Donald Andrew McClurkin Jr. (born November 9, 1959) is an American gospel singer and minister. He has won three Grammy Awards, ten Stellar Awards, two BET Awards, two Soul Train Awards, one Dove Award and one NAACP Image Awards. He is one of the top selling gospel artists, selling over 13 million albums. Variety dubbed McClurkin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel".
Early life McClurkin was born in Copiague, New York. When he was eight years old, his two-year-old brother was hit and killed by a speeding driver, which generated family turmoil. Shortly thereafter, McClurkin was a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of his great uncle and, years later, by his great uncle's son. Two of his sisters dealt with substance abuse, and that's when the young McClurkin found solace in going to church and also through an aunt who sang background vocals with gospel musician Andraé Crouch.
By the time he was a teenager, he had formed the McClurkin Singers and later formed the New York Restoration Choir, with recordings as early as 1975. He released three albums with the New York Restoration Choir before departing to launch a solo career.
Ministry
He was hired as an associate minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan, in 1989. McClurkin served as an assistant to Winans for over a decade.
In 1991, a sharp pain and swelling, followed by internal bleeding, led, he says, to his diagnosis with leukemia. The doctor recommended immediate treatment, but McClurkin, who was then 31, decided instead to take his own advice. "I tell people to believe that God will save you," he says, "[and] I had to turn around and practice the very thing that I preached."
He was ordained and sent out by Marvin Winans in 2001 to establish Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, where he is senior pastor.
Music
A friendship with a Warner Alliance executive resulted in his signing to the label for his 1996 self-titled LP, with producers Bill Maxwell, Mark Kibble of Take 6, Cedric and Victor Caldwell plus Andraé Crouch. The disc, which featured the perennially popular "Stand," went gold shortly after being publicly lauded by Oprah Winfrey. At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, he won in the category Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for "Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs." McClurkin is best known for his hit songs "Stand" and "We Fall Down," which were played in heavy rotation on both Gospel and Urban radio. His three solo albums have topped the Billboard Charts
Dovetailing off the success of his near double platinum selling album, "Live in London and More," McClurkin released "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" in 2005 and "We All Are One: Live In Detroit" in 2009, which also topped Billboard charts across various musical genres.
In 2014, McClurkin released "Duets" a collaborative album that features artists like Mary Mary’s Erica and Tina Campbell, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Tramaine Hawkins, Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett. The album debuted at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Gospel Billboard charts. This was followed by his 2016 album, "The Journey," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. It marked his seventh solo release and features live performances of some of his classics like “Speak to My Heart,” "Great Is Your Mercy," "Stand," and “That's What I Believe.” His 2019 release, "A Different Song," debuted at No. 2 on the Gospel Billboard charts.
In 2025, McClurkin released the single "Better Afterwhile," which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart and led the Gospel Airplay chart. Recorded live at Trinity Broadcasting Network Studios, the song was written by McClurkin and produced by Tre’ Corley and Trent Phillips. The single blends traditional gospel elements with contemporary worship influences and received sustained national airplay across major and secondary gospel markets.
Following the success of the single, McClurkin announced that it would serve as the lead release for his final studio album titled "Finally", marking his first full-length project since 2019.
McClurkin's love for people and desire to share gospel music globally is the reason he includes a language medley—Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Dutch — in most live performances.
In 2025, McClurkin publicly announced his departure from the music industry, citing a desire to focus on his ministry.Grant, Aaris (12 August 2025). "Donnie McClurkin Announces Departure from Recording Industry". BlackChurchTok. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
Radio and television
Tom Versen and Tony Sisti of T&T Creative signed McClurkin to a radio syndication deal with advertising giant Dial Global Local and syndicator Gary Bernstein. T&T Creative provided a mobile recording studio in Pastor Donnie's church that he can also take on the road. He is quoted as saying, "As much as I love music and singing, I really love doing radio and the direct feedback I get from my listeners all over the country. I never thought I would be having this much fun doing radio, and I could touch and impact so many beautiful people."
In 2009, he also broadcast his own television series, Perfecting Your Faith, on cable television. His television appearances include Good Morning America, CBS’s The Early Show, The View, Girlfriends and The Parkers. He has also been featured in such films as The Gospel and The Fighting Temptations. He played a Single man or a church pastor.
Personal life McClurkin, in 2002, told a Christian website that, due to sexual abuse and porn, he had struggled with homosexuality. "McClurkin believes he "turned" gay because of childhood molestation and traumatic exposure to pornography but was able to reverse his orientation through "will and prayer." He also said that he had rejected that "lifestyle": "I’ve been through this and have experienced God’s power to change my lifestyle. I am delivered, and I know God can deliver others, too."
McClurkin's listing as a headlining performer for then-Senator Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign stirred controversy because of his views on homosexuality. As a result, McClurkin was removed from the performance roster but he still performed at one of the concerts. In August 2013, McClurkin was disinvited from the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom as his ex-gay status was seen as disruptive. In 2015 he spoke out against same-sex marriage in response to the U.S. Supreme Court making it legal nationwide.
