lisa-knowles-smith, born Alescia Nicole Knowles (September 29, 1983), is an American gospel singer from Memphis, Tennessee, best known as the powerhouse lead voice of the family quartet The Brown Singers.
Raised inside the group her mother helped found in 1976, Knowles-Smith has spent nearly three decades turning traditional Southern gospel quartet music into something that also sounds at home on R&B and rock radio.
Lisa Knowles-Smith at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alescia Nicole Knowles-Smith |
| Born | September 29, 1983, Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Age | 42 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Marcus Smith |
| Children | Not fully disclosed publicly; multiple children referenced by the family |
| Mother | Vanessa Knowles (d. September 28, 2025) |
| Siblings | One (Lisa is the eldest of two) |
| Education | |
| University | Stillman College (B.A. Psychology, cum laude, 2024) |
| Career | |
| Group | Lisa Knowles-Smith and the Brown Singers |
| Genre(s) | Traditional and urban contemporary gospel, Southern gospel quartet |
| Years active | 1996 – present |
| Label | EvoWorld Music Group, LLC (independent) |
| Notable songs | “Great Big God,” “Testimony,” “Promises” |
| Net worth | Estimated $1 million–$5 million (unverified online estimate) |
Early Life and Family
Lisa Knowles-Smith was born Alescia Nicole Knowles on September 29, 1983, in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the older of two children.
According to family accounts, her love of music showed up before she was even three years old. Her mother recalls that Lisa needed a microphone in hand at all times, “even if she wasn’t singing, or she would cry.”
At age 9, she joined The Brown Singers, the gospel quartet her mother, Vanessa Knowles, helped found in 1976 at just 14 years old. By 12, Lisa had already become the group’s lead singer, recording her first project on the quartet’s 1996 live release, Live in Memphis.
Is Lisa Knowles Related to Beyoncé?
No. Lisa Knowles-Smith and Beyoncé are not related. The confusion comes purely from a shared surname: Beyoncé’s family name is also Knowles, through her mother Tina Knowles and father Mathew Knowles.
Lisa Knowles-Smith’s family line traces to Memphis, Tennessee, through her mother Vanessa Knowles and the gospel quartet the Brown family has led since the 1970s. There is no documented family connection between the two Knowles families.
Career With The Brown Singers
Knowles-Smith and her family group released Experience the Evolution: Live in Memphis independently in December 2008, a project that later topped Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.
Their 2014 follow-up, The Evolution Continues, debuted at number 6 on the same chart and earned the group two Stellar Awards for Quartet of the Year and Traditional Group/Duo of the Year in 2015.
While still performing with her family, Knowles-Smith built a parallel career as an in-demand background and featured vocalist, working with James Fortune & FIYA, Pastor John P. Kee, JJ Hairston, Erica Campbell, and The Williams Brothers.
She toured as a background vocalist on the “United as One” tour alongside James Fortune, VaShawn Mitchell, Kierra Sheard, and Zacardi Cortez, and shared the lead on “Miracles” from James Fortune & FIYA’s Live Through It project.
Solo Career and Record Label
After 18 years with The Brown Singers, Knowles-Smith stepped out as a solo artist under the name “Lisa Knowles,” launching her own label, EvoWorld Music Group, LLC.
Her self-produced album Evolution: The Legacy, released as Lisa Knowles-Smith and the Brown Singers in 2016, marked her first fully independent project as both artist and executive producer.
Her solo singles “Great Big God” (2019), “All I Want Is You,” and “Testimony” (both 2020) built her identity outside the quartet format.
In 2022, she and the group released Live in Memphis 2, and in 2025 they released “Promises,” the lead single from the 2026 concert project Live in Dallas.
Personal Life: Husband and Family
Lisa Knowles-Smith is married to Marcus Smith. The couple married before the release of Evolution: The Legacy in 2016 and have written together publicly about balancing marriage, parenting, and ministry at the same time.
In their own words, doing all of it together, “husband/wife, dad/mom, artist, employee, deacon/deaconess,” was one of the hardest things they’ve taken on. The family currently lives in Alabama.
