Evvie McKinney: Faith, Funk, and a Fight That ‘Ain’t Over’
- Evvie balances motherhood, artistry, and entrepreneurship, anchored in unwavering faith.
- Her EP 'It Ain't Over' reflects resilience and hope, helping listeners feel seen and empowered.
- Evvie's independent spirit and authenticity challenge traditional gospel norms, reaching the marginalized.
Evvie McKinney’s journey from winning the inaugural season of The Four: Battle for Stardom to becoming a celebrated voice in gospel and R&B is as inspiring as her music. “From the moment I won, I felt like God put me on this wild, beautiful ride,” Evvie shares, reflecting on her big break. Hailing from Memphis, McKinney balances motherhood, artistry, and entrepreneurship—always keeping it real and faith-centered. “I’m a full-time mom, following my dreams of being a singer, performer, and songwriter, and now I’m pouring into my beauty line, too,” she says.
With the release of her soul-stirring EP It Ain’t Over and the expansion of her beauty line, Blessed and Beautiful, Evvie continues to empower her community. “I want women to know—especially Black women—that it’s okay to start over, do the ‘big chop,’ and feel renewed and restored,” she told Neiko. Her journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and joy: “Even when my bank account said, ‘Girl, you can’t start no business,’ I said, ‘If I trust in God, He’s going to double it.’”
The Journey to ‘It Ain’t Over’
“I’m not just a singer—I’m a full-time mom, a songwriter, a content creator, and I pour my heart into everything I do,” Evvie says with pride. Her latest EP, It Ain’t Over, was born out of both struggle and hope. “I was really going through a season of disparity,” she reveals. “Every day I’m fighting to believe what the Bible says, fighting fear, and just trusting God for my future.” She opens up about how real the battle can get: “There were days my bank account said, ‘Girl, you ain’t got nothing to start a business,’ but I kept that desire because I know if I trust in God, He’s going to double it.”
Speaking about making music from the heart, Evvie shares, “All of my songs come from where I am right now. It’s about not giving up, even when you feel like giving up is the easy thing to do.” She hopes her transparency helps others, especially in trying times. “People see one thing on social media, but they forget I’m a regular person, and I have regular problems. But if I can get through it, you can too.”
With It Ain’t Over, McKinney puts her heart on full display, channeling what she calls her “ongoing fight for peace” into every track. “Every single day, I’m fighting to believe what the Bible says,” Evvie shares. “I’m fighting fear of the future—but I remind myself, if God brought me this far, He’s not about to leave me now.” Her music is shaped by those vulnerable moments. “When I can’t see the way forward, and my bank account is telling me otherwise, my faith is what keeps me moving,” she says. Through uplifting lyrics and candid storytelling, she offers listeners a message grounded in resilience and hope. “I want people to know, even if you feel like you’re at your lowest, you’re not forgotten. It ain’t over. That’s the heart behind this EP.”
For McKinney, the EP is a testament to resilience and unwavering faith, and she’s passionate about using her platform to encourage others. “My music is my ministry,” Evvie explains. “I want every listener to feel seen, loved, and empowered—even if life feels overwhelming.” To her, every song is a reminder that “you’re not alone and it truly isn’t over, even when it feels like the odds are stacked against you.”
Evvie hopes her raw honesty provides comfort: “When people hear my songs, I want them to know I’ve walked through storms, too. I want someone to listen and think, ‘If she made it through, so can I.’” She adds, “No matter how dark things get, God’s not done with your story. I believe in singing about hope, about getting back up and believing again.”
From Darkchild to Daily Devotionals
“Don’t Walk Away,” the EP’s dynamic opener, came to life during a star-studded songwriting camp and was produced by the legendary Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. “Writing ‘Don’t Walk Away’ was like receiving a spiritual download,” Evvie remembers. “Stanley Brown played a beat and I was just humming, and then Darkchild walked in and said, ‘That’s the hook!’ I was like, are you sure? And he said, ‘That’s it, that’s the one.” She continues, “A lot of my songs, it really does feel like they come straight from God. I write from exactly where I am.” Partnering with Jerkins, she says, was a defining moment: “Not everybody gets to work with a legend like Darkchild. To have him believe in my sound meant so much, and it really affirmed the message I wanted to share.”
“‘Don’t Walk Away’ is really my personal anthem for when life tries to push you away from your faith,” Evvie explains. “There were points in my journey where walking away from God would’ve been easier, but I had to remind myself, ‘I will never walk away from God, no matter how rough it gets.’” She adds, “That song is for anybody who feels like giving up is the only option—hold on, even when it’s hard. Your breakthrough’s on the other side of that commitment.” For McKinney, the track isn’t just music—it’s a declaration: “I fight for my faith every day, even when I can’t see what’s next. That’s what keeps me grounded.”
