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Key Information

Kimberly Jean Burrell[1] (born August 26, 1972) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and pastor from Houston, Texas.

Early life

[edit]

Born Kimberly Jean Burrell on August 26, 1972, in Houston, Texas,[2] Burrell was one of four children born to Julius Burrell Jr., a pastor, and Helen Ruth Graham, an evangelist singer in The Church of God in Christ.[1] As a youth, Burrell began performing with Reverend James Cleveland's GMWA Youth Mass Choir (also known as Rev. James Cleveland's Kids).[3]

Career

[edit]

1989–2003

[edit]

Burrell's performances continued with Trinity Temple Full Gospel Mass Choir of Dallas and The Inspirational Sounds Mass Choir of Houston.[3] In 1996, she was a featured singer on the reprise of "Jesus Paid It All" on Ricky Dillard & New G's album Worked It Out. Her first independent album, Try Me Again, was released on the Texas-based boutique label Pearl Records in 1995. This led to her being signed to Tommy Boy Gospel and releasing another album, Everlasting Life (1998), produced by Asaph Alexander Ward. The album peaked at #10 on the Billboard Gospel Charts.[4] Burrell recorded Live In Concert, a live album in November 2000 at the annual COGIC Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee. The album was released in 2001. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Album in 2002. Though Tommy Boy Gospel closed shortly after the release of Live In Concert, by 2002, she had signed a recording contract with Elektra Records.[5] Under this contract she recorded only a guest appearance on the all-star gospel track "Higher Ground", which first appeared as a bonus track on Missy Elliott's album Miss E... So Addictive[6] and was later featured on Karen Clark Sheard's 2nd Chance album. Burrell has continued to perform live and to collaborate with other artists. Though only intermittently active as a recording artist, she established and hosts the annual Ephesians 4 conference, a workshop for performing artists.

2004–present

[edit]

In 2004, Burrell was a guest performer along with Kelly Price on R. Kelly's "3-Way Phone Call" playing the part of Price's "prayer partner" in the soap opera-like song.[7] She appeared in George Clinton's original song "Mathematics of Love" on Clinton's 2008 album of covers, George Clinton and Some Gangsters of Love.[8] Burrell released her first studio album in 11 years, No Ways Tired, on April 7, 2009, through Shanachie Records.[9] The album features covers of classic gospel songs like "My Faith Looks Up To Thee," "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," "O Lamb Of God" and "I Surrender All," as well as the classic James Cleveland song after which the album is named.[10][11] Burrell has uncredited vocals on Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed” from his 2016 album Blonde. Burrell sang "I see a Victory" with Pharrell Williams for the soundtrack to the feature film Hidden Figures (2016).[12]

In December 2016, a video surfaced showing Burrell preaching a sermon at the Love & Liberty Fellowship Church.[13][14] In that sermon, she called people who engage in homosexual acts "perverted" and said they had been deceived by the "homosexual spirit."[15][16] She also warned that people who "play with" homosexual sin would "die from it" in 2017.[17] In response to considerable criticism, Burrell said that she makes "no excuses or apologies" for the sermon, adding "I love you, and God loves you, but he hates the sin in you and me."[18] Shortly after the video of the sermon surfaced, The Ellen DeGeneres Show canceled Burrell's scheduled appearance,[19] as did the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music event, where she was removed as an honoree.[20] Her radio talk show, Bridging the Gap with Kim Burrell, was canceled by Texas Southern University.[21] In 2024, Burrell issued a public apology to the LGBTQ+ community at the 2024 BET Awards for her comments, stating that she "used the name of God to hurt others" and stated that she regrets these views and now opposes them.[22]

Selected discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
  • Try Me Again (Pearl, 1995)
  • Everlasting Life (Tommy Boy Gospel, 1998)
  • Live In Concert (Tommy Boy Gospel, 2001)
  • No Ways Tired (Shanachie, 2009)[9]
  • The Love Album (Shanachie, 2011)
  • A Different Place (Shanachie, 2015)

Singles

[edit]
  • "Special Place" (Bad Boy Entertainment, 2001)
  • "Little Drummer Boy" (New Brand Records, 2018)
  • "Working For Your Good" (New Brand Records & Malloy Entertainment, 2022)

Videos

[edit]
  • Live In Concert (VHS) (Tommy Boy Gospel, 2001)

