Sometimes all it ever takes is one chance … that one right opportunity and things just seem to turn around. Add in the constant belief that all things are possible through Christ and an unwavering faith in God, and Stephanie Dotson is living proof that 'miracles' indeed do still happen.

A quiet unassuming young woman from Shreveport, LA, Stephanie Dotson simply sang in the church … it never really entered her mind to sing publicly much less enter a singing competition. Then one day at the urging of her Pastor, Pastor Larry Brandon of Praise Temple Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, Dotson decided to enter a televised singing competition called The Gospel Dream. Auditioning in nearby New Orleans, Dotson came in third place and although she didn't move on, she gained critical advice. "The judges told me to work on my stage presence … auditions were really hard for me … I wasn't used to singing with my eyes open. So I took their advice, worked real hard and decided to try again," Stephanie said. "My pastor really encouraged me to try out again in two weeks at the auditions in Arkansas … honestly I didn't want to do it, but he said to me 'God is telling me that you need to do it.'"

Armed with a divine sense of determination, Dotson eventually won the semi-finals and a spot in the final round at the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Conference in Phoenix. After a tough two weeks with 24 finalists, Dotson won over the judges with what has been called a "special level of maturity and anointing."

Fast forward to 2006 and Dotson is not only at the breadth of releasing her first album, but is also making her first singing cameo in the feature film Madea's Family Reunion. As destiny would have it, the executive producer of GOSPEL DREAM, Elvin Ross, is also the music composer for all of Tyler Perry's films. One conversation led to another, and soon Dotson was on set sharing the scene with giants Maya Angelou and Cicely Tyson.

"I'm not trying to be the next Halle Berry," laughs Dotson. "I loved it and really would love to do more singing roles. I was awe-struck … to be in a movie with Maya Angelou and Cicely Tyson and to have them advise me -it was huge for me. They were encouraging me to stay humble … that my voice had blessed them … that was truly a blessing for me"

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