• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK WOMEN COME FIRST

Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Come get a plate of goodness! Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and that you have read our Privacy Policy
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Celebrity

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016

This is said to be the year of completion, rest and forgiveness…and we’d like to add the year of exceptional, uplifting music from a few familiar faces, but many new faces as well. Here's a look at our 20 gospel artists to watch in 2016.
By Gerald Jones · Updated October 27, 2020
01
Get Lifted

This is said to be the year of completion, rest and forgiveness…and we’d like to add the year of exceptional, uplifting music from a few familiar faces, but many new faces as well. Here’s a look at our 20 gospel artists to watch in 2016.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
02
Bri

Current Single: “I’ll Be The One”

Social media sensations are not only discovered in pop and R&B. Last year, gospel embraced a new media darling simply known as Bri. After a friend posted a video of Bri singing Tonex’s 2004 hit “Make Me Over,” the video went…as we say, “viral.” With fans ranging from Brandy to Drake and over 350k Instagram followers, you can understand why she’s one to watch!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
03
Anthony Brown

Current Project: Everyday Jesus

Some say he’s the next generation’s Kirk Franklin. His single “Worth” has been #1 for 16 weeks on the Gospel charts and his group, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, received their first Grammy nod. Not a bad way to start off the new year!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
04
Danetra Moore

Current Project: Light in the Dark

Backing some of the best in R&B, including Ledisi, Angie Stone and KeKe Wyatt, Danetra is by far one of the most underrated new talents in Gospel. With a voice that can rival just about any singer, in any genre of music and a pretty impressive debut release, you’ll see she was born to do this.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
05
Christon Gray

Current Project: School of Roses

Christon Gray has been grinding since 2006. Most recently, he signed a brand new deal with the biggest gospel artist in the world, Kirk Franklin. He must have something special if Kirk signed him as the first rapper to his Fo Yo Soul label.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
06
Lisa Knowles

Current Project: The Evolution Continues

After singing with James Fortune & Fiya for several years and bringing female quartet music to the forefront, Lisa Knowles has the potential to make her name notable. Putting the finishing touches on her very first solo album and a feature on Erica Campbell’s Help 2.0 project with Fantasia, she’s no slouch.
 

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
07
Darius Paulk

Current Single: “Strong Name”

This sought after singer-songwriter rose to fame after writing one of the biggest songs in Gospel to date, “Nobody Greater.” In the summer of 2015, he pulled off a successful joint live recording with fellow new artist, Maranda Willis.  So it’s only a matter of time before the whole world knows his name.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
08
Dathan Thigpen

As the saying goes, “second times a charm.” After coming up short on Season 3 of BET’s Sunday Best competition, he was voted back on for the inaugural “All Star” season last year and beat out the best of the best! Now joining Kirk Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul label, the sky is beyond the limit!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
09
Maranda Willis

Current Single: “Nobody Like You Lord”

Once people caught wind of Maranda’s version of “Fill Me Up” on YouTube, there’s been an electrifying frenzy, synonymous with her name.  Now, since completion of her first live recording in Atlanta last year, several labels eagerly came knocking! We have a feeling the ink will be dry very soon, if it’s not already.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
10
Earnest Pugh

Current Project: Hidden Treasures & Collaborations

He has a range that most men and women would die for along with two classic hits: “Rain On Us” and “I Need Your Glory,” that he will most likely be singing forever. Now, with a new live recording in the works, a special tour, and TV opportunities on the table, it appears that 2016 will be another busy year for Dr. Pugh.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
11
Independent Spirit Vol. 1

Current Single: “If It Had Not Been”

Fans have compared it to the “Red Star Sounds” R&B series from the early 2000’s that spotlighted the best in what’s new, different, and special in R&B and Soul music. Independent Spirit Vol. 1 has created the same platform with some of the most talented indie artists in Gospel music today and the reviews have been stellar! The second single from this project is expected very soon!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
12
Maurette Brown Clark

Current Single: “King Oh King”

Affectionately crowned “the Princess of Praise & Worship,” Maurette Brown Clark has an intuitive and special anointing that is unique to her and her only. With 4 solid albums under her belt and a long awaited 5th project expected later this year, 2016 should be real bright for Maurette!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
13
Jermaine Dolly

Current Project: The Dollyology Mixtape

If you’ve ever noticed a dark skinned guy, with a thick beard, and lots of energy, dancing and singing behind Gospel superstar, Tye Tribbett, then you’ve spotted Jermaine Dolly! And believe it or not, his current single “You” is spreading like wild fire with no major promotion or label backing. You can see why he stands out.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
14
Jonathan McReynolds

Current Project: Life Music: Stage Two

No stranger to our list.  If there is one artist that’s “got next,” it’s this gentleman. He just happens to be the first Gospel artist to perform on Revolt TV, did an abbreviated Christmas tour this past year with Grammy Award winning artist India Arie, AND managed to snag her for a duet on his sophomore album. Not too shabby!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
15
Livre

Current Single: “Everything Coming Up Jesus”

This exciting, youthful, 5some undoubtedly have a presence that can’t be denied. And they can flat out sing! With their 4th single “Jericho” recently released to iTunes, it has everyone asking…where is the full CD?

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
16
Resound

Current Single: “Lift Every Voice”

Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Zendaya, Kristin Maldonado and Donnie McClurkin are just a few celebrities that shouted out this super talented trio on social media last year. And to think, they don’t even have a deal yet! If you’ve never heard them…one word…AMAZING!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
17
Sensere

Current Project: “Kingdom Therapy”

Unlike any other musical act in Gospel today, this band appears on our list again simply because they are like “the little engine that could.” When their sophomore project dropped earlier this year it barely landed at #49 on the charts. Then fast forward a few months later, the same project suddenly jumped into the top 25 on the Gospel charts for 9 weeks…that’s impressive! And they too, are gaining fans from all over from former American Idol finalist Joshua Ledet to Whitney Houston’s brother and sister- in- law, Gary and Pat Houston.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
18
Travis Malloy

Current Project: “Travis Malloy”

He penned what seemed to be one of the most played Gospel songs of 2015, “All The Glory” by Alexis Spight. He also landed songs on Dorinda Clark Cole and Jason Nelson’s releases last year, which is why we think you’ll be hearing his name even more this year.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
19
Trinity Dawson

Current project: With All I Am

This former college football star hit a low point in his 20’s with a degenerative injury that kept him from going pro.  But things have been looking up for the relatively unknown artist and first time father, with his debut project landing at #4 on the Billboard Gospel Charts

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
20
Virtue

Current Single: “Walk It Out”

These 3 gorgeous biological sisters from the “Big Easy” made our list last year and we had to include them again with the official release date being announced to their highly anticipated 7th album Fearless, due Feb. 12th. It’s expected to be one of the highlights of the New Year!

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
21
Willie Moore Jr

He went from being called Pretty Willie, rapping and singing about money and women, to turning his life over to the Lord and beating out stiff competition to land his own nationally syndicated radio show “The Willie Moore Jr Show” on Atlanta’s Praise 102.5.

Get Lifted: 20 Gospel Artists To Watch in 2016
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now