Jonathan McReynolds is an American gospel singer born in 1989 in Chicago. He broke through in 2012 with the album Life Music and established himself as an introspective voice in contemporary gospel with albums like Make Room, which earned two Grammy Award nominations, and won a Grammy himself in 2021 for the song Movin' On.
Jonathan Caleb McReynolds was born on September 17, 1989, in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised by his mother. A musician before he was a singer, he took up drums at age five and then piano at age eight, playing regularly at his local church. He went on to study music at Columbia College Chicago, where he recorded the song No Gray in his dorm room. The song went viral and made him known well beyond Chicago.
His first album, Life Music, came out in 2012 and reached number three on the Billboard gospel chart. Life Music: Stage Two followed in 2015, then Make Room in 2018, which climbed to number one on the gospel chart and earned him two Grammy Award nominations. In 2021, he won his first Grammy Award for the song Movin' On. He holds a master's degree in biblical studies from Moody Theological Seminary and has since built a career that blends singing, songwriting, and teaching, most recently with his live album Closer, recorded in Chicago and released in 2026.
- Origin
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Style
- Contemporary gospel, with R&B and pop influences
- Active since
- 2012
- Good to know
- Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song in 2021 for Movin' On
How did Jonathan McReynolds get started?
Jonathan McReynolds grew up in Chicago in a family where church music was part of everyday life: drums at five, piano at eight, then singing as a teenager. His years at Columbia College Chicago, where he studied music, marked a turning point. It was in his dorm room that he recorded No Gray, a song that spread widely online and caught the attention of the gospel scene.
That early buzz led to his first album, Life Music, released in 2012, which reached number three on the Billboard gospel chart. He followed up with Life Music: Stage Two in 2015, a number one on the same chart, confirming a songwriting style known for its depth and honesty.
What makes Jonathan McReynolds distinctive?
What sets Jonathan McReynolds apart in the gospel landscape is an introspective, almost conversational style of songwriting that addresses doubt, personal growth, and life of faith without easy answers. He holds a master's degree in biblical studies and also takes on a role as mentor and teacher, notably through his book Before You Climb Any Higher and the Elihu Nation, an organization he founded to fund scholarships. Musically, he isn't afraid to step outside the expected boundaries of gospel, even drawing on 1980s pop on his live album Closer.
Where should you start with Jonathan McReynolds?
Start with Movin' On, his Grammy Award winning song, then Not Lucky, I'm Loved, from the album Make Room, to get a feel for the confident tone of his gospel. Echo, the opening track of his live album Closer, rounds things out nicely by showing the recent, more experimental turn in his style.
songs
Echo
Opening track of the live album Closer (2026), driven by a rhythmic guitar groove that builds in intensity.
Closer
A duet with Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the title track of the live album Closer, paying tribute to the powerful ballads of the 1980s.
Own Advice
An introspective song in which the artist wonders what advice he would give himself, in the reflective vein that defines his songwriting.
Discography
- 2026Closer· live album recorded in Chicago
- 2023My Truth
- 2020People
- 2018Make Room
- 2015Life Music: Stage Two
- 2012Life Music
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Jonathan McReynolds?
Jonathan McReynolds is an American gospel singer born in 1989 in Chicago. He broke through in 2012 with the album Life Music and has since become one of the most introspective voices in contemporary gospel, earning a Grammy Award in 2021.
What is Jonathan McReynolds' best known song?
Movin' On, which earned him a Grammy Award in 2021, and Not Lucky, I'm Loved, from the album Make Room (2018), are among his best known and most covered songs.
Is Jonathan McReynolds a Christian?
Yes, his Christian faith shapes his entire body of work. He holds a master's degree in biblical studies and addresses his spiritual life in his songs with a rare kind of honesty for the gospel genre.
Where can you listen to Jonathan McReynolds?
His albums and songs are available on the usual streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music) as well as on his official YouTube channel.
Has Jonathan McReynolds won a Grammy Award?
Yes, he won a Grammy Award in 2021 in the Best Gospel Performance/Song category for Movin' On, after several nominations for his previous albums.
What is Jonathan McReynolds' latest album?
Closer, a live album recorded in Chicago and released in 2026, is his latest project to date, featuring 1980s pop influences and a duet with Tasha Cobbs Leonard on the title track.