10 Best Women Gospel Singers

From its rural roots as an expression of deeply-felt spiritual beliefs, Gospel music has evolved into the mainstream of pop culture, and the 10 best women gospel singers are all award-winning, best-selling artists.

1. Mahalia Jackson. A devout Southern Baptist from New Orleans, Jackson's big, powerful voice and genuine emotion, rank her at the top of the ten best women gospel singers of all time. She famously performed at the 1963 March on Washington at the request of her friend Martin Luther King, Jr., and also sang at his funeral. Widely considered a seminal gospel artist, and one of the best pure singers in history.
2. Albertina Walker. Hailed as the "Queen of Gospel," Walker was born on the South Side of Chicago, and began singing in church choirs when she was young. She then joined a variety of groups, achieving fame in the 1970s and 1980s with 11 Grammy Award nominations. Her warm voice and passionate delivery, earned her induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
3. Shirley Caesar. Known as the "First Lady of Gospel," Caesar began singing at an early age and gained fame with the gospel group, the Caravans. She's won 11 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000. She is also a pastor for a North Carolina church, and continues to use music to inspire and encourage her congregation.
4. Vestal Goodman. For over 50 years, Goodman and her husband performed as the Happy Goodman Family, scoring 15 number one gospel hits and playing over 3,500 concerts. Goodman's distinctive beehive and inspirational singing rank her among the ten best women gospel singers, and she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
5. Amy Grant. Blending Christian rock with heartfelt gospel, Grant helped revolutionize the way gospel music was perceived, earning her 30 million in record sales, and ranking her as the number one selling contemporary Christian music artist in history. For her outstanding contributions to the genre, she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
6. Dottie Peoples. Hitting her stride in the 1990s, Peoples 1993 album "Live" earned her a Stellar Award for Best Female Solo Performance. She has performed with Atlanta's Symphony Orchestra, and her rich voice has made her one of the ten best women gospel singers.
7. Kim Burrell. Born and raised in Houston, Burrell's jazz and gospel fusion is yet another evolution in the gospel music genre. She has collaborated with such diverse acts as Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and R. Kelly. In 2000, she was nominated for both a Stellar Award and a Gospel Music Excellence Award, confirming her status as one of the most exciting and best women gospel singers.
8. Yolanda Adams. Another native of Houston, Adams breakthrough album "Mountain High...Valley Low," sold over 2 million copies and won the Grammy in 2000 for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. She remains one of the most respected and beloved women gospel singers today, and has used her fame to work on various charities on behalf of at-risk youth.
9. Mary Mary. Sisters Erica and Tina Atkins, bring a hip, modern vibe to their gospel singing, attracting young fans from all over the world. The duo has won 3 Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary Gospel Album in 2000 for the album "Thankful," and Best Gospel Song for "God In Me," in 2010. Their 2008 album "The Sound," remained number one on the Billboard Gospel Chart for over six months.
10. CeCe Winans. The eighth of ten brothers and sisters born into a musical family, Winans first gained fame singing with her brother, BeBe, then launched a successful solo career, winning seven Grammy Awards for her heartfelt gospel songs of praise and worship.