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MEET THE FOUNDER
is "Tyler's Golden Rose"
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SAG-AFTRA Actress/ Entertainer/ Speaker/ Bestselling Author/ HIV-AIDS Advocate/ Influencer/ Mentor/ Entrepreneur/ Philanthropist/ National Gospel Recording Artist/ Host
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Despite being one of Texas’ shining entertainment beacons for over four decades, life has not always been (to quote legendary poet Langston Hughes) a “crystal stair” for VirLinda Stanton. ​​Obstacles in her life included being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS nearly 30 years ago.
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She is among the most powerful voices to ever command an audience. Relatives and others knew she was a daughter of destiny and divine direction. They just didn’t realize the many directions divinity would lead her. Even as a young child, VirLinda often dreamt of being in the spotlight. Her voice and amazing ability to make songs and verses her own, became how the phenomenal “Triple Threat”, has been labeled as, “Tyler’s Golden Rose”.
Recognized as a child prodigy, her divine destiny and deep talents became realized as early as age 9, singing at her grandmother’s church. VirLinda eagerly reflects on her roots, seeing where the foundation of her stellar career began. She grew up in the rural Shady Grove community, right outside the city of Tyler.
In 2009, Stanton, known for her powerful voice and strong command to audiences, burst into the theatre scene, playing the famous characters of Shug Avery and Church Lady Darlene in Oprah Winfrey’s “The Color Purple National Broadway Tour.” She went on to roles in other film, television and theatrical productions and culminated by leading a 2-hour Performance at “The White House” in Washington, D.C. for “President Barak Obama’s Christmas Open House” program on December 23, 2011.
It was these performances that set VirLinda on a whirlwind of accomplishments and accolades in music, theatre, film, television, Disney and Broadway! Virlinda’s list of 5-star performances is nearly countless. She has a knack of excelling in everything she’s encountered, leaving her leaving her voiceprints, fingerprints, and footprints all over the country and parts of the world to be vividly remembered.
Stanton’s accolades led to numerous prestigious recognitions from her homeland East Texas community. Also dubbed “Tyler’s Golden Rose,” her many honors have included:
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The “Key to The City of Tyler”.
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The street County Road 310 renamed VirLinda Ln. (East and West).
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A Resolution declared February 3rd “VirLinda Stanton Day,” from Tyler Smith County Commissioners Court.
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A second Proclamation proclaimed February 16th “VirLinda Stanton Day,” from Mayor Barbara Bass and the City of Tyler.
Stanton later executive produced her first Gospel CD “The Best Is Yet To Come,” featuring songs from “The Color Purple.”
The multi-dimensional Stanton is also the founder of “VirLinda Stanton Enterprises, LLC” and embarked on her journey as a published and award-winning bestselling author. Her first book Anthology “Souled Out Vol. 2” is an Amazon best-seller (co-authored with Cheryl Polote-Williamson) a multi-Award-winning author. VirLinda also serves as a current board member with the Ryan White Planning Council Committee in Dallas County, Texas.
Through OVERCOMERS FOR LIFE, Stanton plans to convey and expand the same values and principles she practiced that helped her persevere from when she was first diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1994. In the early 1990s, contracting HIV/AIDS was considered an automatic death sentence by almost all people in both the medical industry and public eye.
“Living 29 years with the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS wasn’t easy. As a matter of fact, something that I thought would kill me only made me stronger to fight harder to live,” Stanton said. “When I was informed of this diagnosis, I did not believe it, nor did I receive it. I’ve always had to believe and walk in my faith, stand on God's word and His healing power.”
Almost three decades later, VirLinda has defied such gloom-and-doom predictions and remarkably hammered her way to a successful career in theater, music, television, and film. As she states, "The Best Is Yet To Come!"
To find out more about VirLinda and Bookings, contact:
BookingVirlindaStanton@gmail.com
(469) 552-5533 or (469) 880-2633