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
Artist Country Period active Release-year of first charted record Genre Total certified units Claimed sales The Staple Singers United States 1940s–1990s 1967 Gospel, soul, country soul, R&B 30 million Mahalia Jackson United States 1920s–1970s 1958 Traditional gospel music, spirituals, blues 22 million CeCe Winans United States 1980s–2020s 1984 Contemporary Gospel, gospel, Adult Contemporary R&B, CCM 17 million Kirk Franklin United States 1990s–2020s 1993 Contemporary Gospel, gospel 15 million Donnie McClurkin United States 1990s–2020s 1996 Contemporary Gospel, gospel 13 million Yolanda Adams United States 1990s–2020s 1987 Contemporary Gospel, gospel, inspirational, new-age 10 million Mary Mary United States 1990s–2020s 2000 Contemporary gospel, adult contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B 8 million Fred Hammond United States 1980s–2000s 1991 Contemporary gospel, gospel, CCM 8 million The Edwin Hawkins Singers United States 1960s–2010s 1969 Gospel 7 million BeBe & CeCe Winans United States 1980s–2020s 1984 Adult Contemporary R&B, contemporary gospel, gospel 5 million Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir United States 1970s - 2000s 1990 Contemporary gospel 4 million Smokie Norful United States 2000s–2020s 2002 Contemporary gospel, gospel, inspirational 3 million Trin-i-tee 5:7 United States 1990s–2020s 1998 Contemporary gospel, gospel 2.5 million Shirley Caesar United States 1950s–2020s 1975 Contemporary gospel, traditional gospel 2.29 million Andraé Crouch United States 1960s - 2000s 1977 Contemporary gospel, gospel 1 million Mississippi Mass Choir United States 1980s - 2000s 1989 Contemporary gospel, traditional gospel, gospel 1 million Out of Eden United States 1990s - 2000s 1994 Contemporary gospel, CCM 1 million
Best-selling gospel songs
Worldwide Title Released Artist Total certified units Claimed sales "Move On Up a Little Higher" 1947 Mahalia Jackson 8 millionKoster, Rick. Louisiana Music: A Journey from R&B to Zydeco, Jazz to Country, Blues to Gospel, Cajun Music... (2002), Da Capo Press, page 271 - "Oh Happy Day" 1968 The Edwin Hawkins Singers 7 million "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" 1957 Laurie London with the Geoff Love Orchestra and Chorus 3 million "When You Believe" 1998 Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey colspan="2" "Follow God" 2019 Kanye West colspan="2" "Hurricane" 2021 Kanye West and the Weeknd featuring Lil Baby colspan="2" "I'll Take You There" 1972 The Staple Singers 2 million "Take Me to the King" 2012 Tamela Mann colspan="2" "Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary colspan="2" "Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2" 2017 Stormzy featuring MNEK colspan="2" "I Smile" 2011 Kirk Franklin colspan="2"
Australia 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). Title Released Artist(s) Certification Ref. "Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary Platinum "When You Believe" 1998 Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey Gold
New Zealand Title Released Artist(s) Certification Ref. "Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary Platinum "Follow God" 2019 Kanye West "Hurricane" 2021 Kanye West and the Weeknd featuring Lil Baby "I'll Take You There" 1972 The Staple Singers Gold "When You Believe" 1998 Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston "I Believe I Can Fly" 2001 Yolanda Adams "I Smile" 2011 Kirk Franklin "Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2" 2017 Stormzy featuring MNEK
United Kingdom List of best-selling gospel songs which are uncertified in the United Kingdom. Title Released Artist Known sales "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" 1957 Laurie London with the Geoff Love Orchestra and Chorus300,000 "Oh Happy Day" 1968 The Edwin Hawkins Singers250,000
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). Title Released Artist(s) Certification Ref. "Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2" 2017 Stormzy featuring MNEK 2× Platinum "When You Believe" 1998 Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston Platinum "Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary "I'll Take You There" 1972 The Staple Singers Silver "I Am Blessed" 1995 Eternal "Follow God" 2019 Kanye West "Hurricane" 2021 Kanye West and the Weeknd featuring Lil Baby
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, its physical sales of 1.5 million units, reported on May 6, 1972, are uncertified by the RIAA.
Title Released Artist Claimed sales "I'll Take You There" 1972 The Staple Singers 1.5 million "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" 1909 Fisk University Jubilee Quartet 1 million "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)" 1935 The Carter Family "Ave Maria" 1937 Marian Anderson "When the Saints Go Marching In" 1938 Louis Armstrong "Strange Things Happening Every Day" 1945 Sister Rosetta Tharpe "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" 1947 Fairfield Four "Even Me" 1948 Mahalia Jackson "I'll Fly Away" The Chuck Wagon Gang "Just Over the Hill" 1950 Mahalia Jackson "Surely God Is Able" The Famous Ward Singers "How I Got Over" 1951 Clara Ward "Uncloudy Day" 1956 The Staple Singers "Packing Up" 1957 The Famous Ward Singers "Lord, Don't Move That Mountain" 1973 Inez Andrews
List of gospel songs which have certified sales of 1 million units or higher. From 1958 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). The songs listed below were certified prior to 1989.
