By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Thursday, April 23, 2026

After nearly four decades of marriage, gospel singer Tamela Mann and actor-comedian David Mann say their new nationwide tour, featuring music, comedy and candid conversations, is about service, fueled by their faith.

The couple, who rose to prominence as members of Kirk Franklin & The Family before becoming staples in Tyler Perry’s stage plays and television shows, are now inviting audiences into what they call an “experience” centered on faith, marriage and unity.

“They expect an experience,” David Mann told The Christian Post of the couple’s The Love and Relationships Tour, which features live music, intimate storytelling and guest conversations. “It’s not just one thing. … We sit down and have intimate conversation … just talking to the audience and singing.”

The format, which includes guest appearances from stars like “This Is How We Do It” singer Montell Jordan and his wife, they said, has resonated with audiences, many of whom arrive as couples seeking encouragement.

“You could see this couple … like they had their own personal date night,” David Mann said. “It was like, wow, they get it.”

“It’s just really been good,” Tamela added, recalling moments of prayer and connection during the show. “You can just hear the people talking back to you.”

Married for 38 years, the Manns, who in 2018 wrote a book titled Us Against the World, which offers tips for a lasting marriage, credit their longevity to a shared spiritual foundation and intentional commitment.

“Christ is the foundation,” Tamela Mann said. “We truly, as believers, want to please God. … Sometimes people just need to see your consistency in living that out.”

“Sometimes we’re not intentional in the areas that we need to be,” David Mann said, adding that consistency has required effort, not just emotion. “You have to be intentional about your communication … about how I serve this person that I made a covenant with.”

Tamela Mann, also an NAACP Image Award-winning actress, songwriter and producer, added that growth over time is inevitable and necessary: “We were 18, 19 when we met. … We’re not the same people,” she said. “You have to be willing to make the changes as life changes.”

Despite their commitment to one another, the Manns, who are also parents and grandparents, are open about the challenges they’ve faced over the years. Marriage, they stressed, is not perfect but continually evolving.

“We have a marriage that’s a work in progress — key word, progress,” David Mann said. “But with Christ as our center and as our foundation, we always have a place and a base that we can go back to and realize that, hey, it’s us against every problem and everything.”

Early in their relationship, they made a decision to “take divorce off the table,” Tamela Mann said.

“We’re going to work through the issues that we have," she added. 

The tour’s focus on faith and relationships comes at a time when both say audiences are craving something different. That hunger, they said, is evident in the growing number of couples attending shows together.

“If you feed a kid nothing but junk, … that’s all they’re going to want,” David Mann said. “But if you start feeding people something positive, you’ll see that there’s a hunger for it. Usually it’s a girls' night out … but to see couples coming in like they are, people are hungry for it, they’re hungry for it because there is a need and there’s an area that’s been left neglected.”

Tamela Mann pointed to a broader breakdown in relationships, from marriages to friendships, as a driving force behind that demand.

“We’re no longer patient with each other … no longer wanting to show grace,” she said. “Tomorrow’s not promised. … Let’s just try to get it together.”

“If we ever needed unity, … we definitely need it now,” David agreed. “We wanted to come and bring people together.”

Offstage, the Manns are also expanding into new territory with a family-inspired spice line born out of health concerns and time spent in the kitchen together. What started as informal mixing evolved into a full-fledged product line, developed with input from family and friends.

“We had to figure out something that’s less sodium but still has flavor,” Tamela Mann said, describing how she began experimenting at home. “It just showed our unity again. We were spending hours … trying it out.”

“I love to see people eat,” she added. “We’re really servants at heart.”

As they look ahead, the duo's current season has been marked by personal growth, including health challenges that have deepened their faith. Tamela recently fractured her wrist and knee after a fall, something she said has taught her reliance on God.

“I think I’m just being taught to persevere,” Tamela Mann said. “My desire really is to please God. … I want to be a better mother, better wife. I don’t want my house to be lost, and then I’m helping the world be saved.”

For David Mann, the lesson has centered on extending grace.

“The grace you don’t give today will be the grace you’ll need tomorrow,” he said. “Far too often, we’re not gracious enough with each other.”

Together, the Manns said their mission after nearly 40 years of marriage is to model a faith-centered life that prioritizes love, unity and perseverance both onstage and at home.

“We’re really servants at heart; we’re here to serve,” Tamela Mann said. “We’re here to celebrate you.”

News Source : https://www.christianpost.com/news/david-and-tamela-mann-launch-faith-focused-relationship-tour.html