Demetria Dyan McKinney was born on August 27, 1979, and is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in various television shows and films, as well as her stage credits.
McKinney starred as Janine Shelton-Payne in the TBS sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne from 2006 to 2012, earning her a nomination for a 2009 National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications Vision Award for Best Performance in a Comedy.
In addition to her work on House of Payne, McKinney has appeared in other notable television shows, including The Rickey Smiley Show, Saints & Sinners, and Superstition. She has also had recurring roles on Necessary Roughness, Drop Dead Diva, Devious Maids, Chicago Med, and Being Mary Jane.
McKinney has also made appearances on reality television, including The Real Housewives of Atlanta, where she has been a guest star since the show's 7th season premiere in 2014.
In 2016, McKinney was cast as Tamara Austin in the Bounce TV prime time television soap opera Saints & Sinners, and in 2017, she starred in the TV One movie Bobbi Kristina as Whitney Houston.
In addition to her work in television, McKinney has also pursued a music career, releasing her debut album Officially Yours in 2017. She received a nomination for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist for her album.
McKinney has also had stage credits, including playing Coretta Scott King in the Rhythm and Blues Opera I Dream in 2010 and Deena Jones in Dreamgirls in 2012. She has also played Cedric's mother in the BET series The Quad.
McKinney is set to return for her role as Janine Shelton-Payne in the House of Payne spin-off The Paynes in 2018.