Knowles-Smith launched the Loving Me Again Ladies Retreat in 2017 and has pursued life coach certification focused on spiritual balance and relationships, while Marcus has worked on a men’s ministry initiative called the Body of Christ (B.O.C.).
Who Is Lisa Knowles-Smith’s Husband?
Her husband is Marcus Smith. The two have built both a family and a shared ministry platform, including co-writing about their marriage and launching complementary faith-based initiatives for men and women.
The Loss of Her Mother, Vanessa Knowles
On September 28, 2025, Vanessa Knowles, Lisa’s mother and the founding member of The Brown Singers, died in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 in Louisiana. According to reports, a tractor-trailer driver failed to notice slow-moving traffic, causing a chain-reaction collision involving eight vehicles.
Three people died in the crash, including Vanessa Knowles, and the truck driver was booked on three counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Lisa announced her mother’s death on Instagram, writing that she had seen the outpouring of calls and texts and asking supporters to continue praying for her family during “this difficult time.”
Vanessa Knowles had previously survived Stage 2 breast cancer, diagnosed in 2002, and wrote a book about the experience titled Breast Cancer and Me: Dealing with Your Storm.
“With deep sadness, I share this. I’ve seen the texts and calls, and we truly appreciate every message of love and support. Please continue to keep our family lifted in prayer during this difficult time.” — Lisa Knowles-Smith, September 2025
Is Lisa Knowles a Pastor?
No. Lisa Knowles-Smith is not recognized publicly as an ordained pastor. She is a gospel recording artist and quartet leader who has pursued life-coaching certification, but there is no public record of her holding a formal pastoral title at a church.
Education
In 2024, Knowles-Smith graduated cum laude from Stillman College with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a milestone she pursued alongside her ongoing recording and touring career.
Interesting Facts About Lisa Knowles-Smith
- She needed a microphone in her hand as a toddler, according to her own mother’s recollection.
- She became her family quartet’s lead singer at just 12 years old.
- She graduated college cum laude in 2024, decades into her music career.
- She and her husband, Marcus, co-authored writing about balancing marriage and ministry.
- Her family’s quartet, founded in 1976, is still actively recording and touring under her leadership.
Timeline
- 1983: Born September 29 in Memphis, Tennessee, as Alescia Nicole Knowles.
- 1992 (age 9): Joins The Brown Singers as a background vocalist.
- 1996 (age 12): Becomes the group’s lead singer; records first live project.
- 2008: Releases Experience the Evolution: Live in Memphis, which tops Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart.
- 2012: Begins touring as a background vocalist for James Fortune & FIYA.
- 2014: Releases The Evolution Continues, debuting at No. 6 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart.
- 2016: Marries Marcus Smith; releases Evolution: The Legacy under her own label.
- 2019–2020: Releases solo singles “Great Big God,” “All I Want Is You,” and “Testimony.”
- 2024: Graduates cum laude from Stillman College.
- 2025: Her mother, Vanessa Knowles, dies in a highway crash on September 28.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisa Knowles related to Beyoncé?
No. The shared “Knowles” surname is a coincidence. There is no documented family connection between Lisa Knowles-Smith and Beyoncé’s family.
Are Lisa Knowles and The Brown Singers related?
Yes. Lisa Knowles-Smith grew up inside The Brown Singers, the gospel quartet her mother, Vanessa Knowles, co-founded in 1976. Lisa has led the group since her preteen years.
How old is gospel singer Lisa Knowles-Smith?
She was born on September 29, 1983, making her 42 as of 2026.
Is Lisa Knowles a pastor?
No public record confirms an ordained pastoral title. She is a gospel recording artist pursuing life-coaching certification.
Who is Lisa Knowles-Smith’s husband?
Her husband is Marcus Smith. The couple married in the mid-2010s and have written publicly about balancing marriage, family, and ministry.
What happened to Lisa Knowles-Smith’s mother?
Vanessa Knowles died on September 28, 2025, in a multi-vehicle highway crash in Louisiana. She was the founding member of The Brown Singers.
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