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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Pop Gospel Album.

21 ceremonies, 1991–2011. 12 different winners. The longest run belongs to Steven Curtis Chapman, with 3 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Israel Houghton in 2011 for Love God. Love People..
Who has won the most?
Steven Curtis Chapman, 5 wins (1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2005).
  1. Love God. Love People.Israel Houghton
  2. The Power of OneIsrael Houghton
  3. Thy Kingdom ComeCeCe Winans
  4. A Deeper LevelIsrael & New Breed
  5. Wherever You AreThird Day
  6. LifesongCasting Crowns
Years explored
1991–2011
Different winners
12
Category leader
Steven Curtis Chapman · 5
About this record

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album was first awarded in 1991, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Contemporary Christian Music Album instead.

2000–2011

12 ceremonies

19912011

01 / The reigns

Israel Houghton set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2011 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    CeCe Winans2 wins
  2. 02
    Israel Houghton2 wins
  3. 03
    Jars of Clay2 wins
  4. 04
    Steven Curtis Chapman2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Steven Curtis Chapman'00
Jars of Clay'01
CeCe Winans'02
Jars of Clay'03
Michael W. Smith'04
Steven Curtis Chapman'05
Casting Crowns'06
Third Day'07
Israel & New Breed'08
CeCe Winans'09
Israel Houghton'10–'11×2

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Essential leads the recorded label credits with 3 wins, 2000–2011. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Essential3 wins
Integrity Media2 wins
Sparrow2 wins
Beach Street1 win
Integrity Music1 win
PureSprings Gospel1 win
Wins by label
  1. Essential325%
  2. Integrity Media217%
  3. Sparrow217%
  4. Beach Street18%
  5. Integrity Music18%
  6. PureSprings Gospel18%
  7. Other217%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011. Excludes 1 nominations credited to Various Artists, which names a compilation rather than an act.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Avalon
    3 noms
  2. 02
    Leeland
    3 noms
  3. 03
    Chris Tomlin
    2 noms
  4. 04
    Mandisa
    2 noms
  5. 05
    Nicole C. Mullen
    2 noms
  6. 06
    TobyMac
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Jars Of Clay
    4L · 2W
  2. 02
    Michael W. Smith
    4L · 1W
  3. 03
    Steven Curtis Chapman
    4L · 2W
  4. 04
    Avalon
    3L · 0W
  5. 05
    Leeland
    3L · 0W
  6. 06
    Chris Tomlin
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2011. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2011Israel Houghton (Love God. Love People.)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Steven Curtis Chapman (Beauty Will Rise)
  • Sanctus Real (Pieces of a Real Heart)
  • Ricky Skaggs (Mosaic)
  • TobyMac (Tonight)
Integrity Music/Columbia
2010Israel Houghton (The Power of One)
beat 4 others
  • Jeremy Camp (Speaking Louder Than Before)
  • Jars Of Clay (The Long Fall Back to Earth)
  • Leeland (Love Is on the Move)
  • Mandisa (Freedom)
Integrity Media/Columbia
2009CeCe Winans (Thy Kingdom Come)
beat 4 others
  • Steven Curtis Chapman (This Moment)
  • Brandon Heath (What If We)
  • Leeland (Opposite Way)
  • Chris Tomlin (Hello Love)
PureSprings Gospel/EMI Gospel
2008Israel & New Breed (A Deeper Level)
beat 4 others
  • Casting Crowns (The Altar and the Door)
  • Mandisa (True Beauty)
  • Michael W. Smith (Stand)
  • TobyMac (Portable Sounds)
Integrity Media
2007Third Day (Wherever You Are)
beat 4 others
  • Leeland (Sound of Melodies)
  • MercyMe (Coming Up to Breathe)
  • Chris Tomlin (See the Morning)
  • Ayiesha Woods (Introducing Ayiesha Woods)
Essential
2006Casting Crowns (Lifesong)
beat 5 others
  • Steven Curtis Chapman (All I Really Want for Christmas)
  • Jars of Clay (Redemption Songs)
  • Out of Eden (Hymns)
  • Michael W. Smith (Healing Rain)
  • Third Day (Live Wire)
Beach Street/Reunion
2005Steven Curtis Chapman (All Things New)
beat 4 others
  • Avalon (The Creed)
  • Jars of Clay (Who We Are Instead)
  • Nicole C. Mullen (Everyday People)
  • Rain Song (Rising Son)
Sparrow
2004Michael W. Smith (Worship Again)
beat 4 others
  • Jars of Clay (Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage)
  • Newsboys (Adoration: The Worship Album)
  • Stacie Orrico (Stacie Orrico)
  • Third Day (Offerings II: All I Have to Give)
Reunion
2003Jars of Clay (The Eleventh Hour)
beat 4 others
  • Paul Colman Trio (New Map of the World)
  • NewSong (The Christmas Shoes)
  • Kathy Troccoli (The Heart of Me)
  • True Vibe (See the Light)
Essential
2002CeCe Winans (CeCe Winans)
beat 4 others
  • Avalon (Oxygen)
  • Steven Curtis Chapman (Declaration)
  • Nicole C. Mullen (Talk About It)
  • Michael W. Smith (Worship)
Wellspring Gospel/Sparrow
2001Jars of Clay (If I Left the Zoo)
beat 4 others
  • Avalon (Joy: A Christmas Collection)
  • Crystal Lewis (Fearless)
  • Michael W. Smith (This Is Your Time)
  • Jaci Velasquez (Crystal Clear)
Essential
2000Steven Curtis Chapman (Speechless)
beat 4 others
  • Anointed (Anointed)
  • Andraé Crouch (The Gift of Christmas)
  • Dukes of Dixieland (Gloryland)
  • Various Artists (The Prince of Egypt (Nashville))
Sparrow