Title Released Artist(s) Certification "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" 1957 Laurie London with the Geoff Love Orchestra and Chorus Gold "Oh Happy Day" 1969 The Edwin Hawkins Singers "Put Your Hand in the Hand" 1971 Ocean "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" 1973 The Staple Singers
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 "Take Me to the King" 2012 Tamela Mann 2× Platinum "Follow God" 2019 Kanye West "Hurricane" 2021 Kanye West, the Weeknd featuring Lil Baby "When You Believe" 1998 Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston Platinum "Shackles (Praise You)" 2000 Mary Mary "Grateful" 2005 Hezekiah Walker & LFC "Never Would Have Made It" 2007 Marvin Sapp "I Look to You" 2009 Whitney Houston "God Favored Me" (Extended Version) Hezekiah Walker & LFC featuring Marvin Sapp & D.J. Rogers "The Best in Me" 2010 Marvin Sapp "I Smile" 2011 Kirk Franklin "Break Every Chain" 2014 Tasha Cobbs Leonard "Every Praise" 2015 Hezekiah Walker "Worth" Anthony Brown & group therAPy "I'll Find You" 2017 Lecrae, Tori Kelly "Your Spirit" Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kierra Sheard "Won't He Do It" Koryn Hawthorne "Coming In Hot" 2018 Lecrae, Andy Mineo "You Know My Name" Tasha Cobbs Leonard "Jireh" 2022 Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine
Best-selling gospel albums
Worldwide Title Released Artist Sales The Preacher's Wife 1996 Whitney Houston 6 million
Canada Title Released Artist Certification Known sales The Preacher's Wife 1997 Whitney Houston Platinum Donda 2021 Kanye West Platinum
Japan Title Released Artist Certification Known sales The Preacher's Wife 1997 Whitney Houston 2x Platinum Best of Take 6 1995 Take 6 Platinum 200,000 Join the Band 1994 Gold 100,000 Brothers 1996
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).
Title Released Artist Certification Known sales Donda 2021 Kanye West Gold Come Together: A Musical Experience in Love 1973 Jimmy and Carol Owens featuring Pat Boone 75,000 The Preacher's Wife 1997 Whitney Houston Silver Gospel Favourites 1999 Elvis Presley Silver Thankful 2000 Mary Mary Silver Love Never Fails 2013 Jahméne Douglas Silver 61,826 Jesus Is King 2020 Kanye West Silver
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 Peace Be Still 1963 James Cleveland 1 million Let Us Go into the House of the Lord 1968 The Edwin Hawkins Singers Love Alive III 1984 Walter Hawkins Broken 1995 William Becton
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 God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation 1997 Kirk Franklin 3× Platinum 3,000,000 The Preacher's Wife 1996 Whitney Houston 3× Platinum 2,471,000 The Nu Nation Project 1998 Kirk Franklin 2× Platinum 3,000,000 Amazing Grace 1972 Aretha Franklin 2× Platinum Pages of Life - Chapters I & II 1998 Fred Hammond 2× Platinum Thankful 2000 Mary Mary 2× Platinum 1,239,000 Kirk Franklin & the Family 1993 Kirk Franklin & the Family Platinum 2,000,000 Whatcha Lookin' 4 1996 Platinum 2,000,000 Mountain High...Valley Low 1999 Yolanda Adams Platinum 1,374,000 Live in London and More... 2000 Donnie McClurkin Platinum 1,300,000 Peace in the Valley 1957 Elvis Presley Platinum His Hand in Mine 1960 Platinum He Touched Me 1972 Platinum Take 6 1988 Take 6 Platinum Different Lifestyles 1991 BeBe & CeCe Winans Platinum Alone in His Presence 1995 CeCe Winans Platinum The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin 2002 Kirk Franklin Platinum Elvis: Ultimate Gospel 2004 Elvis Presley Platinum Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs 2005 Donnie McClurkin Platinum Hero 2005 Kirk Franklin Platinum Thirsty 2007 Marvin Sapp Platinum 712,000 Donda 2021 Kanye West Platinum
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 WOW Gospel 1999 1999 Platinum WOW Gospel 2000 2000 Platinum WOW Gospel 2001 2001 Platinum WOW Gospel 2003 2003 Platinum WOW Gospel 2004 2004 Platinum WOW Gospel 2005 2005 Platinum
List of gospel albums ranked in order of their highest single-week sales.