gospel music artists
187 published gospel music artists, led by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Katy Perry. The list below shows the 120 most famous.
At a glance
187 published gospel music artists; 1,964 studio albums have verified cover art.
- Published artists6 tier 1 · 49 tier 2 · 132 tier 3
- 187
- Release groups
- 9,109
- Studio albums
- 2,330
- Albums with cover artverified Cover Art Archive
- 1,964
- Timeline events
- 3,112
- Monthly listenerssum across artists
- 392.7M
- Claimed salessum of stored claims; implausible values excluded
- 1,336M
- Average career spanfirst to last dated release
- 46.7 years
- Full biographies
- 143
- Biography words
- 500,680
When they started
Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1960s (24 artists).
| Decade | Artists |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 2 |
| 1930s | 4 |
| 1940s | 8 |
| 1950s | 22 |
| 1960s | 24 |
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 14 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 9 |
| 2010s | 12 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Where they come from
Countries with the most gospel music artists. United States leads with 155.
Often paired with
Genres that share artists with gospel music. The most shared is soul, with 36 artists in both.
Covers from gospel music
1,964 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.
Gold Collection Vol. 1
Elvis Presley · 1993
Gold Collection Vol. 2
Elvis Presley · 1993
Gold Collection Vol. 3
Elvis Presley · 1993
Moody Blue
Elvis Presley · 1977
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee
Elvis Presley · 1976
Promised Land
Elvis Presley · 1975
Today
Elvis Presley · 1975
Good Times
Elvis Presley · 1974
Elvis
Elvis Presley · 1973
Raised on Rock / For Ol’ Times Sake
Elvis Presley · 1973
Elvis Now
Elvis Presley · 1972
He Touched Me
Elvis Presley · 1972
Leaders
Bob Dylan has the most release groups (400); Blind Willie Johnson the longest career (96 years); Aretha Franklin the most awards (88).
Most prolific
| Artist | release groups |
|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 400 |
| Kanye West | 306 |
| Elvis Presley | 300 |
| Johnny Cash | 300 |
| Dolly Parton | 300 |
Longest careers
first to last dated release
| Artist | years |
|---|---|
| Blind Willie Johnson | 96 |
| Sister Rosetta Tharpe | 87 |
| Duke Ellington | 84 |
| Golden Gate Quartet | 82 |
| Charles Mingus | 80 |
Most decorated
| Artist | awards |
|---|---|
| Aretha Franklin | 88 |
| Dolly Parton | 56 |
| Bob Dylan | 50 |
| Loretta Lynn | 40 |
| Randy Travis | 36 |
Most famous gospel music artists
Elvis Presley
United States · Person · born 1935
rock music, pop music, rock and roll, rockabilly, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, pop rock, country rock
23.7M listeners · 216 wikis
Bob Dylan
United States · Person · born 1941
rock music, folk rock, country music, gospel music, blues, country rock, jazz, folk-pop, American folk music, Christian rock, Americana
14.7M listeners · 184 wikis
Katy Perry
United States · Person · born 1984
rock music, pop music, gospel music, pop rock, dance music, synth-pop, electropop
88.8M listeners · 135 wikis
Whitney Houston
United States · Person · born 1963
pop music, soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues, urban contemporary
29.1M listeners · 137 wikis
Johnny Cash
United States · Person · born 1932
rock and roll, traditional folk music, rockabilly, country music, gospel music, blues, outlaw country
12.2M listeners · 118 wikis
Aretha Franklin
United States · Person · born 1942
pop music, soul, funk, gospel music, rhythm and blues, pop rock, jazz
10.7M listeners · 116 wikis
Dolly Parton
United States · Person · born 1946
pop music, country music, gospel music, folk music, country pop, ballad, bluegrass music
25.3M listeners · 122 wikis
Kanye West
United States · Person · born 1977
pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, gospel music, hip-hop, electro, progressive rap, art pop, pop rap, hip-hop soul, chipmunk soul
7.5M listeners · 110 wikis
Ray Charles
United States · Person · born 1930
soul, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
8.5M listeners · 106 wikis
Nina Simone
United States · Person · born 1933
soul, gospel music, blues, jazz
9.5M listeners · 85 wikis
Etta James
United States · Person · born 1938
rock and roll, soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
8.3M listeners · 65 wikis
Otis Redding
