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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Trad. Gospel Album.

21 ceremonies, 1991–2011. 13 different winners. The longest run belongs to The Blind Boys of Alabama, with 3 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Patty Griffin in 2011 for Downtown Church.
Who has won the most?
Shirley Caesar, 5 wins (1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001).
  1. Downtown ChurchPatty Griffin
  2. Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music CelebrationVarious Artists
  3. Down in New OrleansThe Blind Boys of Alabama
  4. Live - One Last TimeThe Clark Sisters
  5. Alive in South AfricaIsrael & New Breed
  6. Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual SongsDonnie McClurkin
Years explored
1991–2011
Different winners
13
Category leader
Shirley Caesar · 5
About this record

Best Traditional 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.

It was previously known as Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.

The Soul dropped out of the name at the 2007 ceremony.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Gospel Album instead.

2000–2011

12 ceremonies

19912011

01 / The reigns

The Blind Boys of Alabama 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
    The Blind Boys of Alabama4 wins
  2. 02
    Shirley Caesar2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Shirley Caesar'00–'01×2
The Blind Boys of Alabama'02–'04×3
Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama'05
Donnie McClurkin'06
Israel & New Breed'07
The Clark Sisters'08
The Blind Boys of Alabama'09
Various Artists'10
Patty Griffin'11

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

EMI Gospel leads the recorded label credits with 2 wins, 2000–2011. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

EMI Gospel2 wins
Credential Recordings1 win
Integrity Music1 win
Real World1 win
Time-Life1 win
Virgin1 win
Wins by label
  1. EMI Gospel229%
  2. Credential Recordings114%
  3. Integrity Music114%
  4. Real World114%
  5. Time-Life114%
  6. Virgin114%

5 further wins have no label on record and are not counted in the 7 above.

5 of these 12 wins have no label on record, so the chart covers the other 7.

03 / The near misses

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

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011. Excludes 3 nominations credited to Various Artists, which names a compilation rather than an act.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Dottie Peoples
    3 noms
  2. 02
    Marvin Sapp
    3 noms
  3. 03
    The Williams Brothers
    3 noms
  4. 04
    Aaron Neville
    2 noms
  5. 05
    Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers
    2 noms
  6. 06
    Dorinda Clark-Cole
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Dottie Peoples
    3L · 0W
  2. 02
    Marvin Sapp
    3L · 0W
  3. 03
    Shirley Caesar
    3L · 2W
  4. 04
    The Williams Brothers
    3L · 0W
  5. 05
    Aaron Neville
    2L · 0W
  6. 06
    Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers
    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
2011Patty Griffin (Downtown Church)
beat 4 others
  • Karen Clark Sheard (All in One)
  • Marvin Sapp (Here I Am)
  • Vanessa Bell Armstrong (The Experience)
  • Shirley Caesar (A City Called Heaven)
Credential Recordings
2010Various Artists (Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration)
beat 4 others
  • Vickie Winans (How I Got Over)
  • The Williams Brothers (The Journey Continues)
  • Ashley Cleveland (God Don't Never Change)
  • Donald Lawrence (The Law of Confession, Part I)
EMI Gospel/Vector Recordings
2009The Blind Boys of Alabama (Down in New Orleans)
beat 4 others
  • The West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir (Charles E. Blake Presents... No Limit)
  • Voices Of Unity (Deitrick Haddon Presents Together In Worship)
  • Dorinda Clark-Cole (Take It Back)
  • The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir & Carol Cymbala (I'll Say Yes)
Time-Life
2008The Clark Sisters (Live - One Last Time)
beat 4 others
  • Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers (The Grand Finale: Encourage Yourself)
  • Smokie Norful (Life Changing)
  • Marvin Sapp (Thirsty)
  • BeBe Winans (Cherch)
EMI Gospel
2007Israel & New Breed (Alive in South Africa)
beat 4 others
  • Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers (Finale: Act One)
  • The Dixie Hummingbirds (Still Keeping it Real)
  • The Caravans (Paved the Way)
  • Byron Cage (An Invitation to Worship)
Integrity Music
2006Donnie McClurkin (Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs)
beat 5 others
  • Shirley Caesar (I Know the Truth)
  • Dorinda Clark-Cole (Live From Houston: The Rose of Gospel)
  • Martha Munizzi (Say the Name)
  • Bishop G.E. Patterson & Congregation (Singing The Old Time Way)
  • Marvin Sapp (Be Exalted)
Unknown
2005Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama (There Will Be a Light)
beat 4 others
  • The Rance Allen Group (The Live Experience)
  • Dottie Peoples (The Water I Give)
  • Richard Smallwood (The Praise & Worship Songs)
  • The Williams Brothers (Still Here)
Virgin
2004The Blind Boys of Alabama (Go Tell It on the Mountain)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Sensational Nightingales (Songs To Edify)
  • Aaron Neville (Believe)
  • Various Artists (Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan)
  • Shirley Caesar & Friends (Shirley Caesar & Friends)
Real World/Narada
2003The Blind Boys of Alabama (Higher Ground)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Dorothy Norwood (Live At Home)
  • The Canton Spirituals (Walking By Faith)
  • Twinkie Clark (Live in Charlotte)
  • Various Artists (Bishop T.D. Jakes Presents Woman Thou Art Loosed - Worship 2002)
Unknown
2002The Blind Boys of Alabama (Spirit of the Century)
beat 4 others
  • Shirley Caesar (Hymns)
  • New Life Community Choir featuring John P. Kee (Not Guilty...The Experience)
  • Dottie Peoples (Show Up and Show Out)
  • Richard Smallwood with Vision (Persuaded: Live in D.C.)
Unknown
2001Shirley Caesar (You Can Make It)repeat
beat 5 others
  • Mighty Clouds of Joy (It Was You)
  • Rev. James Moore (Family & Friends Live From Detroit)
  • Aaron Neville (Devotion)
  • Dorothy Norwood (Ole Rickety Bridge)
  • The Williams Brothers (The Concert)
Unknown
2000Shirley Caesar (Christmas with Shirley Caesar)
beat 4 others
  • The Dixie Hummingbirds (Music In The Air)
  • Dottie Peoples (God Can & God Will)
  • Pop Winans & The Winanaires (Uncensored)
  • Vickie Winans (Live In Detroit II)
Unknown