Rising Stars: Gospel

They’ve followed different paths to fame and fortune, but gospel’s rising stars are united by one sacred mission: worshiping the Lord through music. Here’s where exceptional musical talent meets a higher-than-earthly calling, producing levels of passion and emotional connection that are rare in any creative arena. James Fortune stirs our souls from the outset, by inviting accompaniment from fellow Texan disciples Shawn McLemore and Zacardi Cortez on a stirring live performance of “I Believe,” while the supreme vocal talent of J Moss shines brightly on the remixed version of “Rebuild,” and family group Forever Jones finds strength in numbers on “He Wants It All.”

More gospel up-and-comers await in Next Steps.

Our selection of rising gospel stars is flavored with divine funk here, as Kim Person raises the tempo and soars over a roof-raising choral backing on “You Did It,” ably assisted by a tight, driven brass section. Progressive gospel star Deitrick Haddon, who built his reputation by blending secular and spiritual elements into a unique brand of “gospel soul,” dazzles with the power and finesse of “Well Done” from 2011’s Church On the Moon, Wayne Starks comes out of Minnesota-St. Paul bearing exquisite gifts like “Ruler,” a highlight on his 2010 debut Believe, and South Carolina’s Gail Holmes channels God’s love through “Whatever It Is (Let It Go).”

The best of gospel’s rising stars reach for the heights in Deep Cuts.

The range, quality, and God-given strength of the vocalists among our Rising Stars: Gospel playlist is nothing less than astonishing — and a reminder of the cornerstone role of spiritual music in virtually any popular genre where a heightened degree of soul is essential. Here, LaShell Griffin, who found fame via Oprah Winfrey’s pop talent search in 2004, joins harpist Jeff Majors on “Broken Vessel,” and hits some incredible notes, Genita Pugh sinks into the rocking-chair tempo of traditional piece “Holy to the Lamb” and makes it all her own, and Isaac Carree (who also forms one-third of Men of Standard) offers a master class in pace and control on “Simply Redeemed.”

They are the anointed ones, the rising stars of gospel who serve as living testimony to the glory of the Lord by sharing His blessings through their own God-given talents. In return for their devotion, they are given the opportunity to spread the Word far and wide, choosing the stylistic path that best suits their incredible abilities, whether that means the worshipful soul of Tamela Mann (“The Master Plan”) or the Auto-Tuned electro-pop inflections of Tye Tribbett (“Fresh”). Lowell Pye steps into the spotlight with the funked-up inspirational power of “He’ll Make a Way” (helped out by Marvin L. Winans and Rance Allen) while VaShawn Mitchell, who spent years in musical ministries before turning to recording, leads the worship on “Nobody Greater.” With our download, we make it easy to keep these rising stars close to your heart.