Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is a Grammy-nominated American R&B singer on the Def Jam Recordings record label.

Chrisette Michele was born in Central Islip, New York to parents who worked as deacons to their church. This connection inspired her to reflect on childhood memories in her own Def Jam debut album. She sings in a jazz style reminiscent of past singers such as Macy Gray, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu.

She is of Native American and southern African American descent. The daughter of a deacon father Read more...