Jackie Michaels is an independent recording artist, vocalist, songwriter, actress, and vocal coach. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, world renowned for its rich jazz and blues legacy, Jackie’s musical background is steeped in gospel, R&B, smooth jazz, classical, blues and funk music. She was classically trained at Oklahoma City University’s School of Music majoring in Classical Vocal Performance.
Jackie has worked diligently to master her craft, touring and entertaining thousands with her powerhouse vocals and acting skills. Deeply influenced by Chaka Khan, Pattie LaBelle, Shirley Murdock and Whitney Houston, Jackie Michaels has effortlessly created her own, individual, and soulful sound.
Michaels made her professional singing and acting debut in 2005, part of a national gospel stage play titled “Save Me From My Secrets” followed by “Heaven I Need a Hug.” Bringing her strong gospel roots to the production, Jackie shared the stage with American Idol winner and R&B singer, Ruben Studdard, along with Ann Nesby, former lead singer of the Sounds of Blackness recording group. Actor Darrin Henson, who has appeared in films like “Stomp the Yard” and “Soul Food,” was in the cast. During this production, Jackie Michaels was mentored by and worked with Robin Givens, known for her work in “Boomerang” and “Saints & Sinners.”
In 2009, Jackie made her television debut as a contestant on the hit NBC show, America’s Got Talent. She appeared as part of the Marcus Terrell & The Serenades group. Their semi-finalist performance also encouraged former judge and CBS talk-show co-host, Sharon Osborne, to tell Jackie Michaels,
““Hey Missy, you have a smoking fabulous voice!””
In 2016, Jackie Michaels released another single titled, “You Heard” and joined the national stage production of “Love Jones the Musical,” touring in over twenty-six cities. She played a principle character, “Troy” sharing the stage with Hip Hop legend MC Lyte and Grammy nominated and award-winning artists like Marsha Ambrosius, Michel’le, Musiq, Soulchild, Raheem DeVaughn, El DeBarge, Tevin Campbell, Dave Hollister, and Chrisette Michele.
Michaels is featured on the “Love Jones the Musical” soundtrack. In the United Kingdom, a single was released from the Love Jones the Musical soundtrack, “For Sure” performed by Michaels and later remastered and released in the United States.
In 2017, the vocalist/actress joined the stage play, “Thugs and the Women Who Love ‘Em” starring Love & Hip Hop television star, singer/songwriter Amina Buddafly, Karlie Redd and NAACP Award Winner, R&B vocalist, K’Michelle and Jamal Woolard, who portrayed the Notorious B.I.G. in the film “Notorious.” Jackie Michaels received a rave review from San Francisco-based KQED, a non-profit, public media outlet.
““It was Michaels’ cover of Melanie Fiona’s “It Kills Me” that was the most captivating R&B performance of the night.””
Michaels performed the National Anthem for ESPN’s opening of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship Game for the National Sporting KC Soccer organization, her Kansas City home team.
Highly creative, in 2021 Michaels became Associate Producer, Vocal Producer, and songwriter for the movie, “For the Love of Money” currently running on the STARZ television channel.
She has shared stages with a number of award-winning, gold and platinum recording artists including Anthony Hamilton, August Alsina, Avant, B.O.B, Brownstone, the Bar-Kays, Bobby V., Ceelo Green, Chris Brown, ConFunkShun, Dave Hollister, the Dazz Band, Donnell Jones, Fantasia, Future, Joe Keith Sweat, Kem, Lalah Hathaway, Ledisi, Lyfe Jennings, Mali Music, Ray J., Robert Glasper, Ron Isley & the Isley Brothers, Sevyn Streeter, Slave, the late Sugarfoot of The Ohio Players, SWV, Tank, T.I., Tony Grant, Urban Mystic, the late Wayman Tisdale and Will Downing.
Jackie Michaels has a true passion for helping others and donates time and talent to her community as a fundraising host to benefit the fight against breast cancer, domestic violence, and various other non-profit organizations. Some of the non-profit organizations who have benefited from her support are: Surviving the Odds, Hot Stiletto Foundation, Horizon Ridge Clinic and Camp Choice of KC.
A devoted mother and role model, she is concerned about our youth and hopes her music will continue to be a bright light of inspiration, entertainment, peace, and love.