Other appearances

[edit]
Year Title Artist Album Label
1990 "Praise Him" GMWA National Youth Mass Choir Win The World For Christ Sweet Rain
1996 "Jesus Paid It All" Ricky Dillard & New G Worked It Out Crystal Rose
1998 "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus (Remix)" Trinity Temple Mass Choir featuring Kim Burrell Gospel Out-Takes: Unreleased Music Tyscot
2000 "Woman" Kim Burrell with Montrel Darrett J2K Jesus 2000 EMI Gospel
2000 "God's Favor" Tri-City Singers featuring Karen Clark-Sheard, Kim Burrell, and Kelly Price Tri-City4.com EMI Gospel
2001 "Special Place" Kim Burrell Thank You (Unreleased) Bad Boy
2002 "The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow" Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Choir Family Affair II: Live At Radio City Music Hall Verity
2001 "Higher Ground" Missy Elliott feat. Yolanda Adams, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark-Sheard, Mary Mary & Kim Burrell Miss E...So Addictive Elektra
2002 "The Moment I Prayed" Kirk Whalum featuring Kim Burrell The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter II Word
2002 "I'm Gonna Praise Him" Kim Burrell Gospel Today Presents: Praise and Worship 2002 Verity
2003 "We Praise You Lord" Shirley Caesar featuring Kim Burrell Shirley Caesar & Friends Word
2003 "Go Tell It" Gary Mayes & Nu Era featuring Kim Burrell Go Tell It: The N.E. X-Perience, Vol. 2 Gvm Soul Muzick
2003 "I Pray On Christmas" Harry Connick, Jr. featuring Kim Burrell Harry For The Holidays (DVD-only bonus track) Columbia
2003 "Try Jesus"
"O When I Come"
"Family That Prays Together"
 The Stewart Singers featuring Kim Burrell Back to the Roots Independent
2004 "3-Way Phone Call" R. Kelly featuring Kim Burrell & Kelly Price Happy People/U Saved Me Jive
2004 "You Can Change" Tye Tribbett & G.A. featuring Kim Burrell Life Columbia/Sony Gospel
2005 "Soldier" The Andrews Brothers featuring Kim Burrell Free Indeed Sic Records
2005 "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved" Stevie Wonder featuring Kim Burrell A Time 2 Love Motown
2005 "Not Until" Lexi featuring Kim Burrell A Praise in the Valley [Live] Holy Music
2006 "Everything Will Be Alright (reprise)" Tye Tribbett & G.A. featuring Kim Burrell Victory Live Columbia/Sony Gospel
2006 "All These People" (single) (all proceeds to New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village) Harry Connick Jr featuring Kim Burrell Oh My NOLA Columbia
2007 "Over and Over Again" VaShawn Mitchell featuring Kim Burrell Promises Tyscot
2007 "Journey" Richard Smallwood featuring Kim Burrell Journey: Live In New York Verity
2007 "If You Never" Byron Cage featuring Kim Burrell & J. Moss Live At the Apollo: The Proclamation GospoCentric/Zomba Gospel
2007 "Try" Marvin Winans featuring Kim Burrell Alone But Not Alone PureSprings Gospel
2007 "I Come To Thee" Sean Jones featuring Kim Burrell Kaleidoscope Mack Avenue
2007 "You're the Reason" Sean Jones featuring Kim Burrell Kaleidoscope Mack Avenue
2008 "I Understand" Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, BeBe Winans, Mariah Carey & Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Tabernacle Choir Randy Jackson's Music Club: Volume One Concord Music Group
2008 "He Has Made Me Glad" Tye Tribbett & GA featuring Kim Burrell Stand Out Columbia/Integrity
2008 "Mathematics of Love" [8] George Clinton featuring Kim Burrell George Clinton and Some Gangsters of Love Shanachie Records
2008 "Song for the Hopeful" Harry Connick, Jr. featuring Kim Burrell What a Night! A Christmas Album Columbia/Sony
"Let There Be Peace On Earth
2012 "I Win" John P. Kee featuring Kim Burrell Life & Favor Kee Music Group
"My Worship Remix
2012 "With You" James Fortune featuring Kim Burrell Identity E1 Entertainment
2016 "Godspeed" Frank Ocean featuring Kim Burrell blond Boys Don't Cry
2016 "I See A Victory" Pharrell Williams & Kim Burrell Hidden Figures Soundtrack Columbia/Sony
2016 "Na You" Dunsin Oyekan & Kim Burrell Code Red
2017 "4:44" Jay Z featuring Kim Burrell 4:44 Roc Nation
2018 "Grace" Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago feat. Kim Burrell Grace: The Remixes – EP Inspired People, LLC
2018 "Sunshine Feel Good" Snoop Dogg & Kim Burrell Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love RCA Inspiration
2018 "Talk to God" Mali Music & Kim Burrell Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love RCA Inspiration
2020 "Don't Let Go (feat. Kim Burrell) PJ Morton & Kim Burrell Gospel According To PJ Morton Inspiration/Tyscot Records, LLC
2022 "Victory (Remix) feat. Kim Burrell" Kenny Lewis & One Voice feat. Kim Burrell Victory (Remix) feat. Kim Burrell Broadcast Music Inc.
2022 "Anyway (Live)" Zacardi Cortez feat. Pastor Kim Burrell Imprint Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
2022 "Anyhow Reprise" Tye Tribbett feat. Kim Burrell, Jekalyn Carr, Isaac Carree, Zacardi Cortez, Tasha Page-Lockhart, and Isaiah Templeton All Things New Motown Gospel
2023 "Tap Into It (The Source)" Renee Spearman feat. Kim Burrell The Source The Orchard Music
2024 "Call His Name" Kenny Lewis & One Voice feat. Kim Burrell Call His Name PureSound Muzik Group
2025 "Makes My Day" Cory Montell Scott & Kim Burrell Makes My Day CSMusic Productions, LLC

