The Breakfast Club – Interview with Tasha Cobbs Leonard: On Her New Album ‘TASHA’, Finding Purpose, Grief, and Authentic Gospel (Dec 16, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this rich and heartfelt interview, Tasha Cobbs Leonard joins DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God on The Breakfast Club to discuss her new album ‘TASHA.’ The conversation dives deep into Tasha’s personal journey, including her approach to gospel music, the impact of her father's legacy, her openness about grief and mental health, the importance of authentic community, bridging generational gaps in church, and her collaborative work, notably with Nicki Minaj and Lecrae.

Tasha’s transparency about her life’s ups and downs, her commitment to hope and healing, and her views on faith and artistry provide insights for anyone navigating difficult seasons or interested in gospel music today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Significance of ‘TASHA’ as an Album Title

• Personal Testimony: Tasha names this album after herself because it’s her most personal work to date, covering everything from miscarriages and grief to joy and blended family dynamics.
  • “This album is about for me. It is a testimony, so many testimonies bottled up in a bunch of songs—from miscarriages to grief to celebrations and blended families. I mean, everything is in there.” — Tasha (04:38)
• She references finding inspiration in Karen Clark Sheard’s similarly titled album ‘Finally Karen,’ recognizing when an artist is settled in their identity.

2. Vulnerability and Authenticity in Gospel

• Testimony Over Perfection: Tasha insists that honesty about struggles resonates more than projecting a flawless, “holy” exterior.
  • “A lot of times we can hide behind like this F of everything is holy, holy, holy … but I think people can relate more when you tell the truth about your story.” — Tasha (05:22)
• Tasha’s book, "Do It Anyway," pushed her into new levels of transparency, which she now pursues if it will bring healing to others.

3. Evolving Sense of Calling and Success

• Growth Through Life Seasons: Tasha notes how her calling has evolved along with her career, moving from innocent beginnings to hard-earned testimonies.
  • “The innocence was great, but then the experience is really good too because now I have testimonies that I can share.” — Tasha (07:15)
• Redefining Success: No longer chasing awards, Tasha now values time with family and service to her local church above all.
  • “If I'm pursuing anything … it would be to be the best me I could be to the people I see every day.” — Tasha (08:14)

4. Building and Sustaining Community

• Strategic Community Support: Her church focuses on supporting each other's businesses and using strategy alongside faith.
  • “Now, in this season, use strategy … We trust God, but we have to be wise with how we manage what God has entrusted us with.” — Tasha (09:18)
• Biblical Model: Emphasizes the biblical idea of “impartation” and shared resources from Acts, fostering real economic and emotional support in community.

5. Engaging the Next Generation in Church

• Reaching the Youth: Tasha discusses how church engagement among young people has changed and stresses the need for authenticity.
  • “Kids these days don’t want fluff. They want a real God … give them just the meat.” — Tasha (12:18)
• Describes tailored youth programming at her church and removing barriers of religious lingo to meet teens where they are.

6. Translating Faith Into Everyday Life—Music as Bridge

• The Song ‘Church (with John Legend)’ reflects the need for people to know how to connect with God beyond Sunday services.
  • “The preacher ain’t gonna be in your house … how do I build a relationship with God day-to-day? That’s what that song is about.” — Tasha (13:58)

7. Handling Public Criticism and Social Media

• Navigating Opinions: Tasha is remarkably candid about the negativity that public figures (even in gospel) face online.
  • “One of the last things that happened with me, I wore a red outfit to the Stellar Awards … and people were like, oh, she sold her soul to the devil. I’m like, what in the world?” — Tasha (15:18)
• Tasha handles backlash by stepping back when needed and focusing on her calling.

8. From Singing to Ministry: Early Calling and Her Father's Influence

• Roots in Ministry: Tasha shares that she was trained as both a communicator and a singer. Her first sermon was at age 10.
  • “My dad actually was cultivating me to be a speaker, like a communicator. So my first sermon, I preached when I was 10 years old.” — Tasha (16:42)
• A Moving Story: The death of her father, a pivotal figure who invested his life savings for her first album, inspired her book and the song ‘Do It Anyway.’

