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]
CeCe Winans United States 1980s–2020s[6] 1984[7] Contemporary Gospel, gospel,Adult Contemporary R&B,CCM[6]

17 million
 19 million[9]
Mahalia Jackson United States 1920s–1970s[10] 1958[11] Traditional gospel music, spirituals, blues[10] — 12 million[12][13]
Kirk Franklin United States 1990s–2020s[14] 1993[15] Contemporary Gospel, gospel[14]

10.5 million
 15 million[16]
Donnie McClurkin United States 1990s–2020s[17] 1996[18] Contemporary Gospel, gospel[19]

3 million
 13 million[A]
BeBe & CeCe Winans United States 1980s–2020s[23] 1984[24] Adult Contemporary R&B, contemporary gospel, gospel[23]

5 million
 7 million[25]
Yolanda Adams United States 1990s–2020s[26] 1987[19] Contemporary Gospel, gospel, inspirational, new-age[19]

2 million
 10 million[27][28]
Mary Mary United States 1990s–2020s[29] 2000[30] Contemporary gospel, adult contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B[29]

3.715 million
 8 million[36][37]
Trin-i-tee 5:7 United States 1990s–2020s[38] 1998[39] Contemporary gospel, gospel[38]

0.5 million
 2.5 million[40]
Shirley Caesar United States 1950s–2020s[41] 1975[42] Contemporary gospel, traditional gospel music[41]

0.05 million
 2.2 million[43]

Best-selling gospel songs[edit]

Worldwide[edit]

Title Released Artist Confirmed sales[a] Claimed sales Ref.
"Move On Up a Little Higher" 1947 Mahalia Jackson — 8 million [44][45]
"Oh Happy Day" 1968 The Edwin Hawkins Singers

Total available sales: 1 million
 		7 million [47][48]
"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" 1957 Laurie London with the Geoff Love Orchestra and Chorus

Total available sales: 1 million
 		3 million [51]
"I'll Take You There" 1972 The Staple Singers

Total available sales: 0.7 million
 		2 million [53]
"Follow God" 2019 Kanye West

Total available sales: 2.25 million
 		—
"Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary

Total available sales: 1.715 million
 		—

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 [63][51]

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).[64]

Title Released Artist(s) Certification Ref.
"Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2" 2017 Stormzy featuring MNEK 2x Platinum [65]
"Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary Platinum [35]
"I'll Take You There" 1972 The Staple Singers Silver [52]
"I Am Blessed" 1995 Eternal Silver [66]
"Follow God" 2019 Kanye West Silver [56]
"Hurricane" 2021 Silver [67]

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.[68]

Title Released Artist Claimed sales Ref.
"I'll Take You There" 1972 The Staple Singers 1.5 million [68]
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" 1909 Fisk University Jubilee Quartet 1 million [69]
"Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)" 1935 The Carter Family [69]
"Ave Maria" 1937 Marian Anderson [69]
"When the Saints Go Marching In" 1938 Louis Armstrong [69]
"Strange Things Happening Every Day" 1945 Sister Rosetta Tharpe [69]
"Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" 1947 Fairfield Four [69]
"Even Me" 1948 Mahalia Jackson [70]
"I'll Fly Away" The Chuck Wagon Gang [71]
"Just Over the Hill" 1950 Mahalia Jackson [72]
"Surely God Is Able" The Famous Ward Singers [73][74][75]
"How I Got Over" 1951 Clara Ward [76]
"Uncloudy Day" 1956 The Staple Singers [77][78]
"Packing Up" 1957 The Famous Ward Singers [79][80]

List of gospel songs which have certified sales of 1 million units or higher. From 1958[81] 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).[82][83] 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 [49][50]
"Oh Happy Day" 1969 The Edwin Hawkins Singers [46]
"Put Your Hand in the Hand" 1971 Ocean [84][85]
"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" 1973 The Staple Singers [86]

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 [87]
"Follow God" 2019 Kanye West [57]
"Hurricane" 2021 Kanye West, the Weeknd featuring Lil Baby [57]
"Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary Platinum [88]
"Never Would Have Made It" 2007 Marvin Sapp [89]
"I Look to You" 2009 Whitney Houston [90]
"The Best in Me" 2010 Marvin Sapp [89]
"I Smile" 2011 Kirk Franklin [91]
"Break Every Chain" 2014 Tasha Cobbs Leonard [92]
"Every Praise" 2015 Hezekiah Walker [93]
"Worth" Anthony Brown & group therAPy [94]
"I'll Find You" 2017 Lecrae, Tori Kelly [95]
"Your Spirit" Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kierra Sheard [92]
"Coming In Hot" 2018 Lecrae, Andy Mineo [95]
"You Know My Name" Tasha Cobbs Leonard [92]
"Jireh" 2022 Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine [96]