Awards

[edit]

Dove Awards

[edit]
Main article: Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Burrell has received 1 award.[23]

Year Award Nominated work Result
2012 Urban Recorded Song of the Year "Sweeter" Won

Grammy Awards

[edit]
Main article: Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Burrell has received 3 nominations.[24]

Year Award Nominated work Result
2002 Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Live In Concert Nominated
2009 Best Best Gospel Performance "I Understand" Nominated
2012 Best Gospel Album The Love Album Nominated

Stellar Awards

[edit]

The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Burrell has received 3 awards and 1 honorary award.[25][26][27]

Year Award Nominated work Result
2000 Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year Everlasting Life Won
Contemporary CD of the Year Nominated
2002 Urban/Inspirational Performance of the Year Live in Concert Nominated
Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated
2010 No Ways Tired Nominated
2012 The Love Album Won
Female Vocalist of the Year Won
2021 Traditional Female Artist of the Year Gospel According to PJ Nominated
2024 Herself Aretha Franklin Icon Award Honored

Miscellaneous awards

[edit]
Year Organization Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2000 Funk Music Excellence Award Female Vocalist of the Year – Contemporary Everlasting Life Won [28]
2002 Soul Train Music Awards Best Gospel album Live In Concert Nominated
2016 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Gospel Album – Traditional or Contemporary A Different Place Nominated
2017 Outstanding Song, Traditional "I See Victory" (with Pharrell) Won

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kim Burrell

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Kimberly Jean Burrell (born August 26, 1972) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and pastor from Houston, Texas, noted for blending jazz elements with traditional gospel music through her powerful vocal range and improvisational style.
Raised in the Church of God in Christ as the daughter of pastor Julius Burrell Jr. and evangelist Helen Burrell, she performed her first solo at age eight and began recording professionally in the early 1990s. Her breakthrough album Everlasting Life (2000) earned her a Stellar Award for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year, and subsequent releases like Live (2002) and No Way Tired (2009) garnered multiple Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Gospel Album and Performance. She has collaborated with secular artists, including features on tracks by Frank Ocean and Pharrell Williams, while maintaining a focus on faith-based music that critiques cultural shifts away from Christian doctrine.
In 2010, Burrell established the Love & Liberty Fellowship Pentecostal Overcoming Holy Church in Houston, where she serves as senior pastor and delivers sermons rooted in literal biblical interpretation, including condemnations of homosexuality as perversion, which have resulted in professional repercussions such as canceled television appearances despite her refusal to retract such teachings. Her career exemplifies a commitment to gospel artistry and pastoral authority amid tensions between evangelical convictions and mainstream entertainment norms.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Kimberly Jean Burrell was born on August 26, 1972, in , , as one of four children to Julius Burrell Jr., a and musician, and Helen Ruth Graham, an evangelist and gospel singer affiliated with the (COGIC). Her siblings included brother Kevin and sisters Karen and Kathy, with whom she later formed a performance group known as the "4 Ks." The family maintained a deeply pious household centered on COGIC principles, which stress , holiness standards, and expressive worship. Burrell's upbringing revolved around her father's congregation, where she was immersed from infancy in church services, choir rehearsals, and ministerial activities that blended music with preaching. This environment sparked her initial engagement with ; she performed her first solo at age one and began regular singing in local , including the Greater Emmanuel COGIC in . Family gatherings often involved collaborative songwriting around the piano led by her brother Kevin, reinforcing the integration of artistic expression and spiritual devotion inherited from her parents' vocations. The Burrell home's emphasis on evangelical discipline and communal worship provided a formative foundation in both vocal performance and oratory, distinct from secular influences, amid Houston's vibrant culture during the 1970s and 1980s.

