Montell Jordan knows a thing or two about bringing people together. Whether it’s a congregation, a concert crowd, or a community along Fort Lauderdale’s waterways, the Grammy-nominated musician, producer, and pastor thrives on connection. This December, he’ll do just that as co–Grand Marshal of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.
For Winterfest President and CEO Lisa Scott-Founds, Jordan’s participation adds a dynamic new energy to the season. “Montell’s music has this infectious joy that crosses generations,” she says. “When he performs, people light up. He’s not only an incredible entertainer but someone who leads with faith, gratitude, and heart—everything Winterfest celebrates.”
“This event is about joy on the water,” Jordan says. “It’s people coming together from every walk of life. That’s what I love most—it’s community in motion.”
It’s a fitting role for a man whose music has long been the soundtrack to celebration. Nearly three decades after his breakout hit “This Is How We Do It” first topped the charts, Jordan still can’t escape its impact, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I could go anywhere in the world, and when that song starts, people smile,” he says. “It’s incredible that something I wrote so long ago still brings people joy. That’s the gift.”
A New Chapter in Harmony
Today, Jordan’s stage is broader than ever, built on the same passion that first drove his music. He continues to write, record, and perform, but now his artistry shares the spotlight with his ministry. Together with his wife, Kristin, his partner in life and purpose for more than 30 years, he leads Marriage Masterpeace, a faith-based organization that helps couples strengthen connection and rediscover purpose.
“When people see us onstage now, it’s not just music—it’s ministry,” he explains. “We talk about what it looks like to do life together, to love and serve each other the way God designed. If our story can give another couple hope, that’s the greatest stage we could ever stand on.”
The two travel the world hosting conferences and workshops that blend music, storytelling, and faith. “Music and ministry are the same to me,” he says. “Both are about healing, both are about harmony, both are about helping people feel seen.”
That sense of purpose deepened after Kristin began filming their journey for a forthcoming documentary titled Sustained, which chronicles his experience with honesty and hope. “We started filming because we didn’t know how to tell our family or who to let in,” he says. “For me, as a man of color, it was uncharted territory—nobody was really talking about it. But I knew I wanted it to help someone else, to say, ‘You’re not alone.’”
Now a global ambassador for ZERO Prostate Cancer, Jordan uses his platform to raise awareness and encourage men to get screened early. “Early detection is the thing that allows me to have a choice to treat it and live—and to keep giving myself the best quality of life possible,” he says. “It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to shake your fist at God. It’s OK to feel fear, but doing nothing is not an option.”
As he nears the end of treatment, Jordan looks ahead with renewed faith. “I’ll be a two-time cancer survivor by the time we get to Fort Lauderdale,” he says. “Something to celebrate for sure.”
The Sound of Celebration
And celebrate he will, through music. Jordan plans to perform during Winterfest festivities, possibly debuting a new holiday single that captures the season’s warmth and wit.
“I’ve got a new Christmas song called ‘Santa Will Be Late’,” he says, smiling. “It’s playful and soulful. It’s about how joy doesn’t always arrive on time, but it always arrives. Maybe I’ll debut it during Winterfest. It just feels right.”
Though the co–Grand Marshals haven’t officially met, Jordan already feels a connection to his counterpart, pop artist Romero Britto. “I’ve met him through his work,” he says. “His art, his colors, his culture—it all comes out of him for us to experience. I’m the guy that’ll say, ‘Let me hold your light while you shine.’ I’m the soundtrack to his brightness.”
For Jordan, the parade represents something larger than spectacle—it’s a reflection of resilience, faith, and joy shared on a grand scale. “When I can reach the space where I get to do what I love, and it’s what God loves me doing, that’s leveling up to the highest degree,” he says.
One Night, One Message
For Jordan, Winterfest mirrors his life’s mission—to remind people that hope and faith can thrive in even the hardest seasons. “When art and music meet joy, that’s when real connection happens,” he says. “Winterfest is the perfect example of that. It’s where people come together not just to watch, but to feel something. That’s how we do it.”
