Black History Month Spotlight: Laurice Lanier

February 26, 2025

Ryan Brooks, Amelia Carlson,

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson native, professional opera singer and vocalist Laurice Lanier is a Hub City recognized name for her contributions and achievements within the music industry.

Her career is an inspiration to anyone with a dream. Laurice Lanier is a South Side graduate, born in Jackson, Tennessee, and set her sights on a big dream.

“Coming from Jackson, Tennessee it was always my dream to go to Juilliard and the reason for that was that I was watching Star Search one night with my mother and this beautiful blonde lady, she just sang like she was in Heaven, she was just so gorgeous and her voice was gorgeous, so from that day on I said ‘Okay, I want to do what she said she did.’ She went to Juilliard. So I looked it up in the encyclopedia,” said Lanier.

Lanier trained during the summers at camps, attended lessons at First United Methodist Church, and knew what she needed to get to Juilliard. She said anyone that has a dream can achieve it.

“You need to find out what is needed to get where you want to go before you start saying ‘I want to do this,’ or ‘I want to do that.’ Always know what you need before you go into something,” said Lanier.

She encourages anyone that has a dream to believe in themselves and believe they can do it. Lanier said dreams do not come easy but doors will open.

“You have to prepare, a lot of preparation, a lot of training. That’s the way you can get into that door, whatever door it is,” said Lanier.

During Lanier’s outstanding career, she has performed on Broadway, sang in Brazil, performed with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and opened for the Tennessee General Assembly. She said among her most memorable moments in her career were when she was accepted into Juilliard and when she sang in Brazil.

“I can just say, being a brown skinned African American young lady who had a dream just to — coming from Jackson, Tennessee — just having that dream and staying focused and remaining consistent is very important,” said Lanier.

Her message to those with a dream?

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, if you have something that you really want to do and God has a plan for you, it will happen, but you have to know that you can do it first,” said Lanier.

Her career is rooted in hard work, dedication and the belief that she could do it.

Lanier relaunched her Lanier Studios business in 2023 but had to step back from those lessons and business due to health issues. However, she said she continues to push forward with her treatments because she is not the kind of person to give up.

See our other Black History Month Spotlights here: