The following list of list of best-selling gospel music artists includes music acts from the 20th century to the present who have recorded gospel music. This information cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global music sales.
Best-selling gospel music artists
editArtist | Country | Period active | Release-year of first charted record | Genre | Total certified units | Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Staple Singers | United States | 1940s–1990s[1] | 1967[2] | Gospel, soul, country soul, R&B[1] | 30 million[5] | |
Mahalia Jackson | United States | 1920s–1970s[6] | 1958[7] | Traditional gospel music, spirituals, blues[6] | — | 22 million[8][9] |
CeCe Winans | United States | 1980s–2020s[10] | 1984[11] | Contemporary Gospel, gospel,Adult Contemporary R&B,CCM[10] | 19 million[13] | |
Kirk Franklin | United States | 1990s–2020s[14] | 1993[15] | Contemporary Gospel, gospel[14] | 15 million[17] | |
Donnie McClurkin | United States | 1990s–2020s[18] | 1996[19] | Contemporary Gospel, gospel[20] | 13 million[A] | |
Yolanda Adams | United States | 1990s–2020s[25] | 1987[20] | Contemporary Gospel, gospel, inspirational, new-age[20] | 10 million[27][28] | |
Mary Mary | United States | 1990s–2020s[29] | 2000[30] | Contemporary gospel, adult contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B[29] | 8 million[37][38] | |
Fred Hammond | United States | 1980s–2000s[39] | 1991[40] | Contemporary gospel, gospel, CCM[39] | 8 million[42] | |
BeBe & CeCe Winans | United States | 1980s–2020s[43] | 1984[44] | Adult Contemporary R&B, contemporary gospel, gospel[43] | 5 million[46] | |
Smokie Norful | United States | 2000s–2020s[47] | 2002[48] | Contemporary gospel, gospel, inspirational[47] | 3 million[50] | |
Trin-i-tee 5:7 | United States | 1990s–2020s[51] | 1998[52] | Contemporary gospel, gospel[51] | 2.5 million[54] | |
Shirley Caesar | United States | 1950s–2020s[55] | 1975[56] | Contemporary gospel, traditional gospel music[55] | 2.2 million[58] | |
Out of Eden | United States | 1990s - 2000s[59] | 1994[60] | Contemporary gospel, CCM[55] | — | 1 million[61] |
Best-selling gospel songs
editWorldwide
editTitle | Released | Artist | Total certified units[a] | Claimed sales | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Move On Up a Little Higher" | 1947 | Mahalia Jackson | — | 8 million | [62][63] |
"Oh Happy Day" | 1968 | The Edwin Hawkins Singers |
1 million
|
7 million | [65][66] |
"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" | 1957 | Laurie London with the Geoff Love Orchestra and Chorus | 3 million | [69] | |
"When You Believe" | 1998 | Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston | — | ||
"Follow God" | 2019 | Kanye West | — | ||
"I'll Take You There" | 1972 | The Staple Singers | 2 million | [83] | |
"Shackles (Praise You)" | 2000 | Mary Mary | — |
Australia
editThe songs listed below have crossed the current sales thresholds — 35,000 (Gold) and 70,000 (Platinum) — to be certified by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[89]
Title | Released | Artist(s) | Certification | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Shackles (Praise You)" | 2000 | Mary Mary | Platinum | [90] |
"When You Believe" | 1998 | Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston | Gold | [91] |
United Kingdom
editList of best-selling gospel songs which are uncertified in the United Kingdom.
