Yolanda Adams | |
---|---|
![]() Adams in 2001 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Yolanda Yvette Adams |
Also known as |
|
Born | Houston, Texas, U.S. | August 27, 1961
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels | |
Website | yolandaadamslive |
Yolanda Yvette Adams (born August 27, 1961) is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling female gospel artists of all time, having sold over 10 million albums worldwide.[1] In addition to achieving multi-platinum status,[2] she has won four Grammy Awards,[3] four Dove Awards, five BET Awards, six NAACP Image Awards, six Soul Train Music Awards, two BMI Awards and sixteen Stellar Awards.[4] She is also the first Gospel artist to be awarded an American Music Award.[5]She is known as the "First Lady of Tributes",[6] while Variety dubbed her the "Reigning Queen of Urban Gospel".[7]
Adams was named by Billboard, in 2009, as the No. 1 gospel artist of the decade, driven by the sales of her album Mountain High...Valley Low.[8] In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Adams with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her volunteer service.[9] She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association in 2017.[10] In 2018, she became the first gospel artist nominated for a Tony Award for her work on SpongeBob SquarePants.[11] In 2019, she received the Soul Train Music Awards Lady of Soul Award,[12] and received critical acclaim for officially opening Super Bowl LIV with her performance of "America the Beautiful".[13] Billboard listed her as one of the Top Gospel Artist of the 2000s.[14] She has scored five number one albums on Billboard's Top Gospel Album.[15] Adams was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.