United States · Person · born 1941
soul, gospel music
9.3M listeners · 57 wikis
More gospel music artists
Showing 1–108 of 108 artists
CeeLo Green
United States · Person · born 1975
pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, funk, gospel music, Southern hip-hop, dirty south
16.5M listeners · 58 wikis · Tier 1
Sam Cooke
United States · Person · born 1931
soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues
6.3M listeners · 58 wikis · Tier 2
Gloria Gaynor
United States · Person · born 1949
soul, disco, gospel music, rhythm and blues, dance-pop
10.3M listeners · 61 wikis · Tier 2
Jeff Buckley
United States · Person · born 1966
folk rock, soul, gospel music, blues, alternative rock
12.6M listeners · 52 wikis · Tier 2
Brandy
United States · Person · born 1979
pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, gospel music, hip-hop
10.8M listeners · 55 wikis · Tier 2
Lizzo
United States · Person · born 1988
contemporary R&B, soul, gospel music, hip-hop
10.1M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 3
Alan Jackson
United States · Person · born 1958
country music, gospel music, neotraditional country, bluegrass music
9.5M listeners · 31 wikis · Tier 2
Ray Dalton
United States · Person · born 1991
pop music, contemporary R&B, gospel music, hip-hop
24.6M listeners · 16 wikis · Tier 1
Nicole
Germany · Person · born 1964
rock music, pop music, gospel music, jazz, schlager music
6.2M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 3
Chance the Rapper
United States · Person · born 1993
contemporary R&B, gospel music, hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, alternative R&B, conscious hip-hop
8.2M listeners · 35 wikis · Tier 3
Randy Travis
United States · Person · born 1959
country music, gospel music, neotraditional country
7.9M listeners · 29 wikis · Tier 3
Héctor el Father
United States · Person · born 1978
gospel music, dancehall, reggaeton, Latin hip-hop, Latin Christian music
15.8M listeners · 8 wikis · Tier 1
James Brown
United States · Person · born 1933
soul, funk, gospel music, blues, doo-wop
100 wikis · Tier 2
Maverick City Music
United States · Group · 2018–present
gospel music, contemporary Christian music, contemporary worship music
6.2M listeners · 7 wikis · Tier 3
Duke Ellington
United States · Person · born 1899
gospel music, jazz, swing, vocal music
88 wikis · Tier 2
Little Richard
United States · Person · born 1932
rock music, rock and roll, soul, funk, gospel music, rhythm and blues
67 wikis · Tier 2
Jerry Lee Lewis
United States · Person · born 1935
rock music, rockabilly, country music, gospel music, blues, honky tonk
66 wikis · Tier 2
Queen Latifah
United States · Person · born 1970
contemporary R&B, soul, gospel music, jazz, hip-hop, progressive jazz
67 wikis · Tier 2
Reba McEntire
United States · Person · born 1955
country music, gospel music, folk music
64 wikis · Tier 2
Mahalia Jackson
United States · Person · born 1911
gospel music, spirituals
55 wikis · Tier 2
Angelique Kidjo
Benin · Person · born 1960
gospel music, jazz, music of Latin America, world music, zouk
64 wikis · Tier 2
Emmylou Harris
United States · Person · born 1947
country music, gospel music, folk music, Americana, world music, bluegrass music, alternative country
44 wikis · Tier 3
Loretta Lynn
United States · Person · born 1932
country music, gospel music, folk music, honky tonk
50 wikis · Tier 2
Charles Mingus
United States · Person · born 1922
gospel music, jazz, avant-garde jazz, post-bop, bebop, hard bop, free jazz, orchestral jazz
49 wikis · Tier 2
Vanessa Williams
United States · Person · born 1963
pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, gospel music, dance music, jazz, rapping
57 wikis · Tier 3
Glen Campbell
United States · Person · born 1936
rock music, pop music, folk rock, country music, gospel music, folk music
45 wikis · Tier 2
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
United States · Person · born 1915
rock and roll, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
34 wikis · Tier 2
Billy Preston
United States · Person · born 1946
rock music, rock and roll, soul, funk, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues
47 wikis · Tier 2
Kristin Chenoweth
United States · Person · born 1968
pop music, gospel music, jazz, folk music, opera, musical play
47 wikis · Tier 3
Pat Boone
United States · Person · born 1934
pop music, rock and roll, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, estrada
42 wikis · Tier 3