Title | Released | Artist | Known sales | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" | 1957 | Laurie London with the Geoff Love Orchestra and Chorus | 300,000 | [92][69] |
The songs listed below have crossed the sales thresholds — 200,000 (Silver), 400,000 (Gold), 600,000 (Platinum) — to be certified by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[93]
Title | Released | Artist(s) | Certification | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2" | 2017 | Stormzy featuring MNEK | 2x Platinum | [94] |
"When You Believe" | 1998 | Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston | Platinum | [76] |
"Shackles (Praise You)" | 2000 | Mary Mary | Platinum | [35] |
"I'll Take You There" | 1972 | The Staple Singers | Silver | [82] |
"I Am Blessed" | 1995 | Eternal | Silver | [95] |
"Follow God" | 2019 | Kanye West | Silver | [80] |
"Hurricane" | 2021 | Silver | [96] |
United States
editList of gospel songs which have reported sales of 1 million units or higher but are uncertified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Though "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers was certified Gold on January 31, 2019 for digital sales of 500,000 units,[4] its physical sales of 1.5 million units, reported on May 6, 1972 are uncertified by the RIAA.[97]
Title | Released | Artist | Claimed sales | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"I'll Take You There" | 1972 | The Staple Singers | 1.5 million | [97] |
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" | 1909 | Fisk University Jubilee Quartet | 1 million | [98] |
"Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)" | 1935 | The Carter Family | [98] | |
"Ave Maria" | 1937 | Marian Anderson | [98] | |
"When the Saints Go Marching In" | 1938 | Louis Armstrong | [98] | |
"Strange Things Happening Every Day" | 1945 | Sister Rosetta Tharpe | [98] | |
"Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" | 1947 | Fairfield Four | [98] | |
"Even Me" | 1948 | Mahalia Jackson | [99] | |
"I'll Fly Away" | The Chuck Wagon Gang | [100] | ||
"Just Over the Hill" | 1950 | Mahalia Jackson | [101] | |
"Surely God Is Able" | The Famous Ward Singers | [102][103][104] | ||
"How I Got Over" | 1951 | Clara Ward | [105] | |
"Uncloudy Day" | 1956 | The Staple Singers | [106][107] | |
"Packing Up" | 1957 | The Famous Ward Singers | [108][109] |
List of gospel songs which have certified sales of 1 million units or higher. From 1958[110] to 1988, the sales thresholds for a certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) were 1 million units (Gold) and 2 million units (Platinum).[111][112] The songs listed below were certified prior to 1989.
Title | Released | Artist(s) | Certification | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" | 1957 | Laurie London with the Geoff Love Orchestra and Chorus | Gold | [67][68] |
"Oh Happy Day" | 1969 | The Edwin Hawkins Singers | [64] | |
"Put Your Hand in the Hand" | 1971 | Ocean | [113][114] | |
"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" | 1973 | The Staple Singers | [115] |
The songs listed below have crossed the current 1 million unit threshold to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Title | Released | Artist(s) | Certification | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Take Me to the King" | 2012 | Tamela Mann | 2x Platinum | [116] |
"Follow God" | 2019 | Kanye West | [81] | |
"Hurricane" | 2021 | Kanye West, the Weeknd featuring Lil Baby | [81] | |
"When You Believe" | 1998 | Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston | Platinum | [77] |
"Shackles (Praise You)" | 2000 | Mary Mary | [36] | |
"Never Would Have Made It" | 2007 | Marvin Sapp | [117] | |
"I Look to You" | 2009 | Whitney Houston | [118] | |
"The Best in Me" | 2010 | Marvin Sapp | [117] | |
"I Smile" | 2011 | Kirk Franklin | [16] | |
"Break Every Chain" | 2014 | Tasha Cobbs Leonard | [119] | |
"Every Praise" | 2015 | Hezekiah Walker | [120] | |
"Worth" | Anthony Brown & group therAPy | [121] | ||
"I'll Find You" | 2017 | Lecrae, Tori Kelly | [122] | |
"Your Spirit" | Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kierra Sheard | [119] | ||
"Won't He Do It" | Koryn Hawthorne | [123] | ||
"Coming In Hot" | 2018 | Lecrae, Andy Mineo | [122] | |
"You Know My Name" | Tasha Cobbs Leonard | [119] | ||
"Jireh" | 2022 | Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine | [124] |
Best-selling gospel albums
editWorldwide
editTitle | Released | Artist | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
The Preacher's Wife | 1996 | Whitney Houston | 6 million[125] |
Canada
editTitle | Released | Artist | Certification | Known sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Preacher's Wife | 1997 | Whitney Houston | Platinum[126] | — |