Best-selling gospel albums[edit]

Worldwide[edit]

Title Released Artist Sales
The Preacher's Wife 1996 Whitney Houston 6 million[97]

Canada[edit]

Title Released Artist Certification Known sales
The Preacher's Wife 1997 Whitney Houston Platinum[98] —
Donda 2021 Kanye West Platinum[99] —

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).[64]

Title Released Artist Certification Known sales
Donda 2021 Kanye West Gold[100] —
Come Together: A Musical Experience in Love 1973 Jimmy and Carol Owens featuring Pat Boone — 75,000[101]
The Preacher's Wife 1997 Whitney Houston Silver[102] —
Gospel Favourites 1999 Elvis Presley Silver[103] —
Love Never Fails 2013 Jahméne Douglas Silver[104] 61,826[105]
Jesus Is King 2020 Kanye West Silver[106]

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 [107][108]
Love Alive III 1984 Walter Hawkins [109][110]

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[111] —
God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation 1997 Kirk Franklin 3× Platinum[91] 3,000,000[112]
The Preacher's Wife 1996 Whitney Houston 3× Platinum[90] 2,471,000[113]
The Nu Nation Project 1998 Kirk Franklin 2× Platinum[91] 3,000,000[112]
Amazing Grace 1972 Aretha Franklin 2× Platinum[114] —
Pages of Life - Chapters I & II 1998 Fred Hammond 2× Platinum[115] —
Thankful 2000 Mary Mary 2× Platinum[88] 1,239,000[43]
Kirk Franklin & the Family 1993 Kirk Franklin & the Family Platinum[91] 2,000,000[116]
Whatcha Lookin' 4 1996 Platinum[91] 2,000,000[112]
Mountain High...Valley Low 1999 Yolanda Adams Platinum[117] 1,374,000[43]
Live in London and More... 2000 Donnie McClurkin Platinum[118] 1,300,000[119]
Peace in the Valley 1957 Elvis Presley Platinum[111] —
His Hand in Mine 1960 Platinum[111] —
He Touched Me 1972 Platinum[111] —
Different Lifestyles 1991 BeBe & CeCe Winans Platinum[120] —
Alone in His Presence 1995 CeCe Winans Platinum[121] —
The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin 2002 Kirk Franklin Platinum[91] —
Elvis: Ultimate Gospel 2004 Elvis Presley Platinum[111] —
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs 2005 Donnie McClurkin Platinum[118] —
Hero 2005 Kirk Franklin Platinum[91] —
Thirsty 2007 Marvin Sapp Platinum[89] 712,000[122]
Donda 2021 Kanye West Platinum[57] —

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[123] —
WOW Gospel 1999 1999 Platinum[123] —
WOW Gospel 2000 2000 Platinum[123] —
WOW Gospel 2001 2001 Platinum[123] —
WOW Gospel 2003 2003 Platinum[123] —
WOW Gospel 2004 2004 Platinum[123] —
WOW Gospel 2005 2005 Platinum[123] —

Notes[edit]