Career

Early musical beginnings (1980s–2003)

Burrell, born in , , began performing in local settings during her childhood, singing her first solo at the age of one and participating in various choirs thereafter. She developed her skills within the Greater Emmanuel (COGIC), recording with the church choir under the direction of Evangelist Myra Summers. Early in her career, Burrell contributed vocals to group recordings, including those with the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) Youth Choir and the Trinity Temple Full Gospel Mass Choir of Dallas. By the early , Burrell was actively performing live in gospel circuits, including appearances at events such as the Gospel Explosion in , where archival footage captures her as a young singer delivering powerful renditions. These performances helped establish her presence within niche gospel communities, though she remained focused on traditional and contemporary gospel styles without broader commercial reach. She traveled internationally for gospel engagements during this period, building a dedicated following through independent and church-affiliated outlets. Burrell's first solo album, Everlasting Life, was released on November 24, 1998, by , marking a maturation in her spiritual and musical expression compared to prior group work. The 13-track project, produced by Asaph Alexander Ward and spanning approximately 48 minutes, featured songs such as "I'll Keep Holding On," "Holy Ghost," and "Over and Over, Again," blending contemporary elements with personal vocal intensity. It earned her the 1999 Gospel Music Excellence Award for Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, solidifying her reputation in circles prior to mainstream crossovers.

Mainstream recognition and collaborations (2004–2016)

Burrell's album No Ways Tired, released on April 7, 2009, by , featured interpretations of classic standards and earned her Grammy nominations in for Best Contemporary Album and Best Contemporary Performance for the track "Happy". This release solidified her standing within circles, blending traditional influences with her signature jazz-inflected vocal style, though it achieved modest commercial traction primarily in niche markets. Her follow-up, The Love Album, issued in by Shanachie, received a Grammy nomination in 2012 for Best Gospel Album, highlighting tracks that explored themes of divine affection through contemporary arrangements. Burrell also garnered Stellar Award nominations during this period for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year, reflecting sustained peer acclaim in despite her work's limited crossover to secular charts, where gospel artists often face structural barriers to broad radio play and sales. These accolades underscored her vocal prowess and interpretive depth, earning praise from industry outlets for bridging purity with accessible production. By 2016, Burrell expanded into mainstream collaborations, contributing vocals to Frank Ocean's Blonde on the track "Godspeed," which introduced her timbre to broader R&B and alternative audiences. That same year, she partnered with Pharrell Williams on "I See Victory," featured on the Hidden Figures: The Album soundtrack released October 28, blending gospel uplift with pop production; the duo performed it live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on December 8, amplifying her visibility beyond ecclesiastical venues. These ventures marked a pinnacle of inter-genre fusion, though her core output remained rooted in gospel, with mainstream exposure serving more as episodic nods than sustained commercial dominance.

Recent projects and reflections (2017–present)

In August 2017, Burrell released the live album Kim Burrell Live in Miami, recorded during her Conference and featuring performances of gospel standards emphasizing themes of spiritual endurance. She continued contributing guest vocals to projects within the genre, including a feature on Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago's EP Grace: The Remixes, which blended traditional gospel with contemporary production. Burrell maintained visibility through high-profile gospel events, receiving the Icon Award at the 39th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on July 20, 2024, recognizing her contributions to the field over decades. In October 2024, she joined pianist for an unannounced appearance, showcasing her in a jazz-gospel fusion setting that preceded her formal residency. Expanding into theater in 2025, Burrell debuted as in a revival of at Little Island's Amph theater from July 8 to 26, portraying the role in Lee Breuer and Bob Telson's gospel adaptation of ' , where her performance integrated soaring vocals with narrative depth. That , she headlined a residency at , delivering sets that highlighted her improvisational style and sustained appeal in live settings despite industry shifts. In public statements and interviews, Burrell has reflected on balancing her musical output with pastoral duties, noting in a 2025 social media update her anticipation for divine direction in ongoing work without compromising core scriptural convictions. During an April 2025 appearance on the Jamal Bryant , she addressed career persistence amid challenges, underscoring the primacy of unyielding biblical fidelity over market-driven adaptations in her artistry and ministry. These reflections align with her pattern of prioritizing thematic consistency, as seen in 2025 performances like a medley rendition emphasizing providential themes.

