Getting to know Joanna

Joanna Hale-McGill New Orleans Native has always had a true passion for her music.  She’s an award winning artist and is quickly becoming a sought after artist in the gospel music industry. Joanna's journey to discovery began during the 2015 Essence Festival Joanna was submitting an audition video singing an accapella rendition of “Amazing Grace” with the hopes of being accepted to compete  for The Next Gospel Superstar.  

On the last day of the 2015 Essence Festival, she humbly took the  Walmart Stage and belted out the song, “Amazing Grace” which captured  the attention of Detrick Haddon, Tamela Mann and Phil Thorton.  As part of the winnings for the Next Gospel Superstar Contest,  Joanna was flown to Orlando, Florida where she recorded and performed her 1st single, “Open Door” written and produced by Detrick Haddon.  

During that time, she also recorded a new Top of The Hour Jingle  for the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Joanna has opened for Yolanda Adams and Deitrick Haddon at the 2015 Tom Joyner Family Reunion. In 2017, Joanna performed at the Johnnie Jackson Gospel is Alive event & Heritage Festival in  New Orleans, LA alongside the legendary Clark Sisters. Joanna would  later grace the stage of New Orleans House of Blues Sunday Morning  Gospel Brunch Joanna has received many accolades along her journey including  being nominated for NOLA Gospel Award for Best New Artist in 2016, and  2022 Consideration for the Dove Awards.  In 2018, Joanna was awarded the  Artist of The Year by the Gulf Coast Gospel Music Awards.  

She was also casted in the 2018 gospel musical stage play entitled  “Crowns” written by Regina Taylor, adopted from the book by Michael  Cunningham and Craig Marberry. In April 2019, Joanna made her national  television premier on ABC Family Marvel’s TV show “Cloak & Dagger. In 2016, Joanna alongside her husband founded J. McGill Music  Foundation. J. McGill Music Foundation is a non-profit public service organization, whose mission is to give youth the ability to experience  music outside of their norm. We want all youth to have an understanding  of the role music plays in their everyday lives. We want them to have a  clear understanding of, “What Music Really Is To Me”. We are dedicated  to promoting positive music to today’s youth. From contemporary  Gospel
to Jazz, Classical, Hip Hop & R & B to other  cultures nationwide, we want our youth to have the ultimate music  experience. From contemporary Gospel to Jazz, Classical, Hip Hop &  R&B to other cultures nationwide, we want our youth to have the  ultimate music experience.   In Fall 2018, Joanna complete her freshman album entitled, New  Sound Same God Vol. 1. Her first single entitled, " I Can Do Anything"  reached #21 on the Billboard Gospel Indicator Chart. Her next single  entitled, “Be Patient” reached #5 on the Billboard Gospel Indicator  Chart. Her current single entitled " Revelation 21:4 peaked #11 on the Gospel Indicator chart and #99 On the Billboard Gospel Airplay  Chart.  .