23 Top Christian Artists

One of the great things about Christian music is that it cuts across many music genres. The element of Christianity lies in the worship lyrics, but the musical accompaniment can be anything from modern rock with screaming guitar solos to bass-heavy hip-hop beats. Christian artists are flexible enough to draw many types of people to Jesus Christ. Therefore, the category of Christian songs is broad and the artists vary widely.

We’ve compiled a list of our selection of top Christian artists. Their songs span from Contemporary Christian Music to Christian Rap, but each of these songs provides a message of hope that will draw you closer to your faith.

Any list of good Christian songs should include chart-topping artists like Hillsong United and Chris Tomlin, but our goal is to also introduce you to a few Christian artists that you may not know. Enjoy!

Top Christian Artists

Chris Tomlin

It’s almost impossible to make a list of top Christian songs without mentioning Chris Tomlin. With over 7 million albums sold, he has become a superstar in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre. He hails from Grand Saline, Texas and is active in his home church as a worship leader and songwriter. He’s also a YouTube sensation who has garnered over 1 million subscribers and hundreds of millions of views on the platform.

Elevation Worship

Elevation Worship is a band from North Carolina, known best for its inspiring worship music. Their album There Is A Cloud was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2018 and features songs like “Do It Again,” and “O Come To The Altar.” They have many live performances available on YouTube, which makes it easy to experience their live and engaging sound.

Maverick City Music

Maverick City Music is a collective of worship and gospel artists from around the world. Their music is uplifting, inspiring, and contains elements of hip-hop that make it unique compared to other Christian artists. Maverick City Music has several songs that have become popular in the genre such as “Promises,” “Man of Your Word,” and “Closer.”

Victory Boyd

Victory Boyd is an up and coming singer-songwriter based in Detroit, Michigan. Victory’s music is a mix of R&B and gospel, which creates her unique sound. Her debut album Joy captures the beauty and power of faith, hope, and love. Popular tracks from the album include “Hold Me,” “My King,” and “Love My God.”

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith is a Contemporary Christian artist whose songs have topped the music charts in both CCM and mainstream categories. He has sold over 18 million albums and his biggest hit song, “Place in this World,” reached No. 6 on the Billboard charts.

MercyMe

MercyMe is a popular CCM band from Edmond, Oklahoma. The band includes lead vocalist Bart Millard, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul. Don’t hesitate to catch them live in concert if you get the chance. Their live performance is always a moving praise and worship experience.

Third Day

Third Day is a veteran Christian rock band from Marietta, Georgia. They rose to stardom during the 1990s and continued to produce amazing Christian music until 2018. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and Billy Wilkins.

Newsboys

Newsboys are a Christian rock band founded in the 1980s in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia. Throughout their lengthy career, the band has released 17 albums including six certified gold records. The band was started by Peter Furler and George Perdikis. But in 2019, the band consists of lead vocalist Michael Tait (formerly of DC Talk), keyboardist and bassist Jeff Frankenstein, drummer and percussionist Duncan Phillips, and guitarist Jody Davis.

Hillsong UNITED

Hillsong UNITED began as a praise and worship band in the Hillsong Church. The band officially formed as a part of the youth ministry and has amassed a following of millions of believers around the globe. The band consists of rotating worship leaders from the Hillsong Church.

Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist from Paducah, Kentucky.

Matthew West

With five studio albums to his credit, Matthew West is an American contemporary Christian musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. He was nominated for five Dove Awards in 2005.

Lacrae

Lecrae is an American Christian hip hop recording artist, songwriter, record producer, and actor from Houston, Texas. The music industry has showered Lacrae with accolades and awards including two Grammy Awards and seven Dove Awards.

Mandisa

Mandisa is an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist from Citrus Heights, California. She was the 9th-place finisher on the television show, American Idol.

Jars of Clay

Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. This popular group includes Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars. Jars of Clay has been nominated for and won several prominent awards, including Grammy Awards and Dove Awards.

Travis Greene

Travis Greene is not just an American gospel musician, he’s and pastor. He won a Billboard music award for Best Gospel Song for his hit, “Made a Way.” He also swept the Stellar Awards with seven wins in 2017.

Planetshakers

Planetshakers is a contemporary Christian band that serves as praise and worship leaders at Planetshakers Church in Melbourne, Australia. Their music catalog includes a massive 30 albums. They’re also no strangers to the Billboard charts and have won several Dove Awards.

NewSong

NewSong was founded in 1981 at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia. They are an American contemporary Christian music group with twelve GMA Dove Award nominations and one Grammy Award Nomination. 

NEEDTOBREATHE

Needtobreathe is an American Christian rock band from Seneca, South Carolina. They have won a string of GMA Dove Awards and they were nominated for a Grammy Award in 2015. The band includes Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart, Seth Bolt, and Josh Lovelace.

Bethel Music

Bethel Music is an American music label and worship ministry from Redding, California. The group originated out of Bethel Church in 2001. Bethel Music has now become a global outreach consisting of a collective of songwriters, artists, and musicians.

Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton is an American Christian music singer, songwriter, producer and worship leader. He is the creator of Israel & New Breed and he has won a huge number of GMA Dove Awards, Grammy Awards, and Stellar Awards.

Kirk Franklin

Kirk Franklin is an American Christian musician, songwriter, and author. He has won an incredible 13 Grammy Awards and many GMA Dove Awards, Stellar Awards, and BET Awards.

Sandy Patty

Sandy Patty, aka The Voice, is a veteran Christian music artist known for her sweet soprano voice and her vocal flexibility. Patty was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her awards credits include a massive number of GMA Dove Awards and five Grammy Awards.

