When you ask Nashville industry insiders about who they think is some of the most talented artists in Gospel music. The name Shelia Lewis always comes up. “This girl sings great and is one of the best songwriters in all of music,” is the statement most often heard.

When you think of recording artists from Oklahoma, many names come into mind. Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Toby Keith and Vince Gill just to name a few. However, all you have to do is travel down into Southeastern Oklahoma and you’ll discover Shelia Lewis, a lady from Broken Bow that takes a back seat to no one when it comes to the talent of singing and song writing.

Shelia always had it in her heart to sing and in her early teen years, she found many open doors in churches, at weddings and with the High School Choir to share her music. Shelia had dreams of recording but the dreams, seemed to die on the vine as her direction went instead to marrying young and raising a family.

Shelia, pretty well considered that those early dreams of recording, had all but disappeared until one day the Lord birthed in her a new talent of songwriting and the dreams were revived. The Lord began to give her songs and he opened the door for her to go to Nashville and record her first CD entitled “Rise Up Overcomers.” With immediate success in radio with her first single “When I Look To You” going #2 in the national charts and then her single “Jesus Lane” hitting #1 in main stream Country music in France followed by another #1 song with “Rise Up Overcomers,” Shelia began to receive recognition for not only being an excellent vocalist but also as one of the best songwriters in Christian Country and Country Gospel music.

Shelia has since recorded her second CD entitled “Love Never Fails” and already her first two singles released “CPR” and “Love Never Fails” has gone #1 on the national charts. Shelia has received seven Grammy Entry Nominations for her work, six #1 songs, “Horizon Female Artist of the Year,” “Female Artist of the Year,” “Songwriter of the Year” and “Duo of the Year” with Judy DeRamus. The recognitions have come from the Governor of Oklahoma giving her Oklahoma’s highest honor as “Oklahoma Native Daughter” and a special recognition from President George W. Bush.

Shelia records for Nashville Gospel Records and makes her home in Broken Bow, Oklahoma with her husband Eric and children. Shelia travels together with her sister Judy DeRamus and ministers in song performing in Churches, festivals, auditoriums, Cowboys for Christ and Oprys.

Doug DeRamus

Nashville Gospel Records