List of best-selling gospel music artists
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
- The Staple Singers
- CeCe Winans
- Mahalia Jackson
- Kirk Franklin
- Donnie McClurkin
- Yolanda Adams
- Mary Mary
- Trin-i-tee 5:7
- Shirley Caesar
Artist | 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] | 3.7 million
| 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] | 3.05 million
| 17 million[13] |
Kirk Franklin | United States | 1990s–2020s[14] | 1993[15] | Contemporary Gospel, gospel[14] | 14.6 million
| 15 million[17] |
Donnie McClurkin | United States | 1990s–2020s[18] | 1996[19] | Contemporary Gospel, gospel[20] | 3.05 million
| 13 million[A] |
Yolanda Adams | United States | 1990s–2020s[25] | 1987[20] | Contemporary Gospel, gospel, inspirational, new-age[20] | 2.5 million
| 10 million[27][28] |
Mary Mary | United States | 1990s–2020s[29] | 2000[30] | Contemporary gospel, adult contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B[29] | 4.715 million
| 8 million[37][38] |
Fred Hammond | United States | 1980s–2000s[39] | 1991[40] | Contemporary gospel, gospel, CCM[39] | 4 million
| 8 million[42] |
BeBe & CeCe Winans | United States | 1980s–2020s[43] | 1984[44] | Adult Contemporary R&B, contemporary gospel, gospel[43] | 2 million
| 5 million[46] |
Smokie Norful | United States | 2000s–2020s[47] | 2002[48] | Contemporary gospel, gospel, inspirational[47] | 1 million
| 3 million[50] |
Trin-i-tee 5:7 | United States | 1990s–2020s[51] | 1998[52] | Contemporary gospel, gospel[51] | 0.5 million
| 2.5 million[54] |
Shirley Caesar | United States | 1950s–2020s[55] | 1975[56] | Contemporary gospel, traditional gospel music[55] | 0.05 million
| 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
Worldwide
Title | 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 | 1 million
| 3 million | [69] |
"When You Believe" | 1998 | Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston | 2.74 million
| — | |
"Follow God" | 2019 | Kanye West | 2.25 million
| — | |
"I'll Take You There" | 1972 | The Staple Singers | 0.7 million
| 2 million | [83] |
"Shackles (Praise You)" | 2000 | Mary Mary | 1.715 million
| — |
United Kingdom
List 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 | [89][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).[90]
Title | Released | Artist(s) | Certification | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2" | 2017 | Stormzy featuring MNEK | 2x Platinum | [91] |
"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 | [92] |
"Follow God" | 2019 | Kanye West | Silver | [80] |
"Hurricane" | 2021 | Silver | [93] |
United States
List 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.[94]
Title | Released | Artist | Claimed sales | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
"I'll Take You There" | 1972 | The Staple Singers | 1.5 million | [94] |
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" | 1909 | Fisk University Jubilee Quartet | 1 million | [95] |
"Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)" | 1935 | The Carter Family | [95] | |
"Ave Maria" | 1937 | Marian Anderson | [95] | |
"When the Saints Go Marching In" | 1938 | Louis Armstrong | [95] | |
"Strange Things Happening Every Day" | 1945 | Sister Rosetta Tharpe | [95] | |
"Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" | 1947 | Fairfield Four | [95] | |
"Even Me" | 1948 | Mahalia Jackson | [96] | |
"I'll Fly Away" | The Chuck Wagon Gang | [97] | ||
"Just Over the Hill" | 1950 | Mahalia Jackson | [98] | |
"Surely God Is Able" | The Famous Ward Singers | [99][100][101] | ||
"How I Got Over" | 1951 | Clara Ward | [102] | |
"Uncloudy Day" | 1956 | The Staple Singers | [103][104] | |
"Packing Up" | 1957 | The Famous Ward Singers | [105][106] |
List of gospel songs which have certified sales of 1 million units or higher. From 1958[107] 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).[108][109] 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 | [110][111] | |
"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" | 1973 | The Staple Singers | [112] |
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 | [113] |
"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 | [114] | |
"I Look to You" | 2009 | Whitney Houston | [115] | |
"The Best in Me" | 2010 | Marvin Sapp | [114] | |
"I Smile" | 2011 | Kirk Franklin | [16] | |
"Break Every Chain" | 2014 | Tasha Cobbs Leonard | [116] | |
"Every Praise" | 2015 | Hezekiah Walker | [117] | |
"Worth" | Anthony Brown & group therAPy | [118] | ||
"I'll Find You" | 2017 | Lecrae, Tori Kelly | [119] | |
"Your Spirit" | Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kierra Sheard | [116] | ||
"Coming In Hot" | 2018 | Lecrae, Andy Mineo | [119] | |
"You Know My Name" | Tasha Cobbs Leonard | [116] | ||
"Jireh" | 2022 | Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine | [120] |
Best-selling gospel albums
Worldwide
Title | Released | Artist | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
The Preacher's Wife | 1996 | Whitney Houston | 6 million[121] |
Canada
Title | Released | Artist | Certification | Known sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Preacher's Wife | 1997 | Whitney Houston | Platinum[122] | — |
Donda | 2021 | Kanye West | Platinum[123] | — |
United Kingdom
List 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).[90]