Ministry

Pastoral roles and Love & Liberty Church

Kim Burrell founded Love & Liberty Fellowship Pentecostal Overcoming Holy Church in , , in November 2010, where she serves as Senior Eldress and Overseer-Bishop. Prior to this, she had served as an assistant pastor at Jericho City and was installed as the lead pastor of the new congregation around late 2010 or early 2011, following a period of personal trials including multiple heart attacks. The church, initially established near the Acres Homes neighborhood and later relocated to a modest facility at 16730 Hedgecroft Drive in the Greenspoint area, maintains a mission centered on proclaiming the Gospel of Christ through Pentecostal doctrines. With approximately 100 regular members as of 2011, the congregation has shown steady growth, operating in a space identified primarily by a simple banner. Burrell's pastoral leadership emphasizes efficient delivery of scriptural teaching, stating her commitment to "getting in, getting the information out and getting done" during services that incorporate praise, prayer, and congregational singing. Her sermons prioritize sound biblical principles and doctrine, focusing on building up members through direct exposition rather than performative elements, aiming to foster genuine spiritual comprehension of God's nature. While music features prominently in —reflecting her dual calling—Burrell distinguishes her approach by urging congregants to grasp the divine essence behind expressions of faith, countering superficial engagement with substantive . This framework aligns with conservative traditions that stress unaltered scriptural authority on moral causation and redemption.

Controversies and public statements

In a sermon delivered on December 31, 2016, at in , Kim Burrell characterized homosexual acts as stemming from a "perverted homosexual spirit" that induces delusion and confusion, deceiving individuals and straining familial bonds. She warned that anyone "playing with" such in 2017 would "die from it" within the year, invoking a biblical framework where God distinguishes love for people from hatred of , consistent with prohibitions in :22 and :26-27 against male same-sex relations as detestable or unnatural. Adherents to traditional praised the remarks as unflinching adherence to scriptural mandates against sexual immorality, viewing them as prophetic cautions against cultural normalization of what scripture deems , akin to warnings on or . The sermon's viral spread elicited swift condemnation from secular media and entertainment figures, who deemed it homophobic and discriminatory. On January 3, 2017, Ellen DeGeneres announced the cancellation of Burrell's scheduled appearance on her show, asserting no tolerance for prejudice against LGBTQ individuals. Pharrell Williams, a collaborator on the track "I See Victory" from the Hidden Figures soundtrack, publicly rejected the comments as "hate speech," leading to BMI withdrawing Burrell's performance slot at its Gospel Music Awards. Urban One terminated her radio program "Bridging the Gap" on January 5, 2017, citing misalignment with inclusive values. Mainstream outlets, often aligned with progressive advocacy, amplified narratives of harm to LGBTQ mental health and visibility, though Burrell countered that her words targeted behavior, not identity, and expressed love tempered by divine judgment on sin. Defenders highlighted inconsistencies in outrage, as similar biblical stances prevail among gospel artists and black church leaders—Pew Research data from 2019 shows 59% of black Protestants believe homosexuality should be discouraged—suggesting selective scrutiny driven by cultural shifts rather than doctrinal novelty. Burrell stood firm initially, reiterating in January 2017 interviews that she harbored no regrets, as her views mirrored exhortations like 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 listing homosexual practice among acts barring inheritance of God's kingdom unless repented. Supporters in circles, including some preachers, affirmed this as fidelity to unchanging scripture amid encroaching , contrasting with academic and media sources prone to framing traditional theology as bigotry without engaging textual exegesis. On July 20, 2024, while accepting the Icon Award at the Stellar Awards, Burrell issued an apology, acknowledging the "hurtful" effects of her prior statements on and urging collective strength through dialogue and bridge-building. , an LGBTQ advocacy group, welcomed the gesture but contextualized it against her history, while skeptics attributed its timing to career rehabilitation post-backlash. In an April 2025 interview with Rev. Jamal Bryant, Burrell elaborated that she now viewed elements of her 2016 delivery as erroneous—not the underlying , which she maintained as biblically derived—but the phrasing that amplified pain without sufficient nuance. Debates resurfaced in July 2025 when Burrell starred as in a revival of at Little Island in New York, sharing the stage with queer performers including under direction emphasizing inclusivity. Critics questioned consistency, positing performative reconciliation or rebranding to regain secular footing, while proponents saw it as extending grace without doctrinal compromise, mirroring scriptural calls to minister amid diversity.

