Tasha Cobbs Leonard is an American gospel singer and pastor, born in 1981 in Jesup, Georgia. The daughter of a pastor, she rose to prominence in 2013 with the album Grace and the song Break Every Chain, which won a Grammy Award. She now co-leads a church in South Carolina with her husband.
Tasha Cobbs Leonard grew up in Jesup, Georgia, where her father, Bishop Fritz Cobbs, leads Jesup New Life Ministries. It was there that she began singing and leading worship, long before she thought of pursuing a career. After years of serving behind the scenes, she moved to Atlanta in 2006 and joined dReam Center Church, where her voice began to draw attention well beyond the congregation's walls.
Her first independent album, Smile, came out in 2010, but it was Grace, released in 2013 on EMI, that introduced her to a wider audience. The song Break Every Chain, an anthem of deliverance that became a contemporary gospel classic, earned her a Grammy Award and a lasting place in the repertoire of many churches around the world. Since then, she has racked up further awards (Grammy, Dove, Stellar Awards) and released several live albums before putting out Tasha, her first studio album in over ten years, in 2025.
- Origin
- Jesup, Georgia, USA
- Style
- Contemporary gospel
- Active since
- 2010
- Good to know
- Break Every Chain, awarded a Grammy Award in 2014
How did Tasha Cobbs Leonard get started?
Tasha Cobbs Leonard was born on July 7, 1981, in Jesup, a small town in Georgia. The daughter of Bishop Fritz Cobbs, founder of Jesup New Life Ministries, she grew up at the piano and in the family choir, where leading worship had been part of everyday life since childhood.
In 2006, she left her hometown for Atlanta and joined dReam Center Church, under the leadership of Bishop William Murphy. It was within this community, known for the quality of its music, that she refined her style and got noticed. A first self-produced album, Smile, came out in 2010, before EMI signed her for what would become Grace.
What makes Tasha Cobbs Leonard distinctive?
Her powerful voice, well suited to large congregations, has made her one of the rare gospel artists to cross over into the mainstream: Grace climbed to number 61 on the American pop chart, a rare feat for a gospel album. Pastor as much as singer, she now co-leads The Purpose Place Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with her husband Kenneth Leonard, a music producer she married in 2017.
Where should you start with Tasha Cobbs Leonard?
Break Every Chain is the obvious starting point: a cry of deliverance sung in countless churches, including in French through certain local adaptations. Continue with Fill Me Up, a duet with Kierra Sheard, then Put A Praise On It to discover the more festive side of her gospel.
songs
Break Every Chain
Written by Will Reagan and popularized by Tasha Cobbs Leonard on the album Grace (2013), this song of deliverance earned her a Grammy Award; it is also sung in French in some French speaking congregations.
Fill Me Up
A duet with Kierra Sheard from the live album One Place (2015), certified gold in the United States: a prayer to be filled with the Spirit.
Put A Praise On It
Featuring Kierra Sheard in the studio version, this song topped the American gospel chart for five weeks in 2016; this live recording adds a medley with Hallelujah alongside gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard.
Discography
- 2025Tasha
- 2022Hymns
- 2020Royalty (Live at the Ryman)
- 2018Heart. Passion. Pursuit.: Live at Passion City Church
- 2017Heart. Passion. Pursuit.
- 2015One Place: Live
- 2013Grace
- 2010Smile
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Who is Tasha Cobbs Leonard?
Tasha Cobbs Leonard is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and pastor born in 1981 in Georgia. She rose to fame in 2013 with the album Grace and her song Break Every Chain, and has since won several Grammy Awards and co-leads a church in South Carolina.
What is Tasha Cobbs Leonard's most famous song?
Her most famous song is Break Every Chain, released in 2013 on the album Grace. This cry of deliverance earned her a Grammy Award and remains one of the most widely sung gospel songs in churches around the world.
Is Tasha Cobbs Leonard a pastor?
Yes. Since 2020, she has co-led The Purpose Place Church with her husband Kenneth Leonard, a church they founded in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she carries both a pastoral ministry and a music career.
Where can you listen to Tasha Cobbs Leonard?
Her songs are available on the usual streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music) as well as on her official YouTube channel, which features her live recordings and audio videos.
Has Tasha Cobbs Leonard won a Grammy Award?
Yes, she has won several Grammy Awards, including Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance for Break Every Chain in 2014, along with other awards for her later albums.
What is Tasha Cobbs Leonard's latest album?
Tasha, released in 2025, is her first studio album in over ten years following a series of live albums. It blends gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and pop while staying rooted in worship.