Meet The Founder
Michelle peters
Michelle began singing at just three years old at her grandfather’s church in Oakland, California. Raised on gospel music, she was already directing and teaching music for the young adult choir by the age of 12.
While attending college, Michelle briefly worked with legendary rapper MC Hammer and secretly recorded hooks for various rap artists under an assumed name to help pay for her education. During that time, she realized her true passion was creating music rooted in faith and inspiration. Blending gospel with the bass-driven sounds of R&B, hip-hop, and neo-soul, Michelle brings a contemporary feel to sacred music while still honoring the traditional gospel songs that shaped her.
Well known throughout the Bay Area church community, Michelle expanded her creativity into theatre. She wrote, produced, and co-starred in the gospel musical Candy Ain’t Always Sweet, a powerful story of family, redemption, and faith set in the 1970s. Originally created as a fundraiser for her father’s church youth ministry, The CLIC (Committed Leaders in Christ), the production became a sold-out event supported by the NAACP and several nonprofit organizations.
Michelle also wrote and produced The Sam Cooke Story: Portrait of a Legend, a theatrical tribute exploring the groundbreaking career of Sam Cooke and the tensions he faced between his gospel roots and mainstream success. The production highlights Cooke’s role in breaking racial barriers and his refusal to perform for segregated audiences.
Her other stage work includes the comedy Faith, Hope & Charity, which follows three successful Christian women navigating faith, relationships, and modern life with humor and honesty
Beyond the stage, Michelle has contributed vocals and production to film and television projects, including music connected to the film Phat Gurlz starring Mo’Nique. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in Mass Communications, she is also deeply involved in ministry and community leadership in Oakland.
Michelle has performed the national anthem for Bay Area teams including the Golden State Warriors, Oakland Athletics, and Oakland Raiders. She has appeared in an HBO promotional campaign and performed at the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., including a historic gathering at Madison Square Garden attended by President Bill Clinton.
A lifelong creative and mentor, Michelle continues to develop artists, produce faith-inspired productions, and blend culture, community, and gospel into everything she does. She is the creator of ChurchGurls Rock and ChurchGurl Champions, two branded productions that celebrate women in faith and leadership, along with the ChurchGurl apparel line. Through these initiatives, ChurchGurl has partnered with BET Television, the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, and numerous ChurchGurl Ambassadors.