Chante Moore Exclusive: 'R&B Divas' Star Talks Tough Season, Life's Purpose
Chante Moore may have inadvertently taken on a villainous role in the second season of the TV ONE hit reality television series, "R&B Divas: Los Angeles" but the renowned Christian singer insists that she was called to do something greater than engage in a television drama.
Moore, 47, is the definition of a music industry veteran, with 22 years under her belt that includes the release of eight albums. However, the second season of "R&B Divas: LA" seemed to focus more on Moore's fellow singers and cast members having issues with her.
The reality television show's second season came to a close with Moore being physically threatened, accused of dressing inappropriately and not representing her Christian faith well. With much of the season edited to focus on issues that cast members had with Moore, she still managed to receive public support from big names in the gospel music community.
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"Why is everyone always against @IAmChanteMoore??? #rnbdivasla," songwriter and producer Kevin Bond questioned on Twitter.
James "Big Jim" Wright, the award winning producer, music director and songwriter, also defended Moore after the show's season finale.
"Been traveling & thought I'd unwind watching #RandBDivasLA ... @IAmChanteMoore u didn't deserve to be treated like that," Big Jim tweeted.
Moore insists that while viewers were entertained by her fellow cast mates questioning her character, she had to overcome some deeper struggles. The California born singer was forced to deal with a public custody battle with her ex-husband and fellow singer Kenny Lattimore, her brother's death last year and the anniversary of her mother's death while cameras filmed.
To make matters worse, Moore learned that she had two herniated discs in her spine which might require surgery. While she chose to work through all of her struggles, Moore revealed that filming the second season of "R&B Divas: L.A." was anything but easy.
"While the cameras rolled, real life was happening there on film! And when the cameras stopped rolling, the most real and most important part of my life was still rolling," Moore told The Christian Post. "I'm not a good pretender. But I tried to look happy, even though I was not."
Moore seemed to provoke the ire of many of her fellow cast mates which include Lil Mo, Chanté Moore, Claudette Ortiz, Michel'le and the show's newcomers Chrisette Michele and Leela James. While it seemed her fellow singers Lil Mo and Chrisette Michele had the most issues with Moore not opening up about her struggles and seemingly having an ego, she had to deal with greater struggles.
"I was grieving and in physical pain 80 percent of the time while filming. And I was not willing to fight in the sandbox," Moore told CP. "They acted like they liked me, at times. So at times, I acted like I believed them."
Through all of her personal struggles, Moore found refuge in her Christian faith. The singer leaned on the Biblical scripture Romans 8:28 when overcoming her personal struggles and is willing to share that message with people who can relate to her.
"Try to remember that all things, not just the things we like or that feel good or that feel fair, all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord, who are the called according to his purpose," Moore told CP. "No matter what it looks like or feels like, God is still in control. So we must learn to trust Him more."
Moore is the daughter of a preacher, but recalls solidifying her own personal relationship with Jesus Christ when she was baptized at the age of 12 after she read Acts 2:4 which states, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (NIV).
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The singer described that moment being a life-changing one for her.
"I was never the same. That's when Jesus became a very present and undeniable force in my soul," Moore told CP. "When God touched me, when He spoke and speaks to me, no one could ever argue or can ever sway my belief in Him."
While she has sung for the Lord on numerous occasions, Moore is currently promoting her eighth studio album "Moore is More" along with her first book Will I Marry Me? After being divorced three times, the singer decided it was time to do some self-reflecting while trying to help others on their own journey.
"Having been married three times - I decided to look, more in depth, at the most obvious and common denominator, 'me.' Understanding I am a committee of one, I asked myself, 'what must I do to be changed,'" Moore told CP about her first book. "Then I decided I would make a list of all that 'I am' and ask myself that weighty, poignant and profound question ... 'will I marry me?' It was a journey I decided to share and help others traveling down that same familiar road."
While she hopes people can read the book to learn from her mistakes, Moore also realizes that God has a purpose for her life. After years of singing in the church and dedicating music to the Lord, Moore is looking forward to releasing a full gospel album in the future. However, she is not shying away from continuing to release her brand of R&B music while praising God.
"(I) believe my purpose is to continue writing songs with messages like 'Jesus I Want You,' about the balance between earthly and heavenly love, is what the Lord has called me to declare on this earth. Some say, 'Don't straddle the fence,'" Moore told CP. "I say, 'There is no fence to God. But, I will be the bridge and a light in darkness.'"
Chante Moore can be found on Twitter @IAmChanteMoore.
