Gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson wants to get her career back on track after multiple arrests, but says she’s being held to a higher standard than other artists.
“You’ve got R&B artists, you’ve got hip-hop artists, you’ve got pop artists, country artists, they can do the same things and it’s in the tabloids, but it’s not necessarily going to mess up their money,” Johnson said on a recent episode of Kandi Burruss’ “Speak On It” podcast.
Johnson was arrested for public intoxication twice in just a few months. She was taken into custody in the middle of the day in downtown Greenville, South Carolina on Dec. 16, 2024.
Then police booked her for public drunkenness in Arlington County, Virginia on Feb. 21, 2025, according to That Grape Juice, which published her mugshot.
The pastor and Grammy-winning singer told Burruss her music career has collapsed because of the arrests.
“It affects my pockets and I have to take that into consideration because it’s not just me, I have four beautiful children that are depending on me,” Johnson said on the podcast, which was posted to YouTube on Aug. 31.
Johnson insisted the scrutiny she faces is unfair.
“Because I’m a gospel singer, I can’t drink and be drunk in the public because it affects things. But is that only because I’m a gospel singer?” she said.
Burruss asked how many times she’s been in the tabloids. Johnson was unsure.
“Twice, three times, four,” she said hesitantly before finally telling Burrus, it’s only been enough times to “count on one hand.”
Burruss said any celebrity who gets “locked up” will be “put on blast.” But she reminded Johnson that the R&B and pop worlds are more “forgiving” than the gospel world where artists face “a different set of rules.”
Johnson, 42, rose to stardom after winning season 3 of the BET gospel singing competition, Sunday Best in 2010. Fans snapped up her music and she topped the charts.
In 2012, she shocked the Christian community by having a child out of wedlock.
Then in 2019, she appeared on OWN’s self-help series, Iyanla: Fix My Life, to address a struggle with alcohol addiction. Host Iyanla Vanzant urged her to seek professional help. A frustrated Le’Andria walked out.
In the interview with Kandi, the singer said she’d been to rehab twice.
“I’ve decided to make better decisions, but I’m not going to say that everything will be perfect,” she said.
Johnson admitted she no longer has a manager or a team and asked Burruss for help.
“Do you love me?” Johnson asked.
“I’ll help you, but you gone have to listen to me,” Burruss told her.
The singer, songwriter and Real Housewives of Atlanta alum then began to cry.
“When we love someone, we’re not going to let them look crazy in front of the world… We see what’s happening around you. We see it. We want to fix it. But we can’t until you decide. Do you understand what I’m saying? Do you understand?” Burruss said.
She continued, “So when you asked me, ‘Would I help you?’ Of course I would. But you’ve got to listen to me. Do you understand what I’m saying? We can do it all. We can get all the songs you want. We’ve got a studio right here.”
Burruss said she could make phone calls and get the right people to work with Johnson, but if she’s not ready to change, there’s no point.
“I can’t fix it for you,” Burruss said.
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