{{short description|American gospel singer (born 1967)}} {{about|the gospel singer|the fictional character Alexis "Lexi" Allen, created by Ashley Hope Pérez|The Knife and the Butterfly}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lexi Allen | image = | caption = | alias = Lexi | birth_name = Alexis Marie Nucklos | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|10|2}} | birth_place = Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | instrument = Vocals | genre = Gospel '''·''' R&B | occupation = Singer-songwriter, producer, actress, comedian, television personality, screenwriter | years_active = 1989–present | spouse = Michael Dwayne Allen | label = Malaco Music Group, Universal Music Group | website = | module = {{infobox youtuber | child = yes | youtube_handle = lexitelevision | youtube_display_name =
| youtube_years_active = 2009–present | youtube_genre = {{hlist|Comedy|parody}} | youtube_subscribers = 342 thousand<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 47.8 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = September 11, 2025 }} }} '''Alexis Marie Nucklos-Allen''' (born October 2, 1967),<ref>[http://www.familytreenow.com/search/people/results?first=Alexis&middle=Marie&last=Nucklos&rid=0s0&smck=HU2CxdB-CirSpCQkbzNp2g Alexis Marie Nucklos - familytreenow.com]</ref> known professionally as '''Lexi Allen''', is an American gospel singer, producer, actress, comedian, television personality, and screenwriter.
==Early life and education== Alexis Marie Nucklos was born in Columbus, Ohio, where she grew up singing in her grandfather's church.<ref name="bg90">[http://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6070&context=bg-news J.J. Thompson. "BG singer to release an album". ''The BG News April 13, 1990'' (1990)], BGSU Student Newspaper. Book 5071, pg. 3.</ref> Nucklos is the daughter of physician Dr. Ruby Nucklos. She attended and graduated from Bowsher High School in Toledo. Nucklos later attended Bowling Green State University, where she majored in communications.<ref name="tblade">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=20000122&id=EGhRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qAMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4742,2096869&hl=en "Lexi is back on the gospel scene with a new urban-edge album"], ''Toledo Blade'', January 22, 2000, pg. 8.</ref> During her freshman year in college, she was awarded the Ms. Bronze Pageant.<ref name="bg86">[http://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5516&context=bg-news Jared O. Wadley. "Women vie for 'Bronze'. ''The BG News April 16, 1986'' (1986). BGSU Student Newspaper. Book 4517, pg. 5.]</ref> In 1989, she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta.<ref>[http://psiepsilonzetas.wixsite.com/1974/lineage Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Psi Epsilon Chapter at Bowling Green State University, Chapter Lineage], psiepsilonzetas.wixsite.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref>
==Career== For a time she sang background vocals for, among others, Gerald LeVert, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Fred Hammond.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47 "Lexi: ...And That's The Way It Is."] ''Billboard Magazine: The International NewsWeekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment'', Vol. 112, No. 21 (May 20, 2000), pg. 47.</ref><ref name="malacogospel">[http://www.malaco.com/Catalog/Gospel/Lexi/list.php Lexi: Malaco - Gospel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413203128/http://www.malaco.com/Catalog/Gospel/Lexi/list.php|date=2016-04-13 }}</ref> After the release of her debut album ''Call Her Lexi'' (1990)<ref name="bg90"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-09-09|title=Lexi|url=http://www.dagospeltruth.com/lexi/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Da Gospel Truth|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/call-her-lexi-mw0000314802 Call Her Lexi], AllMusic.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> she stepped away from music, instead studying and working as a teacher, before renewing her singing career a decade later.<ref name="tblade"/><ref>[http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2000/02/26/liv_284730.shtml Inspired, energized, singer, start on the comeback trail], chronicle.augusta.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> Nucklos also married a music producer Michael Allen, who helped manage her musical career. During their marriage, Allen captured the attention of former boxing champion Evander Holyfield, who had set up the record label Real Deal Records.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160410101600/http://www.mtv.com/news/821156/former-heavyweight-champion-evander-holyfield-founds-label/ Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield founds label - MTV]</ref> While signed onto Holyfield's label, Lexi released ''Lexi & That's the Way It Is'' (2002), ''A Praise in the Valley'' (2004) and ''What Heaven Hears'' (2005).
