Join with a codeGuideBallotsDataToolsBlog

A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Roots Gospel Album.

11 ceremonies, 2015–2025. 11 different winners.

Who won most recently?
Cory Henry in 2025 for Church.
  1. ChurchCory Henry
  2. Echoes of the SouthBlind Boys of Alabama
  3. The Urban HymnalTennessee State University Marching Band
  4. My SaviorCarrie Underwood
  5. Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album)Fisk Jubilee Singers
  6. TestimonyGloria Gaynor
Years explored
2015–2025
Different winners
11
Category leader
No leader
About this record

Best Roots Gospel Album was first awarded in 2015, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

A new category rather than a revival: Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album had already been folded into Best Contemporary Christian Music Album three years earlier, and this award reopened that ground.

2015–2025

11 ceremonies

20152025

01 / The reigns

11 winners shaped this category.

The timeline turns the 2015–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

One band per year, because no winner has gone back-to-back in the years on record. Colored by label; scroll sideways for the full run.
Mike Farris'15
The Fairfield Four'16
Joey + Rory'17
Reba McEntire'18
Jason Crabb'19
Gloria Gaynor'20
Fisk Jubilee Singers'21
Carrie Underwood'22
Tennessee State University Marching Band'23
Blind Boys of Alabama'24
Cory Henry'25

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Fairfield Four Records leads the recorded label credits with 1 win, 2015–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Fairfield Four Records1 win
Gaither1 win
Gaither Music Group1 win
Rockin' R1 win
Universal1 win
Wins by label
  1. Fairfield Four Records120%
  2. Gaither120%
  3. Gaither Music Group120%
  4. Rockin' R120%
  5. Universal120%

6 further wins have no label on record and are not counted in the 5 above.

6 of these 11 wins have no label on record, so the chart covers the other 5.

03 / The near misses

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

Counting nominations in this category only, 2015–2025. Excludes 2 nominations credited to Various Artists, which names a compilation rather than an act.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Gaither Vocal Band
    5 noms
  2. 02
    Karen Peck and New River
    3 noms
  3. 03
    The Isaacs
    3 noms
  4. 04
    Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
    2 noms
  5. 05
    Gordon Mote
    2 noms
  6. 06
    Joseph Habedank
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Gaither Vocal Band
    5L · 0W
  2. 02
    Karen Peck and New River
    3L · 0W
  3. 03
    The Isaacs
    3L · 0W
  4. 04
    Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
    2L · 0W
  5. 05
    Gordon Mote
    2L · 0W
  6. 06
    Joseph Habedank
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2015–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2025Cory Henry (Church)
beat 4 others
  • Mark D. Conklin (The Gospel According to Mark)
  • Authentic Unlimited (The Gospel Sessions, Vol. 2)
  • The Nelons (Loving You)
  • The Harlem Gospel Travelers (Rhapsody)
Unknown
2024Blind Boys of Alabama (Echoes of the South)
beat 4 others
  • Brian Free & Assurance (Meet Me at the Cross)
  • Gaither Vocal Band (Shine: The Darker the Night, the Brighter the Light)
  • Becky Isaacs Bowman (Songs That Pulled Me Through the Tough Times)
  • The Blackwood Brothers Quartet (Tribute to the King)
Unknown
2023Tennessee State University Marching Band (The Urban Hymnal)
beat 4 others
  • Karen Peck and New River (2:22)
  • Keith & Kristyn Getty (Confessio - Irish-American Roots)
  • Gaither Vocal Band (Let's Just Praise the Lord)
  • Willie Nelson (The Willie Nelson Family)
Unknown
2022Carrie Underwood (My Savior)
beat 4 others
  • Harry Connick Jr. (Alone with My Faith)
  • Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Keeping On)
  • The Isaacs (Songs for the Times)
  • Gaither Vocal Band (That's Gospel, Brother)
Capitol Nashville
2021Fisk Jubilee Singers (Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album))
beat 4 others
  • The Crabb Family (20/20)
  • Mark Bishop (Beautiful Day)
  • Ernie Haase and Signature Sound (Something Beautiful: Our Favorite Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither)
  • The Erwins (What Christmas Really Means)
Unknown
2020Gloria Gaynor (Testimony)
beat 4 others
  • Joseph Habedank (Deeper Oceans)
  • Steven Curtis Chapman (Deeper Roots: Where the Bluegrass Grows)
  • Various Artists (Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout)
  • Tim Menzies (His Name Is Jesus)
Gaither Music Group
2019Jason Crabb (Unexpected)
beat 4 others
  • Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Clear Skies)
  • The Isaacs (Favorites: Revisited by Request)
  • Gordon Mote (Love Love Love)
  • The Martins (Still Standing)
Unknown
2018Reba McEntire (Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope)
beat 4 others
  • The Collingsworth Family (The Best of the Collingsworth Family, Volume 1)
  • Larry Cordle (Give Me Jesus)
  • Karen Peck and New River (Hope for All Nations)
  • Joseph Habedank (Resurrection)
Rockin' R/Nash Icon/Big Machine
2017Joey + Rory (Hymns That Are Important to Us)
beat 4 others
  • Gaither Vocal Band (Better Together)
  • Various Artists (God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson)
  • Gordon Mote (Hymns and Songs of Inspiration)
  • The Isaacs (Nature's Symphony in 432)
Gaither
2016The Fairfield Four (Still Rockin' My Soul)
beat 2 others
  • Point of Grace (Directions Home (Songs We Love, Songs You Know))
  • Karen Peck and New River (Pray Now)
Fairfield Four Records
2015Mike Farris (Shine for All the People)
beat 4 others
  • The Martins (A Cappella)
  • T. Graham Brown (Forever Changed)
  • Tim Menzies (His Way of Loving Me)
  • Gaither Vocal Band (Hymns)
Unknown