Yolanda Adams

One of contemporary gospel’s most celebrated figures, singer Yolanda Adams has earned countless awards while infusing the genre with elements of classic soul and R&B. ∙ Beginning with her 1987 debut full-length, Just As I Am, which reached No. 8, all 11 of Adams’ studio LPs landed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. ∙ With 14 Grammy nominations to her name, the first of her four wins was with 1999’s Mountain High... Valley Low, for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. ∙ Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis—who contributed to the Platinum-certified Mountain High... Valley Low—“Open My Heart” hit No. 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. ∙ Adams performed at the 2011 Grammy Awards, taking part in an onstage tribute to Aretha Franklin that also included Jennifer Hudson and Christina Aguilera. ∙ The Gospel Music Association, which has given Adams four Dove Awards, inducted her into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2017. ∙ She penned an original song for the Broadway musical of SpongeBob SquarePants, and was part of the all-star team that earned a 2018 Tony nomination for Best Original Score.