[5][6] Before her solo career, Mandisa worked for a short time as a recording session backup singer for artists such as Sandi Patty, Shania Twain, and Trisha Yearwood.

[7] In 2005, Mandisa auditioned in Chicago for the United States talent competition television show American Idol.

When she provided background information to the show's producers, she said that her musical influences were diverse, from Whitney Houston to Def Leppard.

"[9][10] Then when Paula Abdul commented that Mandisa had a "Frenchie" growl to her voice, Cowell responded that a more apt comparison would be to France itself.

[10] The comments and others drew the ire of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, (NAAFA) and was one of the reasons Mandisa entitled her 2007 album, True Beauty.

When Mandisa spoke to the judges just before the season's cut to 24 semi-finalists, she told Cowell: "What I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me and I cried and it was painful, it really was.

[12] On July 27, 2007, after being eliminated from American Idol—Mandisa performed the song "I Don't Hurt Anymore" on the TV talk show Live with Regis and Kelly.

She joined Gladys Knight and others at the Apollo Theater for the benefit concert "Back to Harlem," to raise money for various charities.

Mandisa was featured alongside Kirk Franklin on tobyMac's song "Lose My Soul" from his album Portable Sounds (2007).

[15] Showcasing Mandisa's stylistic range was the task set before the five sets of producers who lined up to work with her on the album: Shaun Shankel, Brown Bannister, Christopher Stevens, Drew Ramsey and Shannon Sanders (Drew and Shannon), Robert Marvin, and Josiah Bell.

Mandisa personally spent time with the album's writers before the songwriting process began, sharing her vision for the project and what she hoped to communicate through the songs.

Her cover of "Shackles" features a horn section provided by LiveHorns.com with Tommy Vaughan on trumpet, Rodney Mills on trombone, and Shane Philen on sax.

The third single, "Good Morning", features fellow Contemporary Christian musician tobyMac, with whom Mandisa collaborated on "Lose My Soul".

[citation needed] The title track "Overcomer" was released in late July, hitting the Billboard Christian Top 20 in its third week on the charts.

[18] She declined to attend the Grammy Awards, however, saying, "I have fallen prey to the alluring pull of flesh, pride, and selfish desires quite a bit recently.

[25] After the loss of a close friend to breast cancer in 2014, Mandisa gained back much of the weight she had originally lost, as well as experiencing depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.

Speaking openly about her struggle with depression, she appeared on podcasts and wrote a memoir, "Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy".

[32] On June 4, 2024, it was ruled she died due to complications of class III obesity, with the manner of death listed as natural.

[34] Several music artists and television celebrities including frequent collaborator TobyMac and Matthew West paid tribute to Mandisa after the news of her death was released.

[35][36] American Idol paid tribute to her on the April 29 episode of the show, with Colton Dixon, Danny Gokey, and Melinda Doolittle performing "Shackles (Praise You)".