“My faith is the anchor in my everyday life,” Evvie shares. “Every night before I go to sleep, I have to play my sermons. We keep prayers going all night in my house.” She finds special strength in family rituals: “Praying with my girls before bed and before we eat—it’s such a blessing. Sometimes they ask me deep questions about Jesus, and honestly, those moments help me grow, too.” Daily devotionals are also a must. “Even when I travel, I bring my devotional book,” she says, adding, “Some days, that’s exactly how the Holy Spirit speaks to me. And I’ve got to talk to my grandma—she’s my best friend and helps me stay rooted no matter what’s going on. That’s the kind of support that keeps me grounded.”
Blessed, Beautiful, and Unapologetically Real
Offstage, McKinney is an entrepreneur, building her beauty brand “Blessed and Beautiful”—now expanding into hair care, inspired by her own “big chop” journey. “Y’all know about a big chop, honey—it’s time to be renewed and restored!” she laughs, connecting with women on reclaiming confidence. Evvie is hands-on in her business: “I’ve invested in a really good camera, I’m creating content, and I’m so passionate about helping Black women feel seen, blessed, and beautiful in their own skin.”
Her drive is fueled by faith and a desire to uplift others, pushing forward even in the face of obstacles. “It takes a whole lot of faith to do something different, to launch your own brand,” she explains. “Some people look at you like you’re crazy, but I say, ‘If I trust in God, he’s going to double it.’” McKinney believes her story will inspire others marginalized by doubt or limited means: “Just because your bank account says you can’t, doesn’t mean God won’t make a way. You’ve got to step out on faith and go for it.”
McKinney’s sound—an energetic blend of gospel, soul, and R&B shaped by her Memphis roots—stands out in the gospel industry and hasn’t always been fully embraced. “I’m not your typical gospel artist,” Evvie says. “I grew up in Memphis, so you hear that Earth, Wind & Fire, Aretha, and soul in my music, but you also hear gospel, because that’s who I am.” She admits that navigating these spaces has been challenging: “Honestly, being in the gospel industry is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. I thought we all loved Jesus, we all for Christ, but sometimes I feel like I don’t fit the mold.” Still, Evvie stands firm in her truth: “I don’t change who I am to fit in. I’m proud of my sound, proud of my roots. It’s about spreading the good news, no matter what people say.” She adds, “People see me as different, and maybe I am. But I want to reach people the church might overlook. I want everyone to feel seen and loved when they hear my music.”
Though her style breaks the traditional mold, McKinney embraces her calling to uplift those often left out—including people society and the church tend to overlook. “I’ve come to the realization that the Lord wants me to minister to people that the church does not accept,” Evvie shares openly. “I’m talking about the strippers, the drug dealers, the people who’ve been cast out. I want them to know they’re seen—and loved.” She’s clear about her purpose: “It’s not about fitting in—it’s about spreading hope, showing acceptance, and letting everyone know, no matter your background, you belong.” As she puts it, “There’s so much division out here about things that won’t even matter at the end of the day. My mission is to bring people together, to encourage those who feel forgotten that God is not done with their story.”
Walking in Victory
The EP closes with “Safe,” a deeply personal track born from challenging times. “When I wrote ‘Safe,’ I was coming out of one of the toughest seasons of my life,” Evvie confides. “I felt like a prisoner in my own home, but I needed to remind myself—and everyone listening—that through Jesus, you’re already safe and saved.” For Evvie, the song isn’t just music; it’s a life lesson in faith. “No matter how bad things get, you have to live in the fact that you’re already protected, already covered.” She hopes her message resonates: “I want people to feel that victory and walk in it, to truly know that God’s got you—no matter what storms come your way. That’s what ‘Safe’ is all about.”
Evvie McKinney’s journey as an independent artist, mother, and entrepreneur is fueled by faith and a drive to uplift her community. “Being independent isn’t easy, but it allows me to stay true to my vision and speak directly to my people,” Evvie says. “It can be scary, but I know God called me to this, and I won’t let fear hold me back. I want my story to be one of courage, faith, and community.”
Her career just took another international leap with her feature on the London Symphony Orchestra’s Shout for Joy album. “To be the only American artist on the London Symphony project—listen, that’s not something I take lightly. I felt seen and honored, and it reminded me that our voices can reach across the world,” she shares proudly. With It Ain’t Over and these bold moves, McKinney is building a legacy of hope, empowerment, and authenticity—showing us all that her story is far from finished.