DC Talk

DC Talk is a Christian rap and rock trio from Lynchburg, Virginia. They have released five major studio albums. They have four Grammy Awards and 16 GMA Dove Awards to their credit.

Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band. The group was formed in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida. Globally, they have sold more than 10 million albums.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Tasha Cobbs Leonard is an American Christian musician and songwriter. She won the Grammy for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

Amy Grant

Amy Grant, aka “The Queen of Christian Pop,” is an American Christian music singer, songwriter, musician, author and media personality from Augusta, Georgia. She has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and she has won six Grammy Awards, 22 GMA Dove Awards, and made Christian music history with the first Christian platinum album.

Top Christian Songs

1. Good Good Father – Chris Tomlin
2. Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) – Hillsong UNITED
3. Flawless – MercyMe
4. 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) (Live In Atlanta, GA/2011) – Matt Redman
5. God’s Not Dead (Like a Lion) – Newsboys
6. This Is Amazing Grace – Phil Wickham
7. Redeemed – Big Daddy Weave
8. Christ In Me – Jeremy Camp
9. Because He Lives (Amen) – Matt Maher
10. Voice Of Truth – Casting Crowns
11. Ever Be – Aaron Shust
12. I Can Only Imagine – MercyMe
13. Move (Keep Walkin’) – TobyMac
14. Chain Breaker – Zach Williams
15. By Your Side – Tenth Avenue North
16. Jesus – Chris Tomlin
17. My Victory – Crowder
18. Through Your Eyes – Britt Nicole
19. Fierce featuring Chris Quilala (Studio Version) – Jesus Culture
20. Revelation Song – Kari Jobe
21. Holy Spirit – Bryan And Katie Torwalt
22. Real Love (Studio Version) – Hillsong Young & Free
23. Dare You To Move – Switchfoot
24. The River – Jordan Feliz
25. Grace Wins – Matthew West
26. Jesus Freak (Remastered) – DC Talk
27. Home – Chris Tomlin
28. Second Wind (More Power To Ya Album Version) – Petra
29. Prince Of Peace (Live) – Hillsong UNITED
30. Run Devil Run – Crowder
31. At The Cross (Love Ran Red) – Chris Tomlin
32. Live It Well – Switchfoot
33. Feel It featuring Mr. TalkBox – TobyMac
34. You Move Me – Susan Ashton
35. Where You Are – Hillsong Young & Free
36. How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin
37. Lead Me To The Cross – Hillsong UNITED
38. Our God – Chris Tomlin
39. Starry Night – Chris August
40. There Will Be A Day – Jeremy Camp
41. Lead Me – Sanctus Real
42. How Can It Be – Lauren Daigle
43. Even So Come featuring Kristian Stanfill (Radio Version/Live) – Passion
44. The Motions – Matthew West
45. Speak Life – TobyMac
46. Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful (The Live Experience Album Version) – Keith Green
47. Shoulders – For King & Country
48. Gold – Britt Nicole
49. You Are God Alone – Phillips, Craig & Dean
50. He Knows – Jeremy Camp
51. We Believe – Newsboys
52. Soul On Fire (feat. All Sons & Daughters) – Third Day
53. This Means War! (This Means War Album Version) – Petra
54. Come As You Are – Crowder
55. First – Lauren Daigle
56. Mended (Radio Edit) – Matthew West
57. Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman
58. Touch The Sky – Hillsong UNITED
59. Start A Fire – Unspoken
60. Overwhelmed – Big Daddy Weave
61. Fix My Eyes (Radio Edit) – For King & Country
62. Where I Belong – Building 429
63. He Knows My Name – Francesca Battistelli
64. Hello, My Name Is – Matthew West
65. Overcome – Jeremy Camp
66. Give Me Your Eyes – Brandon Heath
67. Can’t Live A Day – Avalon
68. Overcomer – Mandisa
69. Ocean Floor – Audio Adrenaline
70. Redeemer (Live Version) – Nicole C. Mullen
71. More To This Life – Steven Curtis Chapman
72. In The Light – DC Talk
73. Lead Me On – Amy Grant
74. Friends – Michael W. Smith
75. Testify To Love – Avalon
76. Word Of God Speak – MercyMe
77. In Christ Alone – Newsboys
78. How He Loves – David Crowder Band
79. Cry Out To Jesus – Third Day
80. Strong Tower – Kutless
81. City On Our Knees – TobyMac
82. There Is A Redeemer – Keith Green
83. Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies) – Chris Tomlin
84. Hosanna – Hillsong UNITED
85. Agnus Dei / Worthy (remastered) – Third Day
86. Slow Down – Nichole Nordeman
87. One Step Away – Casting Crowns
88. Held – Natalie Grant
89. My Savior My God – Aaron Shust
90. What If I Stumble – DC Talk
91. Free To Be Me – Francesca Battistelli
92. Blessings – Laura Story
93. Big House – Audio Adrenaline
94. Place In This World – Michael W. Smith
95. God Of Wonders – Mac Powell
96. Dive – Steven Curtis Chapman
97. Forever (Live) – Kari Jobe
98. When God Ran – Phillips, Craig & Dean
99. Lord I’m Ready Now – Plumb
100. Break Every Chain (Live) – Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Conclusion

As this talented list demonstrates, Christian artists are diverse and international in their reach. These artists continue to create spirit-filled music that leads the masses to Jesus Christ through songs. Support each of their ministries by purchasing their music and attending a concert when they come to your town.

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