Other criticisms and defenses

In July 2022, during a at Kingdom City Church, Burrell drew criticism for referring to some congregants as "broke" and "ugly" in a sermon segment intended to motivate self-improvement and faith-based transformation. Critics, including users and commentators in outlets like , accused her of classism and body-shaming, arguing the remarks demeaned economically disadvantaged and physically unappealing attendees rather than offering constructive spiritual guidance. Burrell responded with a partial apology, clarifying the comments as hyperbolic "" to challenge complacency and encourage prosperity through diligence, while threatening legal action against those sharing decontextualized clips that misrepresented her intent. Burrell has defended her overall public stance against attempts at professional ostracism, attributing resilience to empirical outcomes like her church's sustained operations and personal career longevity post-2017 backlash. In a 2022 interview, she highlighted facing physical threats after high-profile cancellations, framing such episodes as evidence of targeted suppression rather than organic reputational decline, with her continued invitations to minister—such as at events in 2024—demonstrating viewpoint durability over cancel-culture pressures. Observers from conservative theological circles have echoed this, noting her Love & Liberty Church's focus on personal agency aligns with data showing correlations between emphasis on individual responsibility and reduced poverty persistence in faith-based communities, countering narratives of inherent victimhood. In a 2025 podcast with Jamal Bryant, Burrell addressed perceived inconsistencies in leadership, critiquing selective moral outrage that overlooks internal economic stagnation and favors performative amid broader declines in traditional congregations—from 66% weekly participation among black Protestants in 2000 to 46% by 2019 per Pew Research. She argued such hypocrisy perpetuates cycles of dependency by prioritizing external alliances over rigorous doctrinal application, positioning her direct style as accountable realism derived from pastoral observations of unchanged congregant outcomes under softer approaches. Mainstream coverage often amplified outrage without full sermon transcripts, a pattern attributable to institutional biases favoring progressive framings, yet Burrell's rebuttals emphasize verifiable ministry metrics like repeat as rebuttal to efficacy claims.

Personal life

Marriage, family, and losses

Kim Burrell married Joseph Wiley, also known as "Joseph 'Jo Jo' Wiley," prior to 2017. The couple has faced persistent rumors of separation or since at least early 2017, when reports emerged of Wiley allegedly leaving Burrell for another man, though no official confirmation of has been documented as of 2025. Burrell and Wiley have two children: a son named Christian and a named , who was reported to be 8 years old in September 2025. Burrell has publicly emphasized the centrality of faith and family structure in raising her children, drawing from her own upbringing in a religious household in Houston, . In February 2017, amid heightened public scrutiny from her professional controversies, Burrell suffered a significant personal loss when her older brother, Kevin Jordan, died from a massive on February 6. This event compounded familial strain during a period of intense external pressure, though Burrell has described it as a time when her faith sustained her family unit.

Discography

Studio albums

Everlasting Life, Burrell's debut studio album, was released on November 17, 1998, via Tommy Boy Gospel. Featuring 13 tracks rooted in contemporary gospel, it includes songs like "Holy Ghost" and "Prodigal Son," which explore themes of spiritual perseverance, divine intervention, and personal redemption through worshipful lyrics and soul-infused arrangements. The production blends traditional gospel elements with urban contemporary influences, showcasing Burrell's vocal range and improvisational style in a format distinct from her later works. Following an 11-year gap, No Ways Tired arrived on April 7, 2009, under , marking her return to original studio material after focusing on live recordings and collaborations. This album maintains a core while incorporating and R&B fusions, with tracks emphasizing endurance in faith amid life's trials, reflecting Burrell's evolving sound from strictly traditional roots toward broader stylistic experimentation. The Love Album, released on May 17, 2011, also by Shanachie, consists of ten self-composed or covered tracks that meditate on love's dual nature—romantic intimacy and spiritual devotion—delivered through jazzy phrasing and honest vocal delivery. Critics noted its boundary-blurring approach, praising Burrell's emotive spirituality akin to influences like , though some purists critiqued the lyrical ambiguity between earthly and divine affection for potentially diluting doctrinal clarity. The record received positive artistic acclaim for its production and Burrell's interpretive depth, earning an 8.8/10 average user rating on .

