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List of best-selling gospel music artists

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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

[edit]
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]

17 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]

3 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

[edit]

Worldwide

[edit]
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
 		—

Australia

[edit]

The 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

[edit]

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 [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

[edit]

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.[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

[edit]

Worldwide

[edit]
Title Released Artist Sales
The Preacher's Wife 1996 Whitney Houston 6 million[125]

Canada

[edit]
Title Released Artist Certification Known sales
The Preacher's Wife 1997 Whitney Houston Platinum[126] —
Donda 2021 Kanye West Platinum[127] —

United Kingdom

[edit]

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).[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

[edit]

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 [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).

Title Released Artist Certification Known sales
How Great Thou Art 1967 Elvis Presley 3× Platinum[140] —
God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation 1997 Kirk Franklin 3× Platinum[16] 3,000,000[141]
The Preacher's Wife 1996 Whitney Houston 3× Platinum[118] 2,471,000[142]
The Nu Nation Project 1998 Kirk Franklin 2× Platinum[16] 3,000,000[141]
Amazing Grace 1972 Aretha Franklin 2× Platinum[143] —
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[144]
Whatcha Lookin' 4 1996 Platinum[16] 2,000,000[141]
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[145]
Peace in the Valley 1957 Elvis Presley Platinum[140] —
His Hand in Mine 1960 Platinum[140] —
He Touched Me 1972 Platinum[140] —
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[140] —
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs 2005 Donnie McClurkin Platinum[21] —
Hero 2005 Kirk Franklin Platinum[16] —
Thirsty 2007 Marvin Sapp Platinum[117] 712,000[146]
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[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.

Title Date Artist Best week sales
The Preacher's Wife January 4, 1997 Whitney Houston 330,000[148]
Donda September 2, 2021 Kanye West 309,000[149]
Jesus Is King October 31, 2019 264,000[150]
God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation June 14, 1997 Kirk Franklin 120,000[151]
The Nu Nation Project Octobter 17, 1998 105,000[148]
I Need an Angel December 11, 2004 Ruben Studdard 96,000[148]
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin March 9, 2002 Kirk Franklin 91,000[148]
Hello Fear April 2, 2011 87,000[152]
The Prince of Egypt: Inspirational January 9, 1999 Various 76,000[148]
Here I Am April 3, 2010 Marvin Sapp
The Fight of My Life January 5, 2008 Kirk Franklin 74,000[148]
Believe January 5, 2002 Yolanda Adams 67,000[148]
Hero October 22, 2005 Kirk Franklin 66,000[148]
Mary Mary July 28, 2005 Mary Mary 57,000[153]
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs April 15, 2005 Donnie McClurkin 53,132[154]
Incredible July 21, 2002 Mary Mary 43,000[155]
Something Big April 3, 2011 42,000[156]
Whatcha Lookin' 4 May 25, 1996 Kirk Franklin 36,000[157]
Losing My Religion December 5, 2015 35,000[158]
Day by Day September 9, 2005 Yolanda Adams 29,316[159]
Somethin' 'Bout Love June 18, 2004 Fred Hammond 26,257[160]
Again March 14, 2003 Donnie McClurkin 25,043[161]
Help March 30, 2014 Erica Campbell 23,000[162]
Long, Live, Love June 13, 2019 Kirk Franklin 20,000[163]
Go Get It May 17, 2012 Mary Mary 18,946[164]
Heart to Yours April 24, 2002 Michelle Williams 17,000[165]
Best Days August 20, 2012 Tamela Mann 16,670[166]
Hiding Place September 29, 2018 Tori Kelly 15,000[167]
Heart. Passion. Pursuit. September, 2017 Tasha Cobbs Leonard 13,000[168]
Jesus at the Center: Live August 20, 2012 Israel & New Breed 12,333[166]
This Is Me July 15, 2006 Kierra Sheard 11,000[169]
One Way October 1, 2016 Tamela Mann 10,000[170]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^
  2. ^ Combined physical sales of 500,000 and digital sales of 1 million.[77]
  1. ^ Sales figures obtained from certifying bodies alone

References

[edit]
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  108. ^ Jackson, Cheryl (February 9, 2013). "Black History Inspiration Spotlight: Clara Ward Singers". Praise DC. Retrieved January 25, 2024. 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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  136. ^ 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.
  137. ^ "James Cleveland". Encyclopedia.com. May 29, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2024. 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.
  138. ^ "Walter Hawkins". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved January 24, 2024. It wasn't until 1985 that Love Alive III was finished. It earned a Dove Award nomination and sold more than a million copies.
  139. ^ Harris, Craig. "Walter Hawkins Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2024. This was surpassed by their third album, Love Alive III, which topped the million sales mark.
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  144. ^ MacDonald, Patrick (December 14, 2001). "The gospel according to Kirk Franklin: lively and lucrative". Seattle Times. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
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  152. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (April 2, 2011). "Kirk Franklin Continues His No. 1 Streak With 'Hello Fear'". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
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  168. ^ Asker, Jim (November 15, 2018). "Tasha Cobbs Leonard Debuts at No. 1 On Top Gospel Albums Chart With New Live Release". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
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