McClurkin has a son, Matthew, born in 2000. McClurkin is also related to singer Marsha McClurkin of the short-lived new jack swing group Abstrac.
In 2018, McClurkin survived a serious road accident after he lost consciousness while driving.
Sexual misconduct allegations In January 2026, McClurkin was sued for sexual assault by Giuseppe Corletto, a former personal assistant from 2004 to 2008. The lawsuit, filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court, states Corletto met McClurkin in 2003 after reading his autobiography, in which McClurkin wrote he had been delivered from homosexuality. Corletto became McClurkin's assistant in 2004, and within two years, the lawsuit states McClurkin began to grope him during "pray the gay away" sessions. The lawsuit states that the abuse also took place at McClurkin's Perfecting Faith Church and continued for several years during work trips. After an alleged sexual assault in 2013, McClurkin wrote an email apologizing for his actions, in which he allegedly referred to himself as a "dirty old man". McClurkin's attorney responded the allegations were "categorically false."
Discography
Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and sales figures Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US US Gospel US Christ. USR&B/HH Donnie McClurkinReleased: October 29, 1996 Label: Warner Alliance — 4 14 — RIAA: Gold Duets Released: February 28, 2014 Label: RCA Inspirational 45 4 — —
Live albums + List of live albums, with selected chart positions and sales figures Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales US US Gospel US Christ. USR&B/HH Live in London and More... Released: August 22, 2000 Label: Verity Records 69 1 1 22 RIAA: Platinum US: 1,300,000 Again Released: March 4, 2003 Label: Verity Records 31 1 3 12 RIAA: Gold Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs Released: October 26, 2005 Label: Zomba Label Group 12 1 — 5 RIAA: Platinum We All Are One (Live in Detroit) Released: December 2, 2008 Label: Verity Records 26 1 — 7 The Journey (Live) Released: August 19, 2016 Label: RCA Records — 1 — — A Different Song Released: November 15, 2019 Label: RCA Records — 2 — —
Compilations + List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions and sales figures Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales US US Gospel US Christ. USR&B/HH The Collection Released: May 29, 2001 Label: Savoy — — — — The Essential Donnie Mcclurkin Released: September 25, 2007 Label: Verity Records — 9 — — Playlist: The Very Best of Donnie McClurkin Released: September 15, 2009 Label: Verity/Legacy Recordings — 9 — 57 Donnie McClurkin: Double Play Released: 2010 Label: Verity Records — — — — Setlist: The Very Best of Donnie McClurkin (Live) Released: December 27, 2011 Label: Sony — 28 — —
Singles As a lead artist + List of singles, as a lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album USBub.USGospelUS Adult R&BUS R&B/HH "Stand"1996 — — — — Donnie McClurkin "Speak to My Heart" — — — — "We Fall Down" 2000 24 — 2 40 Live in London and More... "The Prayer" 2003 — — 35 — Again "I Call You Faithful"2005 — 1 — — Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs "Ooh Child" — 13 36 — "Church Medley" 2006 — 5 — — "Wait on the Lord" 2009 — 2 40 — We All Are One (Live in Detroit) "Donnie's Christmas Songs" 2011 — — 40 — "I Am Amazed" 2013 — 15 — — Duets "We Are Victorious" 2014 — 7 — — "Stand" — — — —The Journey "I Need You" — 2 — — "There Is God" 2018 — 18 — — A Different Song "My Favorite Things" — 23 — — "Not Yet" 2019 — 21 — — A Different Song "Better Afterwhile" 2025 — 10 — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
As a featured artist + List of singles, as a featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumUSBubb. Under Hot 100USGospelUS Adult R&BUS R&B/HH "I Speak Life"()2006 — 23 — — I Speak Life "Bless Me"()2014 — 9 — — I See Victory "See the Goodness"()2023 — 12 — — Chapter X: See The Goodness "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Videography Live in London and More... (VHS) (2001) Again (VHS) (2004) Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs (VHS) (2005)
Music Videos "Stand" "We Fall Down" "The Prayer" "Ooh Child" "I Need You"
Filmography Film 1998: The Prince of Egypt (wrote and sang "I Am" & "Humanity") 2003: The Fighting Temptations 2004: Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem 2004: The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness to Light 2005: The Gospel
Television 2001: Girlfriends (TV show)- Season 2 Ep 7 “Trick or Truth” 2002: The Parkers (TV show)- Season 3 Ep 16 “Make a Joyful Noise” 2002: 17th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host 2004: 19th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host 2005: 20th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host 2006: 21st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host 2006: An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder (documentary) 2009: 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host 2010–15: BET's Sunday Best – judge 2010: 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – host
Awards and nominations BET Awards
The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. McClurkin has received 2 awards from 5 nominations.
Year Award Nominated workResult 2001 Best Gospel Artist Himself 2003 2004 2005 2014
Dove Awards