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Lore & Background

Chanelle Haynes was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She participated in local singing competitions, often competing against her childhood friend and future group member Angel Taylor. In 1993, Haynes performed on *Star Search*. Kenneth Grant, a New Orleans–based entrepreneur and businessman, decided to put together a group. After hearing Haynes perform at his church Greater St. Stephen FGBC, Grant added her to his forthcoming group along with Angel Taylor and local singer Terri Brown. The ladies took on the group name "Trin-i-tee 5:7" based on 1 John 5:7 biblical scripture that refers to the Trinity. Managed by Kenneth Grant, the group secured a recording contract with GospoCentric Records in 1997. Trin-i-tee 5:7 released their self-titled debut album in the United States on July 14, 1998, which peaked number one on the Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart. The album sold over seven hundred-thousand copies in the United States, becoming certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's lead single, "God's Grace", reached number six on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs and number thirty-two on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. The group received five Stellar Award nominations, winning New Artist of the Year. The group continued their success with the follow-up album *Spiritual Love* in 1999. After the release of their third album *The Kiss*, the group took a hiatus. In 2007, the group reformed and released their fourth album *T57*, which won two Dove Awards and was nominated for a Grammy Award. They released their first Christmas album, *Love, Peace, Joy at Christmas*, on October 26, 2009. On May 31, 2011, Trin-i-tee 5:7 released their sixth studio album *Angel & Chanelle*. The album became their highest-charting album on Billboard's Top 200 chart, peaking at number twenty and number one the Gospel Albums chart. In 2012, the group disbanded to focus on solo careers. Trin-i-tee 5:7 has sold more than 2.5 million records worldwide to date, and is recognized as one of the most successful contemporary gospel acts of their era.

In Their Own Story

In September 2013, Haynes released her first solo single "Believe". The single peaked nineteen on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart. In June 2014, Haynes released her debut solo album *Trin-i-tee 5:7 According to Chanel* on her own independent recording label Obsidian Records. The album peaked at twenty-five on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart. In August 2014, the album's second single "Repay" peaked at twenty-six on the Gospel Airplay chart. In July 2015, Haynes made her acting debut in Zach Theatre's musical revue *Sophisticated Ladies*. In November 2015, she appeared in Zach Theatre's production of *A Christmas Carol*. In 2016, she appeared as part of the diva ensemble in Zach Theatre's musical production of *Priscilla, Queen of the Desert*. In April 2017, Haynes starred as Billie Holiday in Zach Theatre's *Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill*. Her performance won "Best Leading Actress in a Musical" at the B. Iden Payne Awards in 2018. In 2020, Haynes auditioned for the role of Tina Turner in the Broadway production of *Tina: The Tina Turner Musical* but did not receive the role. She later auditioned for the lead role in the West End UK production and secured the role. Her performance garnered positive reviews. In December 2021, Haynes appeared on British music competition television series *Walk the Line*. In June 2022, Haynes performed "Gimme Shelter" alongside The Rolling Stones during their concert in Milan, Italy. In 2023, Haynes began touring as a backup vocalist for The Rolling Stones during their Hackney Diamonds Tour. *The New York Times* considered her the "breakout star" of the band's May 23, 2024 show at MetLife Stadium.

Reader's Guide

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Haynes co-founded the Trin-i-tee 5:7 Ambassador of Hope and Triumph Campaign to provide financial assistance to the colleges, hospitals, businesses, and churches. In addition to financial assistance, Haynes also donated her personal time to help uplift the hurricane victims' spirits. In 2008, Haynes took the campaign to Sacramento and Los Angeles, California, and Houston, Texas. In 2013, Haynes married Gregory Schwartz. On February 18, 2018, Haynes gave birth to their first child, Alexander von Schwartz. For fans tracking her career, the key turning points are: her 1993 *Star Search* performance; joining Trin-i-tee 5:7 in 1997; the group's gold-certified debut album in 1998; the group's disbandment in 2012; her solo debut in 2014; her acting debut in 2015; her award-winning performance as Billie Holiday in 2017; and finally, securing the role of Tina Turner in the West End in 2021. Her 2022 performance with The Rolling Stones in Milan and her subsequent touring with them as a backup vocalist on the Hackney Diamonds Tour mark her latest chapter.

Did You Know?