Solomon Burke
United States · Person · born 1940
soul, country music, gospel music
41 wikis · Tier 2
David Foster
Canada · Person · born 1949
contemporary R&B, gospel music, classical music
41 wikis · Tier 3
MC Hammer
United States · Person · born 1962
pop music, gospel music, dance music, hip-hop, pop rap
40 wikis · Tier 3
The Staple Singers
United States · Group · 1948–1994
soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues
20 wikis · Tier 2
Michelle Williams
United States · Person · born 1979
pop music, contemporary R&B, gospel music, rhythm and blues, dance music
36 wikis · Tier 3
Doc Watson
United States · Person · born 1923
country music, gospel music, blues, folk music, bluegrass music
26 wikis · Tier 2
Donny Hathaway
United States · Person · born 1945
soul, gospel music, blues, jazz
26 wikis · Tier 2
Cissy Houston
United States · Person · born 1933
pop music, soul, disco, gospel music, rhythm and blues
34 wikis · Tier 2
The Pointer Sisters
United States · Group · 1969–present
rock music, pop music, soul, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, jazz, soft rock, new wave, post-disco
32 wikis · Tier 2
Eddy Arnold
United States · Person · born 1918
pop music, country music, gospel music
22 wikis · Tier 2
Wanda Jackson
United States · Person · born 1937
rockabilly, country music, gospel music, folk music
31 wikis · Tier 3
Leon Russell
United States · Person · born 1942
rock music, folk rock, country music, gospel music, blues
31 wikis · Tier 2
Tennessee Ernie Ford
United States · Person · born 1919
pop music, rockabilly, country music, gospel music
29 wikis · Tier 3
The Blind Boys of Alabama
United States · Group · 1939–present
gospel music
19 wikis · Tier 3
Charlie Daniels
United States · Person · born 1936
rock music, country music, gospel music, blues, bluegrass music, Southern rock
28 wikis · Tier 3
Yolanda Adams
United States · Person · born 1961
gospel music
28 wikis · Tier 3
Della Reese
United States · Person · born 1931
gospel music, rhythm and blues, jazz, traditional pop
27 wikis · Tier 2
Crystal Gayle
United States · Person · born 1951
country music, gospel music, jazz, folk music, country pop, traditional pop, crossover, country folk
27 wikis · Tier 3
Blind Willie Johnson
United States · Person · born 1897
gospel music, blues, acoustic Texas blues
27 wikis · Tier 2
Maceo Parker
United States · Person · born 1943
gospel music, jazz
25 wikis · Tier 3
George Beverly Shea
United States · Person · born 1909
gospel music
14 wikis · Tier 2
Shirley Caesar
United States · Person · born 1938
gospel music
14 wikis · Tier 3
Crystal Bowersox
United States · Person · born 1985
blues rock, soul, country music, gospel music, folk music, indie folk, acoustic music
22 wikis · Tier 3
2Baba
Nigeria · Person · born 1976
contemporary R&B, gospel music, hip-hop, reggae, Afrobeats, African popular music
22 wikis · Tier 3
Andraé Crouch
United States · Person · born 1942
gospel music, rhythm and blues
22 wikis · Tier 3
Ai
Japan · Person · born 1981
pop music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, J-pop
21 wikis · Tier 3
Killer Mike
United States · Person · born 1975
gospel music, Southern hip-hop, dirty south, alternative hip-hop, political hip-hop, conscious hip-hop, Atlanta hip-hop
21 wikis · Tier 3
Melba Moore
United States · Person · born 1945
pop music, soul, disco, gospel music, rhythm and blues
21 wikis · Tier 3
Connie Smith
United States · Person · born 1941
country music, gospel music, folk music
20 wikis · Tier 3
Reverend Gary Davis
United States · Person · born 1896
gospel music, blues, Piedmont blues
20 wikis · Tier 2
Kirk Franklin
United States · Person · born 1970
gospel music
20 wikis · Tier 3
Mercy Chinwo-Blessed
Nigeria · Person · born 1990
gospel music, contemporary worship music, contemporary music, African gospel
19 wikis · Tier 3
Lonnie Mack
United States · Person · born 1941
blues rock, rockabilly, country music, gospel music, blues, blue-eyed soul, bluegrass music
18 wikis · Tier 3
Charlie Rich
United States · Person · born 1932
pop music, rockabilly, country music, gospel music, blues, jazz, country pop, blue-eyed soul, Northern soul, Nashville sound
18 wikis · Tier 3
Ada Ehi
Nigeria · Person · born 1987
pop music, gospel music, Afrobeats, contemporary Christian music
18 wikis · Tier 3
Edwin Hawkins
United States · Person · born 1943
gospel music, rhythm and blues, contemporary Christian music
18 wikis · Tier 3
Sinach