The 2004 album earned her a Stellar Gospel Music Award nomination.<ref name="malacogospel"/><ref>[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120711005300/en/Malaco-Records-Release-Phenomenal-Album-Acclaimed-Artist Malaco Records to Release Phenomenal, the New Album from Acclaimed Artist & Beloved Talk Show Host Lexi], BusinessWire.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> In 2006, Allen became the public face of The Word Network, where she presents the regular program "The Word Network Church with Lexi".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thewordnetwork.org/about |title=About {{!}} The Word Network |access-date=2016-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317102947/http://www.thewordnetwork.org/about |archive-date=2016-03-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She also hosted ''The Lexi Show'', aired by The Word Network, on which she has interviewed such guests as B.Slade (then known as Tonex), Carlton Pearson, Shirley Caesar, DeWayne Woods and many others.<ref>[http://wapistan.co.in/category/the-lexi-show-.html The Lexi Show Videos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409114354/http://wapistan.co.in/category/the-lexi-show-.html |date=2016-04-09 }}, wapistan.co.in; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref><ref>[http://www.dagospeltruth.com/lexi-2 Profile], dagospeltruth.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref><ref name="lightreturn">[http://thelightnc.hellobeautiful.com/8584121/the-word-network-announces-the-return-of-the-lexi-show The Word Network Announces The Return Of “The Lexi Show”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411213145/http://thelightnc.hellobeautiful.com/8584121/the-word-network-announces-the-return-of-the-lexi-show/ |date=2016-04-11 }}, thelightnc.hellobeautiful.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref>
In 2010, ''The Lexi Show'' was suspended for nearly a year,<ref>[http://thegospelblog.com/the-word-network-will-no-longer-air-the-lexi-show/ The Word Network will no longer air The Lexi Show] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318041628/http://thegospelblog.com/the-word-network-will-no-longer-air-the-lexi-show/ |date=2016-03-18 }}, thegospelblog.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref><ref>[http://higherrockmusic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=583:the-word-networks-qthe-lexi-sjowq-comes-to-an-end&catid=42:christian&Itemid=94 The Word Network's "The Lexi Show" Comes To An End] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121033003/http://higherrockmusic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=583:the-word-networks-qthe-lexi-sjowq-comes-to-an-end&catid=42:christian&Itemid=94 |date=2023-11-21 }}, higherrockmusic.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> soon after an interview in which Tonex spoke candidly about his same-sex attraction and his views on sexuality in general.<ref>[http://thelightnc.hellobeautiful.com/7626901/lexi-out-of-word-network-did-she-go-to-far-with-tonex-interview Lexi Out of Word Network: Did She Go To Far With Tonex Interview?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409060307/http://thelightnc.hellobeautiful.com/7626901/lexi-out-of-word-network-did-she-go-to-far-with-tonex-interview/ |date=2016-04-09 }}, thelightnc.hellobeautiful.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref><ref>[http://www.eurweb.com/2010/11/lexi-out-of-word-network-because-of-controversial-tonex-interview Lexi Out of Word Network Because of Controversial Tonex Interview?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408174547/http://www.eurweb.com/2010/11/lexi-out-of-word-network-because-of-controversial-tonex-interview/ |date=2016-04-08 }}, EURweb.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> The show returned in 2011,<ref name="lightreturn"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gospelpundit.com/2011/03/the-lexi-show-returns-to-the-word-network/ |title=The Lexi Show Returns to The Word Network {{!}} GospelPundit.com |access-date=2016-03-28 |archive-date=2016-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408205140/http://www.gospelpundit.com/2011/03/the-lexi-show-returns-to-the-word-network/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and later after a three-year hiatus, in 2015.<ref>[http://pathmegazine.com/news/world-news/the-word-network-brings-back-the-lexi-show/ The Word Network Brings Back “The Lexi Show”], PathMEGAzine.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref>
