{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Melinda Watts | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Melinda Frances Watts | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|7|20|mf=y}} | birth_place = Bridgeton, New Jersey | origin = Sacramento, California | instrument = vocals | genre = urban contemporary gospel | occupation = Singer, songwriter | years_active = 2009–present | label = Razor & Tie | website = }}

'''Melinda Frances Watts''' (''née'', '''Pickett'''; born July 20, 1978) is an American urban contemporary gospel artist and musician. She started her music career, in 2009, with her first studio album, ''People Get Ready'', released by Razor & Tie. This album was her breakthrough release upon the ''Billboard'' magazine charts.

==Early life== Watts was born, Melindia Frances Pickett,<ref name="ASCAP">{{cite web|title=Say Yes Work ID No. 496824014 IPI No. 346830062 (PICKETT MELINDA FRANCES) |url=https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |author=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=January 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306032310/https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx |archive-date=March 6, 2013 }} Work ID No. 496824014 IPI No. 346830062 (PICKETT MELINDA FRANCES)</ref> on July 20,<ref name="Date">{{cite web|title=Thx so much!! My Bday is starting out great! |url=https://twitter.com/melindawatts/status/18994652590 |author=Melinda Watts (melindawatts)|publisher=Twitter|access-date=January 1, 2016|date=July 20, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Day">{{cite web|title=Today is Melinda Watts birthday, if you guys would help make this the best birthday ever I would really appreciate it. Can we all wish her a Happy Birthday! ....please & thanks #GodBless |url=https://www.facebook.com/melindawattsmusic/posts/10153020597960403?stream_ref=5 |author=Melinda Watts (melindawattsmusic)|publisher=Facebook|access-date=January 1, 2016|date=July 20, 2013}}</ref> 1978,<ref name="Intelius">{{cite web|title=Melindia F Pickett in Bridgeton, NJ |url=http://www.intelius.com/search/people/Melindia-F-Pickett/Bridgeton-NJ?filterMiddleInitial=&filterAge=31-40&filterCity=&filterbutton=Filter |author=Intelius |publisher=Intelius |access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref> in Bridgeton, New Jersey, the daughter of Franklin and Mary Pickett.<ref name="CD Baby">{{cite web|title=Melinda Pickett |url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/melindapickett |author=CD Baby |publisher=CD Baby |access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref>

==Music career== Her music career started in 2005,<ref name="CD Baby"/> while her first studio album, ''People Get Ready'', was released on July 28, 2009, with Razor & Tie.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Deborah |last=Evans Price |title=Melinda Watts: ''People Get Ready'' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lCUF-Ml_lBYC&q=Melinda+Watts+People+Get+Ready+review&pg=PT28 |magazine=Billboard |date=August 8, 2009 |access-date=January 6, 2016 |issue=August 8, 2009 |page=29}}</ref><ref name="EX Review">{{cite journal|first=Kevin|last=Jones|title=Melinda Watts People Get Ready |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/melinda_watts-people_get_ready |journal=Exclaim!|access-date=January 6, 2016|date=August 25, 2009}}</ref><ref name="CR Review">{{cite web|first=Tony|last=Cummings|title=Review: People Get Ready – Melinda Watts |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Melinda_Watts/People_Get_Ready/117889/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms|access-date=January 6, 2016|date=August 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="GF Review">{{cite web|first=Gerard|last=Bonner|title=Melinda Watts (People Get Ready) |url=http://www.gospelflava.com/reviews/melindawatts.html |publisher=Gospelflava |access-date=January 6, 2016|date=June 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name="CM Review">{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Greer|title=Dream Becomes Reality on Melinda Watts' ''People Get Ready''|url=http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/music/dream-becomes-reality-on-melinda-watts-people-get-ready-11608794.html |publisher=CM Central |access-date=January 6, 2016|date=September 29, 2009}}</ref> This album was her breakthrough released upon the ''Billboard'' magazine charts, while it placed on the Gospel Albums and the Heatseekers Albums charts, where it peaked at Nos. 17 and 29, correspondingly.<ref name="Gospel Albums">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310440/melinda-watts/chart?f=323 |title=Melinda Watts – Chart History : Gospel Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Heatseekers Albums">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310440/melinda-watts/chart?f=324 |title=Melinda Watts – Chart History : Heatseekers Albums|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref> Melinda was the 2008 winner of the Gospel Dream hosted by Matthew West.

==Personal life== She is married to William Watts, and they have four children, residing in Sacramento, California,<ref name="CD Baby"/> where she founded and operates the Glam Camp for Girls.<ref name="NRT Profile">{{cite web|title=Melinda Watts|url=http://www.thegospelchoiceawards.com/melinda_watts.php|author=Staff|publisher=The Gospel Choice Awards|access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions |- !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Gos<ref name="Gospel Albums"/> !style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|US<br>Heat<ref name="Heatseekers Albums"/> |- !scope="row"|''People Get Ready'' | * Released: July 28, 2009 * {{nowrap|Label: Razor & Tie}} * CD, digital download | 17 | 29 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20131231033924/http://melindawatts.com/ Archived official website] *[http://www.thegospelchoiceawards.com/melinda_watts.php Glam Camp for Girls]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, Melinda}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:African-American songwriters Category:African-American Christians Category:Musicians from Cumberland County, New Jersey Category:Musicians from California Category:Songwriters from New Jersey Category:Songwriters from California Category:Razor & Tie artists Category:People from Bridgeton, New Jersey Category:21st-century African-American musicians Category:20th-century African-American musicians