11 Year Old Of Jamaican Parentage Shines On Global Gospel Stage

The pure innocence of a child “I did not know what it meant to be on the Gospel Billboard charts until my dad told me about it. He said it is a big deal. I try to keep it a secret, but with the press and media, it seems that I can’t hide it any more,” Janessa laughed. I am still processing what it means to be one of the youngest Christian Billboard charting artiste ever.

11 years old Janessa Smith was born in New York but her parents are Jamaican. She is one of the youngest to ever grace the Christian Billboard Chart with her gospel single, He’s Able, and the song stayed on the chart for 20 weeks. She has also been nominated for several awards, including the prestigious Stellar Awards in the Youth Project of the Year category.

Jamaica-born, New York-based Kevin Smith and Ann Marie Smith, are beaming with pride and surely thankful to God, following the ground-breaking achievement of their daughter. Kevin stated “If there was a word that could sum up my feelings, it would have to be ‘Wow’, but it’s all God’s doing for sure. When she started out on this journey, it was not in our intentions for her to be on the Billboard charts or to even be nominated for a Stellar Award, the VOGMA (Voices of Gospel Music Awards) or the Antigua Barbuda Gospel Music Awards. It was just God’s plan for us to be in this position right now,” he said gushing.
Janessa is gifted musically, and she doesn’t even know it”, he proudly stated.

Janessa stated that her first song was written ay four years old in a car ride with her dad. “It eventually became my first single, titled One Day. I recorded it at six years old and released it when I was eight. I didn’t really write it down on paper. I just wrote it in my heart, and my dad helped me put it together,”.

“I am hoping in the future I will be able to help all kinds of people and be able to touch everyone in all walks of life with my music. Is that too big of a dream? I’m not sure, but I’m trying my best to get there,” a mature-sounding Janessa said. She also stated that she is glad to have both her mom and dad as mom helps her with her style and her dad helps her musically. “Thank you, Dad, for believing in me. You are the greatest,” she said, with a laugh.

Credit: Jamaica Gleaner | Image Courtesy of Google Images