Black people are spiritual beings, which contributes to our deep connection to gospel music. A 2021 Pew Research survey found that “belief in the divine is close to universal among Black Americans.” The vast majority of Black Americans say they believe in God or a higher power. This is why today’s gospel music industry features many talented Black singers, specifically songstresses. 

8 Gospel Singers

Kierra Sheard 

Kierra Sheard came from a musical family. Her mother, Karen Sheard, and three aunts were part of the Grammy Award winning gospel girl group the Clark Sisters. At nine years old, she secured the Best Children’s Performance Stellar Award for her vocals on her mother’s song “The Will of God.” Her solo career started in 2004, and Sheard has since collaborated with Glorilla, Mary Mary, Eric Bellinger and Chance The Rapper on songs.

Erica Campbell 

Erica Campbell originally arrived on the gospel music scene as one half of the renowned duo Mary Mary. The group, composed of Campbell and her sister Tina, has sold more than six million albums according to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. In 2013, Campbell went solo and her debut album “Help” won a Grammy for Best Gospel Album. She later released songs “I Luh God” and “A Little More Jesus.” Years later in 2016, she released “Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell,” a successful radio show. 

Tasha Cobbs

Tasha Cobbs is a successful singer and songwriter. Cobbs is known for her singles “Break Every Chain,” “In Spite of Me,” and “You Know My Name.” In 2020, Cobbs won both Billboard’s Top Gospel Artist of the Decade and Top Female Gospel Artist. She also founded The Purpose Place Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, alongside her husband Kenneth Leonard. 

Yolanda Adams

With four Grammy Awards, Yolanda Adams is one of the most renowned gospel singers of all time. Initially, Adams started out as a schoolteacher and part-time model before venturing into singing. She released her first album, titled “Just as I Am” in 1987. Since then, Adams has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Her biggest hits include “The Battle Is the Lord’s,” “Open My Heart” and “This Joy.” Adams released her latest album “Sunny Days,” in Sept. 2024.

Tamela Mann 

Tamela Mann is a multihyphenate singer and actress. In the 90s, Mann joined “Kirk Franklin & the Family’s” gospel group, before going solo in 2005. Her biggest single is “Take Me To The King,” released in 2012. The heartfelt spiritual ballad is now certified double platinum by the RIAA. On the acting front, the singer co-starred in tons of Tyler Perry plays and movies. The list includes “Diary of A Mad Black Woman” and “Madea Goes to Jail.”  From 2009 to 2011, she starred alongside her husband David Mann, who played her father, in the series “Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns.”

CeCe Winans

As the most award gospel songstress, CeCe Winans does not disappoint. Born in Detroit, Michigan, the vocalist began her career as one-half of the brother-sister duo BeBe & CeCe Winans. The pair gained mainstream attention in the late 1980s before CeCe launched a successful solo career. Her albums have become staples in Black households. Beyond her music, she’s a pastor and author, influencing generations through both word and song.

Jekalyn Carr

Jekalyn Carr is an award-winning gospel artist who began her ministry at 15 and quickly rose to national acclaim. She has earned 10 Stellar Awards, 4 GMA Dove Awards, and multiple Billboard No. 1 hits. Her breakout single “Greater Is Coming” launched her into national fame, followed by other hits like “You Will Win” and “Changing Your Story.” Beyond music, Carr is an entrepreneur with her own skincare brand. She was featured in Forbes and named to EBONY’s Power 100 at just 13. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. President and became the first gospel artist inducted into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame. Carr is also a speaker, radio host, and one of gospel’s most influential young voices.

Shirley Caesar

Shirley Caesar, often called the “First Lady of Gospel,” is a living legend with a career spanning over seven decades. With 11 Grammy Awards, more than 10 Stellar Awards, and so many beloved albums, Caesar has impacted generations. Her storytelling style in songs, like “No Charge” and “Hold My Mule,” blend deep biblical themes with personal conviction. Caesar is also a pastor, author and humanitarian. Her unwavering commitment to ministry through music has made her one of the most respected and beloved figures in gospel history.

Who Created Gospel Music?

Multiple outlets report Black people as the creator’s of gospel music. “The origins of gospel music lie in the transatlantic slave trade, as African musical traditions blended with new forms born out of the horrors of slavery. The rich lineage of gospel music began in earnest as a young man named Thomas Dorsey came to Chicago during the Great Migration,” WTTW, Chicago’s PBS television station reported. Dorsey has earned the posthumous nickname “the father of gospel music.” He co-founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in 1933, which nurtured Black women talents including Sally Martin and Magnolia Lewis Butts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most awarded female gospel singer? CeCe Winans is the most awarded female gospel singer, winning 17 Grammy Awards, 31 GMA Dove Awards, 19 Stellar Awards, 7 NAACP Image Awards, 4 Billboard Music Awards, along with many other awards and honors.

Who is considered the Queen of Gospel? New Orleans-born gospel artist Mahalia Jackson is the “Queen of Gospel,” due to her powerhouse voice, captivating stage presence and political influence.