Contemporary Christian music traces back to a handful of artists who took the sound of their generation and pointed it toward Jesus. Here are 10 who helped build the genre into what it is today.
1. Larry Norman
Widely credited as a founding figure of "Jesus Music" in the late 1960s, blending folk-rock with scriptural content years before CCM had a name.
2. Andraé Crouch
Fused gospel with rock, funk, and jazz starting in the early 1970s - work that helped legitimize gospel's artistic depth and paved the way for CCM's mainstream crossover.
3. Amy Grant
Released her self-titled debut in 1977 at just 16 years old and became the genre's first true crossover star, later scoring a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Baby Baby" in 1991.
4. Michael W. Smith
Followed a similar path, reaching No. 6 on the Hot 100 with "Place in This World" that same year, broadening CCM's reach far beyond Christian radio.
5. Steven Curtis Chapman
Has won 59 GMA Dove Awards - more than any artist in history - including a record seven Artist of the Year honors, and in 2024 became the only contemporary Christian musician inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
6. dc Talk
Dominated the 1990s, moving from hip-hop trio to grunge-influenced rock act and landing songs on MTV and the Billboard charts at the height of their popularity.
7. Chris Tomlin
His worship anthems have become some of the most sung songs in churches worldwide.
8. MercyMe
Built around Bart Millard's redemption story, the band became a genre-defining crossover act.
9. Lauren Daigle
Brought CCM back into mainstream pop conversation with "You Say."
10. for KING & COUNTRY
One of the most decorated acts in K-LOVE Fan Awards history.
Together, these artists didn't just build a genre - they built an industry that continues to shape how millions of Christians experience faith through music.
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