Title | Released | Artist | Certification | Known sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Donda | 2021 | Kanye West | Gold[124] | — |
Come Together: A Musical Experience in Love | 1973 | Jimmy and Carol Owens featuring Pat Boone | — | 75,000[125] |
The Preacher's Wife | 1997 | Whitney Houston | Silver[126] | — |
Gospel Favourites | 1999 | Elvis Presley | Silver[127] | — |
Love Never Fails | 2013 | Jahméne Douglas | Silver[128] | 61,826[129] |
Jesus Is King | 2020 | Kanye West | Silver[130] |
United States
List 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 | [131][132] |
Love Alive III | 1984 | Walter Hawkins | [133][134] |
List of gospel albums which have a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Title | Released | Artist | Certification | Known sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
How Great Thou Art | 1967 | Elvis Presley | 3× Platinum[135] | — |
God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation | 1997 | Kirk Franklin | 3× Platinum[16] | 3,000,000[136] |
The Preacher's Wife | 1996 | Whitney Houston | 3× Platinum[115] | 2,471,000[137] |
The Nu Nation Project | 1998 | Kirk Franklin | 2× Platinum[16] | 3,000,000[136] |
Amazing Grace | 1972 | Aretha Franklin | 2× Platinum[138] | — |
Pages of Life - Chapters I & II | 1998 | Fred Hammond | 2× Platinum[41] | — |
Thankful | 2000 | Mary Mary | 2× Platinum[36] | 1,239,000[58] |
Kirk Franklin & the Family | 1993 | Kirk Franklin & the Family | Platinum[16] | 2,000,000[139] |
Whatcha Lookin' 4 | 1996 | Platinum[16] | 2,000,000[136] | |
Mountain High...Valley Low | 1999 | Yolanda Adams | Platinum[26] | 1,374,000[58] |
Live in London and More... | 2000 | Donnie McClurkin | Platinum[21] | 1,300,000[140] |
Peace in the Valley | 1957 | Elvis Presley | Platinum[135] | — |
His Hand in Mine | 1960 | Platinum[135] | — | |
He Touched Me | 1972 | Platinum[135] | — | |
Different Lifestyles | 1991 | BeBe & CeCe Winans | Platinum[45] | — |
Alone in His Presence | 1995 | CeCe Winans | Platinum[12] | — |
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin | 2002 | Kirk Franklin | Platinum[16] | — |
Elvis: Ultimate Gospel | 2004 | Elvis Presley | Platinum[135] | — |
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs | 2005 | Donnie McClurkin | Platinum[21] | — |
Hero | 2005 | Kirk Franklin | Platinum[16] | — |
Thirsty | 2007 | Marvin Sapp | Platinum[114] | 712,000[141] |
Donda | 2021 | Kanye West | Platinum[81] | — |
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[142] | — |
WOW Gospel 1999 | 1999 | Platinum[142] | — |
WOW Gospel 2000 | 2000 | Platinum[142] | — |
WOW Gospel 2001 | 2001 | Platinum[142] | — |
WOW Gospel 2003 | 2003 | Platinum[142] | — |
WOW Gospel 2004 | 2004 | Platinum[142] | — |
WOW Gospel 2005 | 2005 | Platinum[142] | — |
List of gospel albums ranked in order of their highest single-week sales.
Title | Date | Artist | Best week sales |
---|---|---|---|
The Preacher's Wife | January 4, 1997 | Whitney Houston | 330,000[143] |
Donda | September 2, 2021 | Kanye West | 309,000[144] |
Jesus Is King | October 31, 2019 | 264,000[145] | |
God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation | June 14, 1997 | Kirk Franklin | 120,000[146] |
The Nu Nation Project | Octobter 17, 1998 | 105,000[143] | |
I Need an Angel | December 11, 2004 | Ruben Studdard | 96,000[143] |
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin | March 9, 2002 | Kirk Franklin | 91,000[143] |
Hello Fear | April 2, 2011 | 87,000[147] | |
The Prince of Egypt: Inspirational | January 9, 1999 | Various | 76,000[143] |
Here I Am | April 3, 2010 | Marvin Sapp | |
The Fight of My Life | January 5, 2008 | Kirk Franklin | 74,000[143] |
Believe | January 5, 2002 | Yolanda Adams | 67,000[143] |
Hero | October 22, 2005 | Kirk Franklin | 66,000[143] |
Mary Mary | July 28, 2005 | Mary Mary | 57,000[148] |
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs | April 15, 2005 | Donnie McClurkin | 53,132[149] |
Incredible | July 21, 2002 | Mary Mary | 43,000[150] |
Something Big | April 3, 2011 | 42,000[151] | |
Whatcha Lookin' 4 | May 25, 1996 | Kirk Franklin | 36,000[152] |
Losing My Religion | December 5, 2015 | 35,000[153] | |
Day by Day | September 9, 2005 | Yolanda Adams | 29,316[154] |
Somethin' 'Bout Love | June 18, 2004 | Fred Hammond | 26,257[155] |
Again | March 14, 2003 | Donnie McClurkin | 25,043[156] |
Help | March 30, 2014 | Erica Campbell | 23,000[157] |
Long, Live, Love | June 13, 2019 | Kirk Franklin | 20,000[158] |
Go Get It | May 17, 2012 | Mary Mary | 18,946[159] |
Heart to Yours | April 24, 2002 | Michelle Williams | 17,000[160] |
Best Days | August 20, 2012 | Tamela Mann | 16,670[161] |
Heart. Passion. Pursuit. | September, 2017 | Tasha Cobbs Leonard | 13,000[162] |
Jesus at the Center: Live | August 20, 2012 | Israel & New Breed | 12,333[161] |
This Is Me | July 15, 2006 | Kierra Sheard | 11,000[163] |
One Way | October 1, 2016 | Tamela Mann | 10,000[164] |
Notes
- ^ Sales figures obtained from certifying bodies alone
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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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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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This was surpassed by their third album, Love Alive III, which topped the million sales mark.
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