Della Reese

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Birthday:

6 July 1931, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Birth Name:

Delloreese Patricia Early

Height:

157 cm

Della began singing in her hometown of Detroit when she was 6 years old. As a teenager, she toured with gospel great Mahalia Jackson and, at the age of 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to take gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. She was a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and began making her own records. She was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Female Soloist in Gospel music in 1987. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, producer Franklin Lett. Show less «

I was black when they hired me. They knew how old I was when they hired me.

The Lord has planned my life. I'm not a great planner but I have been open to what God has in store for me, and it's worked.

[on being the first black woman to host a talk show of the 1960s, long before Oprah Winfrey] I've had so many different chapters in my caree...Show more »

[on being the first black woman to host a talk show of the 1960s, long before Oprah Winfrey] I've had so many different chapters in my career, so many different audiences, but it always comes back to me talking to God. Show less «

[Of her parents] He was the toastmaster in our neighborhood. My father was a man who knew how to walk the walk and talk the talk. My mother ...Show more »

[Of her parents] He was the toastmaster in our neighborhood. My father was a man who knew how to walk the walk and talk the talk. My mother was the kind of woman who when she looked you in the eyes, you stood at attention. Show less «

[In 1998] I had done what I set out to do: I had the money, the gowns, the jewelry and I was happy to have them, but they did not make me ha...Show more »

[In 1998] I had done what I set out to do: I had the money, the gowns, the jewelry and I was happy to have them, but they did not make me happy. My daughter filled that void: she saved my life. Show less «

[on being a talk show hostess] I was tired of the road, and doing TV meant I could stay home. It was very obvious to me I was the first blac...Show more »

[on being a talk show hostess] I was tired of the road, and doing TV meant I could stay home. It was very obvious to me I was the first black woman with her own show when one executive told me they had a hard time finding sponsors because my gums were blue. Show less «

[Of Ed Sullivan] Ed helped a lot of people.

[on how she "ticked off" Duke Ellington and Carmen McRae] We were all just trying to make a living. Nobody had any attitude. We were all "ge...Show more »

[on how she "ticked off" Duke Ellington and Carmen McRae] We were all just trying to make a living. Nobody had any attitude. We were all "getting up", as we used to say. Show less «

[on why she didn't want to do another TV series] But it always comes down to me in my bed talking to God, and he said, "Do this for me for 1...Show more »

[on why she didn't want to do another TV series] But it always comes down to me in my bed talking to God, and he said, "Do this for me for 10 years and you can retire". Since I am a devout coward, I cannot go against the will of the Lord. Show less «

[In 2003] We were taping Touched by an Angel (1994), and I was coming down the stairs of my house in Salt Lake City, and it felt like someon...Show more »

[In 2003] We were taping Touched by an Angel (1994), and I was coming down the stairs of my house in Salt Lake City, and it felt like someone split my head in half and I blacked out. I don't know how long I was there but, when I came to, I didn't feel anything so I just went on to work. Show less «

[on being a spokesperson] It's such a simple thing. You find people who need help, and you find people who can give help, and you put the tw...Show more »

[on being a spokesperson] It's such a simple thing. You find people who need help, and you find people who can give help, and you put the two together. Just simply people helping people. Show less «

I'm hoping that there is a correlation between all the work that I do. Touched by an Angel (1994) gave me a chance to speak on the things th...Show more »

I'm hoping that there is a correlation between all the work that I do. Touched by an Angel (1994) gave me a chance to speak on the things that I espouse, and "Faith in Action" also gives me a chance to do that". Show less «

[on being cast in Touched by an Angel (1994)] They called [Roma Downey] and me in to meet Martha Williamson. The conversation is going reall...Show more »

[on being cast in Touched by an Angel (1994)] They called [Roma Downey] and me in to meet Martha Williamson. The conversation is going really nice, and Martha stands up and tells me, "It's not that I don't respect you, but I go to church and I'm a Christian and this show will have God in it". Show less «

[In 1996] I don't ever remember not singing. My agent said Touched by an Angel (1994) probably wouldn't go to series, but I'd get a lot of m...Show more »

[In 1996] I don't ever remember not singing. My agent said Touched by an Angel (1994) probably wouldn't go to series, but I'd get a lot of money to make the pilot. I knew it wouldn't work because the two angels didn't like each other. But how could that be? How could angels have hate? I was always saying something smart to Roma Downey's character and vice-versa. CBS spent $2 million on it, and you'll never see it. The only thing they liked was the rapport between Roma and me. Show less «

I use February 14 as the day to remember all the men in my life. Not just boyfriends, but business associates too. I show them I care by sen...Show more »

I use February 14 as the day to remember all the men in my life. Not just boyfriends, but business associates too. I show them I care by sending floral arrangements. [Why are they only sent to women? Men enjoy flowers too!] My beau gets gardenias and my colleagues get plants. When they receive them, they know I really do care. Show less «

[on why she was offered substantially less than the 100% raise that co-star Roma Downey got in 1997] It was 12-1/2% they offered me. But for...Show more »

[on why she was offered substantially less than the 100% raise that co-star Roma Downey got in 1997] It was 12-1/2% they offered me. But for year number one and number two and number three, whatever Roma received, I received equal parts. This year, I did not. Show less «

[In 1997] It's tough to be an angel in Hollywood when you're underpaid.