• Haynes performed on Star Search in 1993.
• The group name 'Trin-i-tee 5:7' is based on 1 John 5:7 biblical scripture.
• Trin-i-tee 5:7's debut album sold over seven hundred-thousand copies and was certified gold by the RIAA.
• Haynes won 'Best Leading Actress in a Musical' at the B. Iden Payne Awards in 2018 for her role as Billie Holiday.
• In June 2022, Haynes performed 'Gimme Shelter' alongside The Rolling Stones during their concert in Milan, Italy.

Gospel Pioneers: The Trin-i-tee 5:7 Era

Chanelle Haynes, born in New Orleans on December 31, 1978, first caught the attention of local audiences through church performances and singing competitions. Her path to the national stage began when entrepreneur Kenneth Grant, after hearing her at Greater St. Stephen FGBC, recruited her alongside Angel Taylor and Terri Brown to form a group. Drawing their name from the biblical passage in 1 John 5:7, Trin-i-tee 5:7 signed with GospoCentric Records in 1997 and dropped their self-titled debut in July 1998. That album stormed to number one on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart, moved more than seven hundred thousand copies domestically, and earned a gold certification from the RIAA. The lead single "God's Grace" cracked the top ten on Adult R&B Songs. The trio collected five Stellar Award nominations and took home New Artist of the Year. Follow-up records Spiritual Love and The Kiss kept the momentum going before a hiatus. When the group reunited in 2007 with T57, they captured two Dove Awards and a Grammy nomination. By the time they parted ways in 2012, the act had sold over 2.5 million records worldwide.

From Solo Albums to the Stage: A New Chapter

After Trin-i-tee 5:7 disbanded in 2012, Haynes channeled her energy into a solo recording career. Her first standalone single, "Believe," dropped in September 2013 and climbed to number nineteen on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart. In June 2014 she released Trin-i-tee 5:7 According to Chanel through her own independent imprint, Obsidian Records, landing at number twenty-five on the Top Gospel Albums chart. The follow-up single "Repay" reached twenty-six on Gospel Airplay. Yet it was behind the microphone on a theatre stage that Haynes found a second creative home. Beginning with Zach Theatre's Sophisticated Ladies in 2015, she moved through A Christmas Carol and the diva ensemble in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. In 2017 she took on the role of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, a performance that earned her Best Leading Actress in a Musical at the 2018 B. Iden Payne Awards. Her breakthrough came in 2021 when, after being passed over for the Broadway lead in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, she auditioned for and won the West End production, earning positive critical reception.

Rooted in New Orleans: Faith, Community, and Giving Back

Haynes' connection to New Orleans runs deeper than her birthplace. She grew up competing in local singing contests against childhood friend Angel Taylor, performed on Star Search in 1993, and sang at Greater St. Stephen FGBC, the very church where her future group was assembled. That community spirit defined her response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She co-founded the Trin-i-tee 5:7 Ambassador of Hope and Triumph Campaign, a relief effort that directed financial aid to colleges, hospitals, local businesses, and churches devastated by the storm. Beyond writing checks, Haynes volunteered her own time to lift the morale of displaced residents. The campaign expanded in 2008, reaching Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Houston, extending the group's impact well beyond Louisiana. Her faith, reflected in the group's name drawn from 1 John 5:7, remained a constant thread through every phase of her career. Even her solo work under the Obsidian Records banner carried the spiritual weight of her gospel roots, and her 2014 album title explicitly honored the legacy of Trin-i-tee 5:7 while asserting her individual artistic voice.

Life Beyond the Gospel Stage

Away from the recording studio and the theatre, Haynes built a personal life that balanced ambition with family. She married Gregory Schwartz in 2013, and their first child, Alexander von Schwartz, arrived on February 18, 2018. Yet her professional trajectory continued to evolve in unexpected directions. In December 2021 she appeared on the British music competition show Walk the Line, and in June 2022 she stood on a Milan concert stage performing "Gimme Shelter" alongside The Rolling Stones. That one-off collaboration turned into something far more sustained: in 2023 Haynes joined the band as a backup vocalist for their Hackney Diamonds Tour. The New York Times singled her out as the "breakout star" of the Stones' May 23, 2024 performance at MetLife Stadium, a testament to how her powerful voice and stage presence transcended genre boundaries. From a New Orleans church to the West End to a stadium tour with rock legends, Haynes' career arc illustrates a rare versatility that few gospel artists have achieved on this scale.

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