Yolanda Adams is an American gospel singer, born in 1961 in Houston, Texas. Active since 1982, she is known for The Battle Is the Lord's, Open My Heart and Victory. Her album Mountain High... Valley Low (1999) brought her recognition beyond gospel, and she has won four Grammy Awards.
Born in 1961 in Houston, Texas, Yolanda Adams was noticed as a lead singer with Houston's Southeast Inspirational Choir, whose single For My Liberty came out in 1982. She then signed with Sound of Gospel, which released her first album, Just as I Am, in 1987. In 1990 producer Ben Tankard discovered her and signed her to his label Tribute Records: Through the Storm followed in 1991, then Save the World in 1993, with The Battle Is the Lord's, which became her signature song.
Her album Mountain High... Valley Low (1999, Elektra) brought her recognition beyond gospel and earned her a Grammy Award, with producers such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The Experience (2001) brought a second, followed by Believe (2001) and Day by Day (2005). She hosted The Yolanda Adams Morning Show from 2007 to 2016, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and released Sunny Days in 2024.
- Origin
- Houston (Texas), United States
- Style
- Contemporary gospel, soul
- Active since
- 1982 (first album in 1987, Just as I Am)
- Good to know
- Four Grammy Awards, the first gospel artist to win the Grammy for Best Gospel Song
How did Yolanda Adams begin?
Yolanda Adams grew up in Houston, studied at Texas Southern University and began a career as a schoolteacher before turning to music full time. She caught the attention of Thomas Whitfield and the Sound of Gospel label as a lead singer with the Southeast Inspirational Choir, affiliated with the Church of God in Christ. In 1986 she also sang on Give Us Peace, a record by the Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar Choir.
After Just as I Am (1987), she joined Ben Tankard's Tribute Records, whose goal was to build an audience for a smoother, jazz-leaning gospel sound. There she recorded Through the Storm and Save the World, then Songs from the Heart (1998) at Verity Records, which includes Still I Rise, dedicated to Rosa Parks and inspired by Maya Angelou's poem.
What makes Yolanda Adams distinctive?
Yolanda Adams carried contemporary gospel well beyond the church. With Mountain High... Valley Low, made with names from R&B and pop (Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Warryn Campbell, Keith Thomas), she reached a mainstream audience. She is the first gospel artist to win the Grammy for Best Gospel Song, as well as an American Music Award.
In 2020 she opened Super Bowl LIV by singing America the Beautiful. Her voice also remains tied to her great congregational songs, The Battle Is the Lord's above all, which she performed on televised ceremonies such as the 2011 BET Honors.
Where should you start to discover Yolanda Adams?
Start with The Battle Is the Lord's, Open My Heart and Victory, her best known songs, then listen to Still I Rise and Church Doors, the lead single of her latest album. Continue with the albums Mountain High... Valley Low (1999), Believe (2001) and Sunny Days (2024).
songs
The Battle Is the Lord's
From the album Save the World (1993), it is her signature song.
Open My Heart (Live)
From Mountain High... Valley Low (1999), here in a live version.
Victory
A single from the album Day by Day (2005), it was prominently featured in the film The Gospel.
Still I Rise
On the album Songs from the Heart (1998), it is dedicated to Rosa Parks and inspired by a poem by Maya Angelou.
Church Doors
Lead single of the album Sunny Days (2024), it was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Discography
- 2024Sunny Days
- 2011Becoming
- 2005Day by Day
- 2001Believe
- 2001The Experience· Live
- 1999Mountain High... Valley Low· Elektra Records
- 1998Songs from the Heart
- 1993Save the World
- 1987Just as I Am· First album
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Who is Yolanda Adams?
Yolanda Adams is an American gospel singer, born in 1961 in Houston, Texas. Active since 1982, she is known for The Battle Is the Lord's, Open My Heart and Victory, and for the album Mountain High... Valley Low.
Is Yolanda Adams a Christian artist?
Yes. She has sung gospel since her beginnings, has won Stellar Awards and Dove Awards, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
What are Yolanda Adams's best known songs?
The Battle Is the Lord's, Open My Heart, Victory, Still I Rise and Never Give Up are among her best known songs. She also recorded Be Still on the album Becoming (2011).
What is Yolanda Adams's latest album?
Her most recent album is Sunny Days, released in 2024. Its lead single, Church Doors, was nominated for a Grammy Award.
What is The Yolanda Adams Morning Show?
It was a morning radio show mixing contemporary gospel, humor and conversation, syndicated nationally in the United States from 2007 to 2016, notably on the station KMJQ-FM.
Where can you listen to Yolanda Adams?
Her music is available on the main streaming platforms and on her official YouTube channel. Her official website also shares her news.