[In 2001] But what people must realize is that time is of the essence. You must know the warning signs of a stroke, and you must seek emerge...Show more »

[In 2001] But what people must realize is that time is of the essence. You must know the warning signs of a stroke, and you must seek emergency assistance immediately. Show less «

[on why she went to three different hospitals before her condition was properly diagnosed] At first doctors were looking in everywhere but t...Show more »

[on why she went to three different hospitals before her condition was properly diagnosed] At first doctors were looking in everywhere but the right place. I suppose because I'm an actress and entertainer, they initially presumed I was suffering from some sort of alcohol or drug problem. That was more than insulting, it was a potentially fatal misperception. Show less «

[Of her 1980 stroke] I was in the middle of the song when my body began to twitch uncontrollably. Before I knew it, I fell to my knees in fr...Show more »

[Of her 1980 stroke] I was in the middle of the song when my body began to twitch uncontrollably. Before I knew it, I fell to my knees in front of everyone and was suddenly unconscious. Show less «

[In 1993] I never intended to become a minister, I wanted to teach these principles. But I had so many requests for people wanting me to off...Show more »

[In 1993] I never intended to become a minister, I wanted to teach these principles. But I had so many requests for people wanting me to officiate weddings and funerals and such that I finally asked God and he told me to do it. Show less «

[Of Roma Downey] Roma and I have only grown closer and more fond of each other as time has gone on . . . Roma Downey is an angel in my life....Show more »

[Of Roma Downey] Roma and I have only grown closer and more fond of each other as time has gone on . . . Roma Downey is an angel in my life. It is no accident that our paths have crossed. Show less «

[Of her struggle in show business] We had no rights or privileges, I was told that there was no need to go to school, because we'd never hav...Show more »

[Of her struggle in show business] We had no rights or privileges, I was told that there was no need to go to school, because we'd never have jobs that we'd need schooling for. I didn't really like that idea. Show less «

Anything is possible with God. People told me, there are just some things you can't do. But I saw no reason why I couldn't have everything I...Show more »

Anything is possible with God. People told me, there are just some things you can't do. But I saw no reason why I couldn't have everything I wanted, and frankly, the reasons they gave about why I couldn't have things didn't impress me. Show less «

[In 2005] Diabetes doesn't necessarily hurt, you see. You wake up and say, "I'm not in pain, I won't take this [medicine] today".

[on the cancellation of Touched by an Angel (1994)] This is a business of ratings. When the show was on Sunday, we were a program that peopl...Show more »

[on the cancellation of Touched by an Angel (1994)] This is a business of ratings. When the show was on Sunday, we were a program that people came home and extended their Sunday services with. People are out on Saturday nights. It changed our audience base. Show less «

[About her stroke, when Doc Severinsen and Richard Dawson both rescued her, while the doctor appeared onstage from the audience] I never los...Show more »

[About her stroke, when Doc Severinsen and Richard Dawson both rescued her, while the doctor appeared onstage from the audience] I never lost consciousness, but I wasn't in control. Lord, help me. God, help me. Show less «

What was so upsetting was I didn't really know anything about diabetes except that Ella Fitzgerald lost her legs and later died from it. So ...Show more »

What was so upsetting was I didn't really know anything about diabetes except that Ella Fitzgerald lost her legs and later died from it. So I all knew was you lost your limbs and you died from it. I was scared silly. Show less «

[When questioned if she had any recollections] No, my life doesn't seem remarkable to me. I assume once I have prayed, the answer is on its ...Show more »

[When questioned if she had any recollections] No, my life doesn't seem remarkable to me. I assume once I have prayed, the answer is on its way. Show less «

[In 2009] But I was doing a talk show. I love to say this. I was before [Oprah Winfrey].

[In 2010] If somebody hits you upside your head long enough, enough times, they'll tell you they will hit you, you believe it. Why couldn't ...Show more »

[In 2010] If somebody hits you upside your head long enough, enough times, they'll tell you they will hit you, you believe it. Why couldn't you believe it? The last lick you had almost killed you, so you see, why would you, not believe that they would do that? Show less «

[on her popularity while playing the sixty-something "Tess" on Touched by an Angel (1994)]: But I know we need a show like this in our lives...Show more »

[on her popularity while playing the sixty-something "Tess" on Touched by an Angel (1994)]: But I know we need a show like this in our lives because people want to hear that God loves them. I believe she [co-star Roma Downey] and I were together in some other life, but if I say that, people look at me strange. Show less «

[In 1973]: Up until she started school, Dumpsey traveled with me all the time. I wasn't trying to prove you could have a baby on the road. I...Show more »

[In 1973]: Up until she started school, Dumpsey traveled with me all the time. I wasn't trying to prove you could have a baby on the road. I had no husband and no one to stay with her. Necessity makes you work things out. Luckily, she wasn't a sickly baby. She's always been independent. Out of necessity, she's had to take care of herself. When things got better, I could afford a sitter. I was never lonely on the road, because of Dumpsey. I used to have to get up, feed her, take her to the park. Show less «