Singles and collaborations

Kim Burrell released "I See Victory" as a with in September 2016, featured on the film soundtrack, which broadened her exposure to secular audiences through performances on platforms like . The track, blending gospel vocals with pop production, peaked within gospel airplay charts and contributed to the soundtrack's commercial success. In 2008, Burrell collaborated with funk pioneer George Clinton on "Mathematics of Love," a track from Clinton's album George Clinton and Some Gangsters of Love, fusing her gospel style with P-Funk elements in a remake emphasizing relational themes. She also featured on 's "Song for the Hopeful" that year, showcasing her vocal range in a jazz- hybrid. Burrell's standalone singles include "Special Place" (2001) on Bad Boy Entertainment and "Thank You Jesus (That's What He's Done)" (2015), the latter ascending radio charts amid anticipation for her full-length projects. More recent efforts feature her on Renee Spearman's "Tap Into It (The Source)" (2023), which reached number one on the Airplay chart, and Elijah Blake's "" (2024), highlighting ongoing cross-artist engagements. These works have sustained her presence in rankings while attracting diverse collaborators, though purists occasionally critique genre-blending for potentially softening traditional purity, evidenced by persistent chart loyalty in core formats.

Awards and nominations

Burrell has received multiple nominations for the Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for Live in Concert in 2002, Best Gospel Performance for "I Understand" in 2009, and Best Gospel Album for The Love Album in 2012. In the gospel music genre, she won the Stellar Award for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year in 2000 and received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award at the 39th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on July 20, 2024.
YearAwardCategory/NominationResult
2002Grammy AwardBest Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (Live in Concert)Nominated
2009Grammy AwardBest Gospel Performance ("I Understand")Nominated
2012Grammy AwardBest Gospel Album (The Love Album)Nominated
2000Stellar Gospel Music AwardsContemporary Female Vocalist of the YearWon
2024Stellar Gospel Music AwardsAretha Franklin Icon AwardWon

