Marvin Sapp put a ring on it!

The BET award-winning gospel star and pastor announced his engagement to Dr. La’Boris Cole on Feb. 23, 2026, revealing that the surprise proposal was orchestrated by his adult children. The party was set up to look like a birthday celebration, but when the couple arrived, Sapp dropped to one knee, surrounded by family and friends, and presented Dr. Cole with a diamond ring. “In 2026, God has given Marvin Sapp the desire of his heart!” the announcement read.

For Sapp — the voice behind the crossover gospel anthem “Never Would Have Made It” and senior pastor of The Chosen Vessel Church in Fort Worth, Texas — the engagement marks a new chapter after years of public candor about life as a widower. Sapp’s late wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp, died in 2010 after a battle with colon cancer. Since then, he has stewarded a busy life balancing ministry, music, and parenthood. His two eldest children are married with children of their own, and friends say Sapp only began to date seriously again once his family reached stability. Dr. Cole and Sapp have been friends for over a decade before beginning a courtship that they kept private until they were sure of the relationship’s direction.

Sapp’s beloved, Dr. Cole is rooted in ministry and mental-health leadership. She is a Mississippi native, founder and executive director of the Born 2 Danz Worship Arts Conference, as well as CEO of Cole Associates & Counselors of Texas, a multi-site behavioral health practice. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi College and a doctorate in Clinical Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University. Her work bridges ministry, therapy, and the arts, as she helps people “recognize their value, heal fully and walk unapologetically in their God-given assignment.”

Sapp’s music career remains a critical part of his public life. “Never Would Have Made It” has become a mainstay at gospel and secular radio alike, earning long-running chart success and cultural recognition. He has released 16 albums and has been inducted into the Black Music Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2023. He’s also maintained a national presence as an author and radio host, and he leads a congregation that sees his pastoral work as central to his identity and not a singer who preaches.

Congratulations to the happy couple as they embark on a beautiful journey of love together! The lovebirds have not shared a wedding date. For now, family and fans are celebrating their union and faithful leadership.