Her 2012 album ''Phenomenal'' was produced after she signed with Malaco Music Group.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ugospel.com/malaco-music-group-announces-the-signing-of-alexis-allen-professionally-known-as-lexi/ |title=Malaco Music Group Announces the Signing of Alexis Allen Professionally Known as Lexi {{!}} uGospel.com |access-date=2016-03-28 |archive-date=2024-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416041329/https://ugospel.com/malaco-music-group-announces-the-signing-of-alexis-allen-professionally-known-as-lexi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ugospel.com/malaco-records-announces-lexi-allens-upcoming-album-phenomenal/ |title=Malaco Records Announces Lexi Allen's Upcoming Album, "Phenomenal" {{!}} uGospel.com |access-date=2016-03-28 |archive-date=2024-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618225704/https://ugospel.com/malaco-records-announces-lexi-allens-upcoming-album-phenomenal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The singles "Burn It All Down" and "Abide" from this album hit the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs charts,<ref>[https://ichoosegospel.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/new-single-from-lexi-abide/ New Single from Lexi - "Abide" | I Choose Gospel]</ref> peaking at #20 and #14 respectively.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/artist/307126/lexi/chart Lexi - Chart history], Billboard.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref>
Allen appears regularly on '' The Yolanda Adams Morning Show'' with the segment "Inside Inspiration with Lexi".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130210032128/http://theyolandaadamsmorningshow.com/tag/inside-inspiration-with-lexi/ Inside Inspiration with Lexi], The Yolanda Adams Morning Show via archive.org; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> On her YouTube channel, she has created comedy videos dealing with subjects such as church culture, African-American culture, and parodies of well-known TV shows.<ref>[http://alwaysalist.com/gospel/lexi-marymary-spoof/ Pure Parody: Lexi Takes On Mary Mary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416010548/http://alwaysalist.com/gospel/lexi-marymary-spoof/ |date=2016-04-16 }}, alwaysalist.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/lexitelevision lexitelevision], YouTube.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref><ref>[http://shine.forharriet.com/2015/01/mother-walkers-sanctified-straight-talk.html Mother Walker's Sanctified Straight Talk is Hilarious], shine.forharriet.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> She also runs ALX Hair, a business selling hair extensions.<ref>[http://www.alxhair.com/#!about/c5wf ALX Hair website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404125415/http://www.alxhair.com/#!about/c5wf |date=2016-04-04 }}, alxhair.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref>
==Personal life== Allen was married to Michael Dwayne Allen; the couple have one child together, son Michael Alexander Osaze.<ref>[http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/lexi-cdshoot.html Lexi Update and CD Photo Shoot], GospelFlava.com; accessed March 22, 2018.</ref> Michael Dwayne Allen was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately succumbed to the disease on October 5, 2004.<ref name="michaelallenallmusic">[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-allen-mn0003740132 Michael Allen | Biography]. All Music Guide. Retrieved on February 17, 2019,</ref>
==Discography== {{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}
=== Albums === * ''Call Her Lexi'' (1990) * ''Lexi & That's the Way It Is'' (2001) * ''Somewhere Different'' (2002) * ''A Praise in the Valley'' (2004) * ''What Heaven Hears'' (2005) * ''Phenomenal'' (2012) * ''Just Listen'' (2018)
==Filmography== {{BLP unreferenced section|date=January 2020}} '''Television''' * ''The Word Network Church With Lexi'' (2006) * ''The Lexi Show'' (2010–2011; 2015) * ''Churchy'' (2024–present) '''YouTube Shows''' * ''Holy Ghost Enforcers'' (2012–present) * ''Ghetto Bewitched'' (2015–present)
==References== <references/>
==External links== * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000824815|label=Lexi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Lexi}} Category:1967 births Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century American singers Category:20th-century American women singers Category:21st-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesswomen Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century American women singers Category:Actresses from Columbus, Ohio Category:African-American women artists Category:21st-century African-American businesspeople Category:African-American Christians Category:20th-century African-American women singers Category:African-American television talk show hosts Category:American television talk show hosts Category:American gospel singers Category:American television journalists Category:American women television journalists Category:Bowling Green State University alumni Category:American comedy YouTubers Category:Living people Category:Singers from Columbus, Ohio Category:Singers from Ohio Category:Songwriters from Ohio Category:African-American businesswomen Category:20th-century American businesswomen Category:African-American songwriters Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:21st-century African-American singers Category:YouTubers from Columbus, Ohio Category:African-American women comedians Category:African-American comedians Category:Comedians from Columbus, Ohio Category:American women comedians