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kim-burrell-mn0000099423
  2. https://wbssmedia.com/artists/detail/2035
  3. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/singers/kim-burrell-net-worth/
  4. https://uaagency.com/gospel/kim-burrell/
  5. https://www.shanachie.com/artist/kim-burrell
  6. https://www.thefader.com/2016/08/20/meet-kim-burrell
  7. https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakers/405979/Kim-Burrell
  8. https://famousintel.com/kim-burrell/
  9. https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Grammy-nominee-Kim-Burrell-fills-her-Houston-1417806.php
  10. https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/9seqsu/lift-every-voice-the-evolution-of-kim-burrell/h8ybng
  11. https://journalofgospelmusic.com/gospel/kim-burrell-from-emmanuel-cogic-to-lincoln-center/
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSkBdkLls_I
  13. https://www.khou.com/article/news/grammy-nominated-gospel-singer-from-houston-talks-about-her-inspiration/285-339810269
  14. https://www.gospelflava.com/articles/burrell.html
  15. https://www.allmusic.com/album/everlasting-life-mw0000043173
  16. https://open.spotify.com/album/5osHcJQQp4L427CSkGZxMO
  17. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCwzfbZvUCZ/?hl=en
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  19. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1534145/awards/
  20. https://www.grammy.com/artists/kim-burrell/8665
  21. http://hawkeears.weebly.com/album-reviews/kim-burrell-the-love-album
  22. https://music.apple.com/ca/song/i-see-a-victory/1173993772
  23. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-pharrell-kim-burrell-perform-spirited-i-see-a-victory-110960/
  24. https://www.gmusicplus.com/tag/kim-burrell/
  25. https://www.thestellarawards.com/2024-winners-press-release.html
  26. https://theknockturnal.com/kim-burrell-a-radiant-blue-note-residency/amp/
  27. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/theater/kim-burrell-the-gospel-at-colonus.html
  28. https://playbill.com/article/davone-tines-and-kim-burrell-star-in-gospel-at-colonus-on-little-island-beginning-july-8
  29. https://www.facebook.com/KimBurrellLove/videos/i-am-extremely-excited-about-what-god-is-doing-in-2025-lets-stay-connected-these/3587516894874353/
  30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABY_8m61JJw
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9ezxP1G1MQ
  32. https://www.facebook.com/Churchgist.org/posts/female-minister-fridaykim-burrellkim-burrell-is-a-musician-writerproducer-orator/2078012649009262/
  33. https://www.houstonpress.com/music/kim-burrell-houstons-pastor-and-gospel-singer-to-the-stars-7802796/
  34. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/04/kim-burrell-sermon-ellen-degeneres-pharrell-williams
  35. https://www.christianpost.com/news/kim-burrell-doesnt-regret-sermon-condemning-homosexuality-saying-position-is-biblical.html
  36. https://sbcvoices.com/four-competing-views-in-the-black-church-on-homosexuality-william-dwight-mckissic-sr/
  37. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38505964
  38. https://deadline.com/2017/01/kim-burrell-ellen-show-canceled-following-burrell-anti-gay-sermon-1201878011/
  39. https://time.com/4624891/kim-burrell-radio-show-homophobic/
  40. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38495094
  41. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kim-burrell-apology-lgbtq-community-hurtful-1235739202/
  42. https://glaad.org/releases/glaad-responds-to-gospel-artist-kim-burrells-apology-to-lgbtq-community-during-stellar-awards-icon-acceptance-speech/
  43. https://thegrio.com/2025/04/29/kim-burrell-reflects-on-past-comments-shes-made-about-the-lgbtq-community-that-was-wrong/
  44. https://www.eewmagazineonline.com/latest-news/2025/7/11/redemption-or-rebrand-kim-burrell-shares-stage-with-queer-artists-in-the-gospel-at-colonus
  45. https://www.blackenterprise.com/gospel-singer-kim-burrell-faces-backlash-after-calling-out-broke-ugly-congregation-members/
  46. https://www.yahoo.com/news/gospel-singer-kim-burrell-apologises-165544312.html
  47. https://thatgrapejuice.net/2022/07/kim-burrell-apologizes-for-ugly-church-sermon-threatens-critics-with-legal-action/
  48. https://thejasminebrand.com/2022/11/03/kim-burrell-reveals-she-was-shot-at-after-her-performance-on-the-ellen-show-was-canceled-due-to-homophobic-remarks/
  49. https://balleralert.com/profiles/blogs/kim-burrell-is-not-letting-the-backlash-stop-her-from-ministering-to-her-congregation/
  50. https://www.logicrec.com/9604434/gospel-039-s-kim-burrell-to-minister-again-after-039-broke-039-sermon-pastor-advising-her-kim-burrell-making-church-return-after-039-broke-039-sermon-pastor-counseling-her-exclusive-411-7-22-12-40-am-pt/
  51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNs4IRID6mU
  52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SEDH_LO8ko
  53. https://defendernetwork.com/culture/celebrity/kim-burrell-church-singing-controversy/
  54. https://hollywoodlife.com/celeb/kim-burrell/
  55. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4091652/Fashion-designer-used-transgender-converted-gospel-singer-Kim-Burrell-stands-star-booted-Ellen-show.html
  56. https://www.christianpost.com/news/i-am-delivert-andrew-caldwell-claps-back-at-kim-burrell-makes-bold-claim-about-her-husbands-sexuality.html
  57. https://www.logicrec.com/85919153/kim-burrell-married-joseph-wiley-is-she-getting-divorce/
  58. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOWvKlPEpVY/?hl=en
  59. https://www.rhymeswithsnitch.com/2017/02/kim-burrell-in-mourning.html?m=1
  60. http://www.empoweringeverydaywomen.com/kim-burrell-addresses-controversy-death-of-brother-kevin-jordan-eew-magazine.html
  61. https://genius.com/albums/Kim-burrell/Everlasting-life
  62. https://www.discogs.com/master/889097-Kim-Burrell-Everlasting-Life
  63. https://genius.com/artists/Kim-burrell/albums
  64. https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/kim-burrell/14311089
  65. https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-love-album-mw0002100693
  66. https://journalofgospelmusic.com/gospel/the-love-album-kim-burrell/
  67. https://soultracks.com/review/review-kim-burrell-the-love-album/
  68. https://gospelflava.com/v2/kim-burrell-and-pharrell-appear-on-tonight-show/
  69. https://praisedc.com/1804259/kim-burrell-teams-up-with-pharrell-for-a-brand-new-single-i-see-victory-video/
  70. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rJtHxkwNac
  71. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GIAXrztY2o
  72. https://eurweb.com/2015/kim-burrells-thank-you-jesus-thats-what-hes-done-climbs-up-charts/
  73. https://blackgospelradio.net/music/songs/1-gospel-songs/renee-spearmans-tap-into-it-featuring-kim-burrell-soars-to-1-on-the-billboard-gospel-airplay-chart/
  74. https://youknowigotsoul.com/elijah-blake-releases-video-for-battlefield-featuring-kim-burrell
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