Notable Moment:

• (18:54–21:31) Tasha recounts her father’s final lesson and moving last moments at the Stellar Awards, deeply affecting the hosts and listeners.
  • “I believe that he was teaching me that life is gonna get hard … but Daddy wants you—to do it anyway.” — Tasha

9. Faith, Mental Health, and Healing

• Breaking Stigma: Tasha advocates for therapy in the faith community, highlighting growing acceptance and the importance of God-centered therapists.
  • “I think now we can just kind of teach it a little different that God uses people to help us.” — Tasha (27:52)
• Personal Experience: She shares her own struggle with depression and self-rejection, and how seeking therapy changed her life.
  • “I would go to church and sing these songs … and I would go home for like three and four days in the dark under the covers, crying, didn’t understand why.” — Tasha (29:10)

10. Grief, Faith, and Fertility

• Navigating Loss: Tasha discusses her experience with miscarriage, questioning her faith, and learning to accept God’s way through adoption.
  • “My faith was shattered right now … and [my mentor] was like, ‘Good, that’s a perfect place for God to put you back together.’” — Tasha (30:58)
  • “God wants our truth, too, just as much as he wants us when we're on a mountain. He wants us when we’re in the valley too.” — Tasha (32:51)

11. Honesty and Cultural Intelligence in Ministry

• Ministry, Not Just Performance: Personal grief has shifted how Tasha ministers; she now seeks to meet people in their hurt with honesty.
  • “They don’t want a false Tasha … they want somebody who’s going to reach their heart, you know, and what comes from my heart, I believe will reach their heart.” — Tasha (33:49)

12. Studio Album vs. Live Experience

• New Approach: ‘TASHA’ is her first-ever studio album after years of live recordings, prompting a new creative process.
  • “The studio was actually harder for me … My husband is my producer, so he’s kind of coaching me through.” — Tasha (36:37)
• Family Involvement: Both the John Legend and her own family contributed to the studio sound.

13. Collaborations and Crossing Boundaries

• Defending Nicki Minaj Collab: Tasha details how Nicki Minaj joined her song “I’m Getting Ready.” Despite church criticism, it brought gospel to a new audience.
  • “I feel like the platform that she has, this is gonna expose some people who may not come to our churches, may not ever get a gospel record.” — Tasha (39:26)
  • She stands by her collaborations, trusting the spiritual purpose and relationship behind them.
• Similar Thinking with Lecrae: Aiming to make gospel relatable through features.

14. Artist vs. Worship Leader

• Both Platforms: Tasha identifies as both, highlighting the professionalism and business knowledge required to be an artist, but always rooted in her heart as a worship leader.
  • "I'm forever a worship leader ... I would say that I am both." — Tasha (44:51)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Authenticity in Faith:
  “If somebody’s healing is connected to it, I’m willing to be transparent and tell my story. I think that’s what the gospel is.” — Tasha (06:29)

• On Church and the Next Generation:
  “They don’t want fluff. They want a real God.” — Tasha (12:18)

• On Grief and Ministry:
  “Those experiences really change the way that I minister … what comes from my heart, I believe will reach their heart.” — Tasha (33:49)

• On Social Media Criticism:
  “I wore a red outfit to the Stellar Awards ... people were like, ‘Oh, she sold her soul to the devil.’ I’m like, what in the world? … Y’all missed the whole moment.” — Tasha (15:18–16:03)

• On Her Father's Final Lesson:
  “He was teaching me that life is gonna get hard, your heart is gonna be broken … but Daddy wants you—to do it anyway.” — Tasha (21:17)

• On Faith and Fertility:
  “We often want God's will ... but we don't stick around to hear his way. And God's way for us was adoption.” — Tasha (31:56)

Important Timestamps

• Album Inspiration & Personal Testimony: 04:38–05:14
• Transparency & Gospel Community Response: 05:22–06:29
• Evolving Calling and Testimonies: 07:15–08:00
• Defining True Success: 08:14–09:04
• Building Real Community: 09:18–10:31
• Engaging Youth in Church: 10:55–13:25
• ‘Church’ Song with John Legend—making faith practical: 13:58–14:45
• Social Media & Criticism: 15:09–16:35
• Early Calling, Family & First Sermon: 16:42–18:32
• Father’s Passing & ‘Do It Anyway’ Story: 18:54–21:31
• Mental Health in Faith Communities: 27:52–29:04
• Tasha’s Own Mental Health Journey: 29:10–30:47
• On Grief and Effective Ministry to Hurting People: 33:43–34:51
• First Studio Album—Creative Process: 36:15–37:43
• Nicki Minaj & Other Cross-Genre Collaborations: 39:26–41:41
• Role as Artist vs. Worship Leader: 44:48–44:51
• Closing Prayer: 45:19–45:58

Conclusion

Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s interview is an inspiring testament to the power of authenticity in both music and ministry. Her willingness to discuss pain, joy, doubt, and faith offers a compelling blueprint for leading, healing, and creating in any community—faith-based or beyond.

Recommended Listen:

• ‘Church’ featuring John Legend
• ‘Do It Anyway’
• ‘I’m Getting Ready’ (with Nicki Minaj)
• ‘God in the Valley’