  1. ^
  1. ^ Sales figures obtained from certifying bodies alone

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "The Staple Singers Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
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  5. ^ Kot, Greg (21 January 2014). "I'll Take You There eBook by Greg Kot". Simon & Schuster. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4516-4787-7. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Deming, Mark. "CeCe Winans (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  7. ^ "CeCe Winans Chart History: Top Gospel Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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  9. ^ "Cece Winans Wins Three Grammy for Lifetime Total of 15". LA Sentinel. April 6, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Mahalia Jackson (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
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  15. ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History: Top Gospel Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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  18. ^ "Donnie McClurkin Chart History: Top Gospel Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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  30. ^ "Mary Mary Chart History: Top Gospel Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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  38. ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "BeBe & CeCe Winans (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  39. ^ "Trin-i-tee 5:7 Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  40. ^ Celestan, Karen (November 20, 2019). "Trin-i-tee 5:7". Gambit. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  41. ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Shirley Caesar (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  42. ^ "Shirley Caesar Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  43. ^ a b c "Ask Billboard: Madonna, Yoko Ono, Gospel". Billboard. September 18, 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  44. ^ Brock, Jerry (December 2015). "Hallelujah, Mahalia!". Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. 64parishes.org. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  45. ^ Koster, Rick. Louisiana Music: A Journey from R&B to Zydeco, Jazz to Country, Blues to Gospel, Cajun Music... (2002), Da Capo Press, page 271 - ISBN 0-306-81003-4
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  47. ^ West, Hollie I. (August 26, 1978). "Making Room for the Music of the Lord". Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  48. ^ Bill Carpenter. ""Oh Happy Day" – The Edwin Hawkins Singers (1968)" (PDF). Library of Congress. p. 2. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  49. ^ a b "GOLD DISC FOR LAURIE "Whole World" Rockets Above Million Sales Mark" (PDF). Record Mail. Vol. 1, no. 6. EMI Records. June 1958. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via worldradiohistory.com.
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  52. ^ a b "British single certifications – Staple Singers – I'll Take You There". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  53. ^ "Staple Singers Get Disc For 2 Million Record Sales". Jet. Vol. 43, no. 12. Johnson Publishing Company. 14 December 1972. p. 50. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Google Books.
  54. ^ "Danish single certifications – Kanye West – Follow God". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  55. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Kanye West – Follow God" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  56. ^ a b "British single certifications – Kanye West – Follow God". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
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  60. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Mary Mary – Shackles (Praise You)". Recorded Music NZ.
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  63. ^ "States trip for Laurie London" (PDF). Melody Maker. February 15, 1958. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  64. ^ a b "Award Levels — BPI". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  65. ^ "British single certifications – Stormzy – Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  66. ^ "British single certifications – Eternal – I Am Blessed". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  67. ^ "British single certifications – Kanye West – Hurricane". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  68. ^ a b Brinton, Robert (May 6, 1972). "Percy, proving he's funky..." (PDF). Disc. p. 10. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  69. ^ a b c d e f Greg Adams (February 19, 2017). "The first million-selling gospel single?". Music Weird. Blogspot. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  70. ^ Laurraine Goreau (1975). Just Mahalia, Baby: The Mahalia Jackson Story. Pelican Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-4556-0688-7. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Google Books.
  71. ^ Bill C. Malone (2016). ""I'll Fly Away"—The Chuck Wagon Gang (1948)" (PDF). Library of Congress. p. 2. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  72. ^ Laurraine Goreau (1975). Just Mahalia, Baby: The Mahalia Jackson Story. Pelican Publishing. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-4556-0688-7. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Google Books.
  73. ^ Hildebrand, Lee. "Clara Ward & The Famous Ward Singers". Malaco Records. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  74. ^ Don Cusic. ""How I Got Over"--Clara Ward and the Ward Singers (1950)" (PDF). Library of Congress. p. 2. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  75. ^ Morrison, John F. (August 14, 2012). "Willa Ward-Royster, 92, sang on first million-selling gospel album". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  76. ^ West, Hollie I. (September 2, 1980). "Singing Praises to The Minister of Song". Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  77. ^ Lee, Hiram (10 April 2013). "Remembering Cleotha Staples and the Staple Singers". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  78. ^ Snapes, Laura (13 May 2021). "Pervis Staples, Staple Singers co-founder, dies aged 85". The Guardian. Retrieved January 24, 2024. 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".
  79. ^ 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."
  80. ^ Bil Carpenter (2005). Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia. Backbeat Books. ISBN 9780879308414.
  81. ^ Rachlin, Harvey (27 February 2020). Song and System: The Making of American Pop Music. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 113. ISBN 9781538112137.
  82. ^ Grein, Paul (May 14, 1989). "New Golden Rule: 500,000 Sales Mark for All Singles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  83. ^ White, Adam (1990). The Billboard Book of Gold & Platinum Records. Billboard Books. p. viii. ISBN 978-0711921962.
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  97. ^ Green, Matt. "Whitney Houston". Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  98. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Whitney Houston – The Preacher's Wife - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  99. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Kanye West – Donda". Music Canada. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  100. ^ "British album certifications – Kanye West – Donda". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  101. ^ Terri Anderson, ed. (March 17, 1979). "Spreading the word about gospel music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  102. ^ "British album certifications – Whitney Houston – The Preacher's Wife - Ost". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
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  105. ^ 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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  107. ^ 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.
  108. ^ "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.
  109. ^ "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.
  110. ^ 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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  112. ^ a b c Cobb, Mark Hughes. "Gospel singer overcame obstacles". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  113. ^ Gary Trust (August 30, 2009). "Ask Billboard: Madonna vs. Whitney: Who's Sold More?". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
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  116. ^ MacDonald, Patrick (December 14, 2001). "The gospel according to Kirk Franklin: lively and lucrative". Seattle Times. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
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  122. ^ "Marvin Sapp Makes Gospel History On Billboard 200". Billboard. March 24, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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