Nigeria · Person · born 1972
gospel music
18 wikis · Tier 3
Johnnie Taylor
United States · Person · born 1934
soul, gospel music
17 wikis · Tier 2
Deniece Williams
United States · Person · born 1950
pop music, soul, disco, gospel music, rhythm and blues, dance music
17 wikis · Tier 2
Lucky Peterson
United States · Person · born 1964
rock and roll, soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz
17 wikis · Tier 2
The Clark Sisters
United States · Group · 1966–present
gospel music
7 wikis · Tier 3
Red Foley
United States · Person · born 1910
rockabilly, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, boogie
16 wikis · Tier 3
Nelson Ned
Brazil · Person · born 1947
gospel music, música popular brasileira, sertanejo, brega, contemporary Christian music
15 wikis · Tier 3
Toyin Sokefun-Bello
Nigeria · Person · born 1978
gospel music
15 wikis · Tier 3
Jocelyn Brown
United States · Person · born 1950
gospel music, house music
15 wikis · Tier 3
Les Humphries Singers
Germany · Group · 1969–present
pop music, country music, gospel music
15 wikis · Tier 3
Chidinma Ekile
Nigeria · Person · born 1991
gospel music
15 wikis · Tier 3
Erma Franklin
United States · Person · born 1938
gospel music, rhythm and blues
14 wikis · Tier 2
Mandisa
United States · Person · born 1976
gospel music, rhythm and blues, Christian music
14 wikis · Tier 3
Diana Hamilton
Ghana · Person · born 1978
gospel music
14 wikis · Tier 3
Andrew Woolfolk
United States · Person · born 1950
pop music, soul, disco, gospel music, rhythm and blues, electronic dance music
5 wikis · Tier 2
Rudolph Isley
United States · Person · born 1939
soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues, doo-wop
4 wikis · Tier 2
Calvin Simon
United States · Person · born 1942
gospel music
4 wikis · Tier 2
Stella Parton
United States · Person · born 1949
country music, gospel music, folk music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Lara George
Nigeria · Person · born 1978
gospel music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Kierra Sheard
United States · Person · born 1987
gospel music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Ohemaa Mercy
Ghana · Person · born 1977
gospel music
13 wikis · Tier 3
Denise LaSalle
United States · Person · born 1934
gospel music, blues
12 wikis · Tier 2
Nikki Laoye
Nigeria · Person · born 1980
pop music, soul, gospel music, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, alternative rock, urban contemporary gospel
12 wikis · Tier 3
Ruthie Foster
United States · Person · born 1964
soul, gospel music, blues
12 wikis · Tier 3
Carole Fredericks
United States · Person · born 1952
gospel music, variety
12 wikis · Tier 3
Carman
United States · Person · born 1956
gospel music, contemporary Christian music
11 wikis · Tier 3
Flavour
Nigeria · Person · born 1983
gospel music, highlife
11 wikis · Tier 3
Tasha Cobbs
United States · Person · born 1981
gospel music
11 wikis · Tier 3
Golden Gate Quartet
United States · Group · 1931–present
gospel music
11 wikis · Tier 3
Grandpa Jones
United States · Person · born 1913
country music, gospel music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Doris Akers
United States · Person · born 1923
gospel music, black gospel music
10 wikis · Tier 3
James Cleveland
United States · Person · born 1931
gospel music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Frank Edwards
Nigeria · Person · born 1989
gospel music, Christian hip-hop, contemporary Christian music, urban contemporary gospel, contemporary worship music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Marion Williams
United States · Person · born 1927
gospel music, rhythm and blues, spirituals
10 wikis · Tier 3
Carolyn Franklin
United States · Person · born 1944
soul, gospel music
9 wikis · Tier 2
Warner Mack
United States · Person · born 1938
country music, gospel music
9 wikis · Tier 3
Dobby Dobson
Jamaica · Person · born 1942
gospel music, reggae, doo-wop, rocksteady
9 wikis · Tier 3
The Soul Stirrers
United States · Group · 1926–present
gospel music
9 wikis · Tier 3
El DeBarge
United States · Person · born 1961
pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, gospel music, jazz, hip-hop
9 wikis · Tier 3
Helen Yawson
Ghana · Person · born 1967
gospel music
9 wikis · Tier 3
Kelly Joe Phelps
United States · Person · born 1959
gospel music, blues, folk music
8 wikis · Tier 2
Wande
United States · Person · born 1995
gospel music, trap music, Christian hip-hop
8 wikis · Tier 3