Jekalyn Almonique Carr (born April 22, 1997) is an American gospel singer-songwriter. She has received six Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Gospel Performance/Song for “One Hallelujah” with Israel Houghton, Erica Campbell, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Jonathan McReynolds in 2025.
Early life Jekalyn Almonique Carr was born on April 22, 1997, to Jennifer Denise Carr and Allen Lindsey Carr in Arkansas. Jekalyn has two siblings, Allen Lindsey Carr Jr. and Allundria Carr.
At 5 years old, Carr began serving in her church's choir, and members of her family noted that she had a decent ear for music. Carr is a self-taught vocalist and became a main chorister in her neighborhood church. At age 11, she was called to serve in ministry, both as a speaker and singer.
Music career
At the age of 15, her professional focus shifted to music when her single, “Greater Is Coming,” debuted on Billboard’s Gospel Music Top Ten. Carr received her first Stellar Award at the age of 16. In 2021, Carr became the first gospel artist to be inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2022, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden.
On September 6 2024, Carr’s is set to release “Jekalyn Carr Presents... The Inspiration Project”. It is an album with songs featuring other recording artists including Emoni Wilkins, Jericho Worship and Timothy Rogers.
Discography Albums Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions US USGospel USInd.Promise Released: January 1st, 2010 Label: Independent Formats: CD, digital download — — — Greater Is Coming Released: May 21st, 2013 Label: Lunjeal Music Group Formats: CD, digital download 183 3 31 It's Gonna Happen Released: October 7th, 2014 Label: Lunjeal Music Group Formats: CD, digital download — 9 — The Life Project Released: August 5th, 2016 Label: Lunjeal Music Group Formats: CD, digital download — 1 17 One Nation Under God Released: February 23rd, 2018 Label: Lunjeal Music Group Formats: CD, digital download — 1 10 Changing Your Story Released: October 23rd, 2020 Label: Lunjeal Music Group Formats: CD, digital download — 8 — JekalynReleased: October 20th, 2023 Label: WayNorth Music Formats: CD, digital download—13—Jekalyn X the LegendsReleased: November 7, 2025 Label: WayNorth Music Formats: CD, digital download — 13 —
Singles and other charting songs As lead artist + List of singles, as a lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album USAdultR&B USGospel USGospelAir USGospelDigital "Greater Is Coming" 2012 — 7 7 6Greater Is Coming "They Said, But God Said" 2013 — 18 16 — "It's Gonna Happen" 2014 — 15 13 23It's Gonna Happen "Something Big" 2015 — — 19 — "You're Bigger" 2016 — 2 1 1 The Life Project "You Spoke Over Me" 2017 — — 29 — "You Are Our Joy" — 22 28 — "You Will Win" — 5 1 1One Nation Under God "It's Yours" 2018 — 3 1 — "Stay With Me" (Featuring Ashley Mackey) — — — 3 "I Am A Winner" — — — 24 "I See Miracles" 2019 — 10 4 4 "Changing Your Story" 2020 — 6 1 3Changing Your Story "Power Of Love" 30 — —— "Jehovah Jireh" 2021 — 7 1 — "New Day" 2022 — 23 — —rowspan="3" "My Portion" — 12 1 8 "Great Christmas" — — —— "I Believe God" 2023 — 8 1 —Jekalyn "God of War" ———— "Don't Faint" 2025 — 11 1 — Jekalyn X Legends
As featured artist "Bless Somebody Else (Dorothy's Song)" (Kurt Carr Featuring The Kurt Carr Singers & Friends) (2019) "Make It Right" (Maverick City Music featuring Dante Bowe, Todd Dulaney, Jekalyn Carr & Mav City Gospel Choir) (2021) "Mean Girls" (Leanna Crawford featuring Jekalyn Carr) (2021)
Published works You Will Win (2018)
Awards and nominations Year Ceremony Award ResultRef 2017 59th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song ("You're Bigger (Live)") 2019 61st Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song ("You Will Win") Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album (One Nation Under God) 34th Annual Stellar Awards Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year Traditional CD of the Year (One Nation Under God) Recorded Music Package of the Year (One Nation Under God) Artist of the Year 2020 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song ("See The Light") 2021 36th Annual Stellar Awards Stellar Award for Traditional Female Vocalist Stellar Award for Traditional Album Of The Year (Changing Your Story) 2022 64th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album (Changing Your Story: Live) 2026 41st Annual Stellar Awards Artist of the Year Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year Music Video of the Year ("I Am Happy") Traditional Album of the Year (Jekalyn X the Legends) Traditional Artist of the Year Recording Music Package of the Year (Jekalyn X the Legends)
References
External links Official website Cross Rhythms artist profile