never thought I would become Sunday Best’s season 10 winner, but I went in saying, ‘God, you lead. You’ve been leading all this time, so you be everything and I’ll walk wherever you place me.’”

Now, Summers is an RCA Inspiration artist who is ready for the world to experience her undeniable gift. Her upcoming album, Mighty Strong God, is a moving, exhilarating project that shows Summers’ incredible vocal prowess and illustrates her passion and strong devotion to God. The album, produced by Pastor JJ Hairston, features exciting collaborations with gospel extraordinaires, Isaiah Templeton, and Melvin Crispell III, and is guaranteed to solidify Summers’ place amongst gospel’s finest. With songs like “Already Won,” “Greater,” and the title track, “Mighty Strong God,” Summers’ inspiring lyrics and uplifting, soulful arrangements will take every listener on an unforgettable and rousing spiritual journey. “I want the record to be authentic and touching, and whether it blesses millions or hundreds, whoever this album is for, that’s who it is for. I want people to see the love of Christ and I want them to be able to see that whatever song they like or listen to, there’s strength and hope,” she says. “I want them to not give up on their dreams and know that God is going to come through – all the time.”

Summers is extremely grateful for the path she’s on and the lessons learned. Today, she is back on her feet and enjoying an amazing career that she plans to take even further with the help of her excellent management team and record label. In addition to making music that demonstrates her unwavering love for Christ, Summers plans to give back to the community by mentoring young artists and eventually opening up a group home for youth dealing with challenging situations. 

Life has not always been easy for Stephanie Summers, but thanks to her resilience and conviction, she continues to follow her dreams and walk by faith. “God’s timing is everything. It’s perfect. From me winning Sunday Best and getting the RCA contract, it’s all in God’s time. When you do things in His timing, it’s made perfect. That’s what I’ve learned,” Summers expresses. “It’s been 20-plus years for me to even get to where I am now and be in this space, but God has proven He keeps His promises and I’m a living witness to that. So I’m taking this time to enjoy the ride. I’m enjoying the journey and letting people see that when you allow God to do it, things just fall into place.”