Donda | 2021 | Kanye West | Platinum[127] | — |
United Kingdom
editList of gospel albums which have crossed the sales thresholds — 60,000 (Silver), 100,000 (Gold), 300,000 (Platinum) — for certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[93]
Title | Released | Artist | Certification | Known sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Donda | 2021 | Kanye West | Gold[128] | — |
Come Together: A Musical Experience in Love | 1973 | Jimmy and Carol Owens featuring Pat Boone | — | 75,000[129] |
The Preacher's Wife | 1997 | Whitney Houston | Silver[130] | — |
Gospel Favourites | 1999 | Elvis Presley | Silver[131] | — |
Thankful | 2000 | Mary Mary | Silver[132] | — |
Love Never Fails | 2013 | Jahméne Douglas | Silver[133] | 61,826[134] |
Jesus Is King | 2020 | Kanye West | Silver[135] | — |
United States
editList of gospel albums which have reported sales of 1 million units or higher but are uncertified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Title | Released | Artist | Known sales | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Peace Be Still | 1963 | James Cleveland | 1 million | [136][137] |
Love Alive III | 1984 | Walter Hawkins | [138][139] |
List of gospel albums which have a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
List of gospel compilation albums featuring various artists, which have a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Title | Released | Certification | Known sales |
---|---|---|---|
WOW Gospel 1998 | 1998 | Platinum[147] | — |
WOW Gospel 1999 | 1999 | Platinum[147] | — |
WOW Gospel 2000 | 2000 | Platinum[147] | — |
WOW Gospel 2001 | 2001 | Platinum[147] | — |
WOW Gospel 2003 | 2003 | Platinum[147] | — |
WOW Gospel 2004 | 2004 | Platinum[147] | — |
WOW Gospel 2005 | 2005 | Platinum[147] | — |
List of gospel albums ranked in order of their highest single-week sales.
Notes
edit- ^ Sales figures obtained from certifying bodies alone
References
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Pervis became friends with Bob Dylan, who called their 1959 song Uncloudy Day, believed to be the first million-selling gospel single, "the most mysterious thing I'd ever heard".
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In the black church world, they were renowned for their million-sellers, such as "Packing Up, Getting Ready to Go" and "Surely, God Is Able."
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- ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
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- ^ Green, Matt. "Whitney Houston". Retrieved January 3, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Whitney Houston – The Preacher's Wife - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Kanye West – Donda". Music Canada. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ "British album certifications – Kanye West – Donda". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Terri Anderson, ed. (March 17, 1979). "Spreading the word about gospel music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – Whitney Houston – The Preacher's Wife - Ost". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – Elvis Presley – Gospel Favourites". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – Mary Mary – Thankful". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – Jahméne Douglas – Love Never Fails". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ Jones, Alan (11 November 2013). "Official Charts Analysis: Eminem LP sells 157k in week one". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
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- ^ Jackson, David (April 16, 1979). "Black Music: James Cleveland Sings the Horns off the Devil". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
Cleveland has more than 50 albums in the Savoy catalogue, including Peace Be Still, recorded live with the legendary Angelic Choir more than 15 years ago. It has sold more than a million copies to an almost exclusively black gospel audience, and it is still one of Savoy's biggest hits.
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The artist passed another milestone with Savoy's 1963 release Peace Be Still.A recording pairing Cleveland with the Angelic Choir of Nutley, New Jersey, the album, which held a spot on the gospel charts for more than fifteen years, has sold more than one million copies, an almost unheard of achievement for a gospel recording.
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It wasn't until 1985 that Love Alive III was finished. It earned a Dove Award nomination and sold more than a million copies.
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This was surpassed by their third album, Love Alive III, which topped the million sales mark.
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