Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Cummings.
Hi Crystal, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love for gospel music is where it started. I was abused as a child by my father, and for a period of time, no one was there to protect me. With no one to express myself to, I wrote poems and listened to gospel music, specifically Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, and Yolanda Adams. This was back when we had CD players and headphones. Their music and lyrics kept me sane, motivating me to keep going and not to give up. Every night for four years, I lived in turmoil with my father, but I’d listen to my CDs as God used those artists to minister to me. I’d journal and write poems, not knowing that God had also given me a gift through my voice and hands as a healer. After years of abuse, shame, and secrets, I put an end to what was happening in my family for generations. I decided not to be silent; yes, I spoke. I knew deep in my heart that God did not bring me through for me to be silenced. There was a purpose for all the pain I’d endured as a child. I wanted to help others bring healing to their hurts and pain, so I pursued a bachelor’s degree in science and nursing, and I have been practicing for over 13 years now. My mother always told me how beautiful my voice was. In fact, she begged me to audition for American Idol for years. She and my stepfather would hide outside the door as I sang in the shower. I would tell her that I was not called to sing (on a platform), but to be a nurse, and I was not nearly ready for Simon on American Idol. After her passing, I heard her words louder and louder as I sang my heart out in the church choir. In early 2023, I took a leap of faith and auditioned for the Brown Mama’s Monologues in Pittsburgh, PA. It was then that, for the first time, I’d tell my story of resilience and hope to thousands of women. Some of the women shared their appreciation for my courage, and others shared their similar experiences and feelings as if a weight was lifted through my words. I knew then that this was my purpose: to speak and set others free. That year, I decided to take another step of courage, and I published a book of my poems; some that I wrote as a child while being abused, and others later in life as I found myself in relationships that resembled my narcissistic father. “My Crown: Thrown into a Narcissistic Pit” reflects the deep emotions, thoughts, and mental process of grasping my identity and self-worth in those relationships.
Shortly after the release of my book, I appeared on Tim Ellerbe’s show as a featured guest poet to talk about my poetry, and I mentioned after the show that I could sing. Little did I know, he was a songwriter, producer, and musician! It was not long after we aired that he was giving me a call to sing a song he wrote, “Water”. We released my first song, “Water,” that year. He was impressed, and he convinced me to record an entire album, some of which included songs composed from my poems. Since the release of my album “Gemini Love”, I haven’t stopped. I started as a background singer at the Ribs and R&B Festival in Detroit, to now performing my own sets all around the city at various locations, such as the Aretha Jazz Cafe, Skyroom at Starters with artist Alise King, NAACP conferences, and private events and venues. In 2024, embarked on a newfound love for acting in Terris Walker Films on Tubi and this year ventured into stage plays and musicals as a lead actress and singer for Stiletto Boss Productions.
The peace I feel when I’m in the studio, the joy and smiles I see in the audience’s faces when I perform, and the personal connections I make with people give me purpose. Resilience and courage are how I developed my stage name “QueenC”. As I say: “Take your crown off for no one.”; “Your silence is your oppressor’s strength. Speak, Queen!”
~QueenC
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. As a single mother of two, I balance their needs with my passion, which is a challenge. My mother passed away a week after my divorce was filed, and it took some time to get a grasp on life again; To learn the new me without a husband or mother. For so long, I was focused on rewriting my past to be better than my parents, to live a life I desired, and to provide my children with the childhood I wanted and needed. I found myself checking the boxes in life: college degree (check), husband (check), house (check), children (check). In doing so, I made headway, but I also made mistakes along the way. I entertained relationships that made that journey even harder. Love was usually the culprit. Falling in love, looking for love, mistaken love; however, you want to put it, Love got the best of me. I don’t regret it, because it’s who I am. However, I have had to ground myself, spend time in prayer and isolation, and learn to love myself (the good and bad). I felt alone at times, but this was needed to reclaim my peace, learn how to adapt to the changes in my life, and discover the gifts and talents I hadn’t tapped into. Those challenges and obstacles have made me who I am, and now the wisdom, experience, and deep-felt emotions I’ve developed over time are reflected in my art.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Until 2023, I was primarily known as Crystal, the nurse. I am a registered nurse and have been so for over 13 years. I graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy with my BSN in 2012 and have cared for patients in multiple settings, including long-term acute care, traumatic brain injury care, spinal cord injury care, home care, and case management. In 2023, I found my new passion in the “Arts”. Although I’ve sung in church for many years, I began to venture off into local performances that included singing cover songs, open-mic poetry jams, interviews, and speaking engagements. I found power in my voice, defeating the odds of my past. I went on to open my own business, QueenC Poetry and Melodies, using my voice and words of wisdom and experience to make a difference in the lives of others. Shortly thereafter, I released my book of poems, My Crown: Thrown into a Narcissistic Pit, followed by my album “Gemini Love”. It was hard for me to share these poems because they are so personal to me. I wrote them with no intentions of sharing, so they are raw and true to how I felt at that time. I was even ashamed of some of them because of how raw they were, worried about what people would think of me, but I took another leap of faith. Surprisingly, the same poems I contemplated including in the book are the ones that I get the most positive feedback about. Some women even thanked me for being so real with my words; this was the true reward for me. I learned that we cannot let fear silence us, and that our hurts and pains can lead to happiness and freedom for someone else.
Growing up in a dysfunctional home, afraid to speak, being controlled, and misguided, I had to find my way. “Expression” has been a focal point. I now love to model and have learned to love the way God made me. When I model, I find joy in displaying the talent of designers and walking in confidence; it’s like tapping into an alter ego. This led to acting opportunities that I had no idea I’d love. Now, I’m on my way to taking the stage for the second time, January 31, 2026, as the lead actress and singer for the stage play, Jezebel Blues (written by Renee Ingram-Dunham). You will find that I am a very well-rounded and versed person. I have faced many challenges in my young life, yet I have been graced with the strength and resilience to overcome and live a purpose-driven life.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I do not believe in “luck”, I believe in the divine, God, Jesus Christ. Even when I do not understand, I trust that He aligns everything, everyone, and every experience in my life for a reason. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I’d see myself where I am today, I would have said, “No, not at all”. I always knew there was a reason and some good that would come out of all the dark and bad days; I didn’t know how. But I had to do something, take the first step, and that was to “follow my heart” where He (God) lives within me. So, I’d say “luck” had no role; Instead, I’d call it “divine alignment”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.queencpoetryandmelodies.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thequeenc_productions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joneswalls?mibextid=lqqj4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCiMyRnCxtetMs2wrnc31Lhw
