Born: October 31, 1971
Place of Birth: Greenville, South Carolina
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Darlene Jenise "McCoy" Johnson-Jackson is an American gospel singer, songwriter, author, radio personality, and Christian R&B recording artist. She started her music career in 2005 with the release of Fallen in Love single by EMI Gospel. She would release a precursor extended play, in 2007's Fallen in Love, again with EMI Gospel. This will lead to the release of Darlene McCoy later that year. This album was her breakthrough release on the Billboard magazine charts, which it placed on the Gospel Albums chart. She is the First African American Female to host a nightly syndicated radio show, as she hosts Nightly Spirit under Reach Media Inc.
EMI Gospel signed her to a music contract in 2004. Her solo music career started in 2005, with the release of the single "Fallen in Love," released on September 13, 2005, by EMI Gospel. This eventually led to an extended play, Fallen in Love, released on April 24, 2007, by EMI Gospel, which was the precursor to her first studio album. This song was included on the soundtrack of Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Darlene released Darlene McCoy, on May 8, 2007, with label EMI Gospel. This album would be her Billboard magazine breakthrough release on the Gospel Albums chart at No. 22. The album was nominated at the 39th GMA Dove Awards for the Urban Album of the Year, while the song "Simply Because" was nominated for Urban Recorded Song of the Year. In a nine out of ten review by Cross Rhythms, Tony Cummings realizes, "All in all, outstanding urban gospel." In 2011, she released a single, "I Shall Live And Not Die," on May 17, 2011, and this charted on the Hot Gospel Songs chart by Billboard at No. 21.
Darlene McCoy has 3 Children: Ambria Boyd, Chandler "Champp" McCoy, Dylan McCoy one grandson, Jax Nasir Scott , and one granddaugther. Darlene is also the first cousin, twice removed of legendary minister/activist Benjamin Mays and comedian/actress Moms Mabley.