Jekalyn Carr has become a prominent figure in the gospel music scene. Since beginning her professional ministry at the age of 15, she has become one of the best-selling independent recording artists in the industry within a decade. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Carr is also an entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker.
A Musical Force
Jekalyn Carr's impact on gospel music is undeniable. Her radio singles, albums, and digital singles have consistently topped the Billboard charts. Her music has been streamed globally 75 million times by her dedicated fan base. Carr has also built a strong social media presence, with 95 million views on her YouTube channel.
Carr's influence has been recognized by her peers in the music industry, resulting in numerous accolades. She has received four Grammy Award nominations, two Billboard Music Award nominations, five Stellar Gospel Music Awards, and two Dove Awards. In 2021, she was inducted into the Women's Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Notably, Carr spoke about creating music that isn’t similar to her earlier traditional sound.
Expanding Horizons: From Music to Entrepreneurship
Jekalyn Carr has expanded her reach beyond music. She is a published author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur. Carr launched her all-natural Jekalyn Beauty Skincare line, followed by Jekalyn Beauty Haircare. These brands cater to women who desire effective products that meet their beauty needs.
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Fresh from hosting the Stellar Awards on BET, Carr spoke about what she wants to achieve through her beauty enterprises and other business ventures also how the pandemic influenced her to improve her self-care.
Jekalyn Beauty: Skincare and Haircare
Carr's skincare line features five products designed to clear and brighten the skin. The products contain ingredients like turmeric, chamomile, and Vitamin C, known for their anti-aging properties. These components enhance clear skin, fight acne and dark spots, and help maintain a healthy glow. Carr researched natural ingredients for skincare and experimented on herself before developing the product line. She worked for four months to ensure the line met her standards before launching it. Jekalyn Beauty accommodates all skin types and textures.
Carr's hair care brand features four products that provide moisture and conditioning to stimulate healthy growth: a shampoo, conditioner, and a growth serum. The growth serum features eucalyptus, grape seed oil, and other ingredients that Carr endorses. These ingredients support natural hair, helping it retain a healthy length and fullness. The line includes an edge control product that preserves hairdos throughout the day.
"I've always dreamt of having my own beauty company. We started working on the vision around 2018, and then towards the end of 2019, everybody's hands started to go to work to bring the products to life and the vision to where it need be," she said, speaking of her company's genesis. As she was planning the execution of her cosmetic products, the pandemic of 2020 materialized to such a degree that it threw her plans into a tailspin. However, Carr remained stalwart and continued to toil at her initial objective.
"One thing we've learned is sometimes there are things that will happen beyond your control. However, you can't allow it to make you put your vision down. You have to find a way, even if that means you're going back to the drawing board to make sure that you accomplish what you want to, and that's what we did with my beauty company," Carr sensibly and astutely illustrates. She first unveiled her company in July 2021 and released a set of fragrances, Jekalyn For Her and Jekalyn For Him; both ended up selling out twice. Then at the beginning of 2022, she announced her skincare and haircare line, "I plan to continue to grow my company. For me, it's bigger than just doing one thing. I want all things beauty to come from my company and for it to be authentic. I am passionate about my products and want to continue to reach the masses, even through my business," she says. Her haircare line primarily provided for natural hair, particularly stimulating hair growth.
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Carr's journey into the beauty industry is an astute business move. Based on a WWD report, African-American women invested $7.5 billion per year purchasing beauty products and spent twice as much on skincare than the mainstream female demographic.
"You Will Win" Conference
Jekalyn Carr is extending her entrepreneurship acumen by hosting a "You Will Win" conference, named after one of her famed gospel tracks, on how to excel in music ministry and business.
"In this conference, we teach you how to win in multiple aspects and areas of your life. I feel like a lot of times, we have this spiritual down pack. However, you know, a lot of people they're struggling in their businesses, they're struggling in their relationships, just different areas, and so we want to make sure in this conference that we touch on every area," she explains. "What I do is I travel to different cities each year, and we're currently working on "You Will Win" 2023 right now, and I'm so excited about it. Every year, it just gets greater and greater. The last one I had was in Orlando, and just people showed up. They were ready, and I [brought] guests in from all walks of life, artists, actors, actresses, authors, and different people who can touch on multiple areas so that you can win in every area of your life."
Presently, she hasn't decided which city to host the convention but is contemplating the city of Atlanta.
"During the pandemic, I had to cancel the conference due to everything that was going on. But I did an e-course, and l sold out. People were just hungry for that information, and my goal was to give you something that you can hold on to despite what is going on around us because I honestly believe that it may be going on around you, but it [doesn't] have to take you down. So having the vital information you need can sometimes play a huge part in that," she says.
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Personal Life and Inspirations
Jekalyn Carr's journey is also marked by her experiences growing up in the church and navigating the public eye. She shared some difficulties she experienced coming up in front of the public eye.