Donnie McClurkin

Donald Andrew McClurkin Jr. is an American gospel singer and minister. He has won three Grammy Awards, ten Stellar Awards, two BET Awards, two Soul Train Awards, one Dove Award and one NAACP Image Awards. He is [List of best-selling gospel music|gospel music artists|one of the top selling gospel artists], selling over 13 million albums. Variety dubbed McClurkin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel".

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Early life

McClurkin was born in Copiague, New York. When he was eight years old, his two-year-old brother was hit and killed by a speeding driver, which generated family turmoil. Shortly thereafter, McClurkin was a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of his great uncle and, years later, by his great uncle's son. Two of his sisters dealt with substance abuse, and that's when the young McClurkin found solace in going to church and also through an aunt who sang background vocals with gospel musician Andraé Crouch.
By the time he was a teenager, he had formed the McClurkin Singers and later formed the New York Restoration Choir, with recordings as early as 1975. He released three albums with the New York Restoration Choir before departing to launch a solo career.

Ministry

He was hired as an associate minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan, in 1989. McClurkin served as an assistant to Winans for over a decade.
In 1991, a sharp pain and swelling, followed by internal bleeding, led, he says, to his diagnosis with leukemia. The doctor recommended immediate treatment, but McClurkin, who was then 31, decided instead to take his own advice. "I tell people to believe that God will save you," he says, " I had to turn around and practice the very thing that I preached."
He was ordained and sent out by Marvin Winans in 2001 to establish Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, where he is senior pastor.

Music

A friendship with a Warner Alliance executive resulted in his signing to the label for his 1996 self-titled LP, with producers Bill Maxwell, Mark Kibble of Take 6, Cedric and Victor Caldwell plus Andraé Crouch. The disc, which featured the perennially popular "Stand," went gold shortly after being publicly lauded by Oprah Winfrey. At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, he won in the category Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for "Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs." McClurkin is best known for his hit songs "Stand" and "We Fall Down," which were played in heavy rotation on both Gospel and Urban radio. His three solo albums have topped the Billboard Charts
Dovetailing off the success of his near double platinum selling album, "Live in London and More," McClurkin released "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" in 2005 and "We All Are One: Live In Detroit" in 2009, which also topped Billboard charts across various musical genres.
In 2014, McClurkin released "Duets" a collaborative album that features artists like Mary Mary’s Erica and Tina Campbell, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Tramaine Hawkins, Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett. The album debuted at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Gospel Billboard charts. This was followed by his 2016 album, "The Journey," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. It marked his seventh solo release and features live performances of some of his classics like “Speak to My Heart,” "Great Is Your Mercy," "Stand," and “That’s What I Believe.” His last recorded album is "A Different Song", which was released in 2019 and debuted at No. 2 on the Gospel Billboard charts.
McClurkin's love for people and desire to share gospel music globally is the reason he includes a language medley—Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Dutch — in most live performances.

Radio and television

Tom Versen and Tony Sisti of T&T Creative signed McClurkin to a radio syndication deal with advertising giant Dial Global Local and syndicator Gary Bernstein. T&T Creative provided a mobile recording studio in Pastor Donnie's church that he can also take on the road. He is quoted as saying, "As much as I love music and singing, I really love doing radio and the direct feedback I get from my listeners all over the country. I never thought I would be having this much fun doing radio, and I could touch and impact so many beautiful people."
In 2009, he also broadcast his own television series, Perfecting Your Faith, on cable television. His television appearances include Good Morning America, CBS’s The Early Show, The View, Girlfriends and The Parkers. He has also been featured in such films as The Gospel and The Fighting Temptations. He played a Single man or a church pastor.

Personal life

McClurkin, in 2002, told a Christian website that, due to sexual abuse and porn, he had struggled with homosexuality. "McClurkin believes he "turned" gay because of childhood molestation and traumatic exposure to pornography but was able to reverse his orientation through "will and prayer." He also said that he had rejected that "lifestyle": "I’ve been through this and have experienced God’s power to change my lifestyle. I am delivered, and I know God can deliver others, too."
McClurkin's listing as a headlining performer for then-Senator Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign stirred controversy because of his views on homosexuality. As a result, McClurkin was removed from the performance roster but he still performed at one of the concerts. In August 2013, McClurkin was disinvited from the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom as his ex-gay status was seen as disruptive. In 2015 he spoke out against same-sex marriage in response to the U.S. Supreme Court making it legal nationwide.
McClurkin has a son, Matthew, born in 2000. McClurkin is also related to singer Marsha McClurkin of the short-lived new jack swing group Abstrac.
In 2018, McClurkin survived a serious road accident after he lost consciousness while driving.

Sexual misconduct allegations

In January 2026, McClurkin was sued for sexual assault by Giuseppe Corletto, a former personal assistant from 2004 to 2008. The lawsuit, filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court, states Corletto met McClurkin in 2003 after reading his autobiography, in which McClurkin wrote he had been delivered from homosexuality. Corletto became McClurkin's assistant in 2004, and within two years, the lawsuit states McClurkin began to grope him during "pray the gay away" sessions. The lawsuit states that the abuse also took place at McClurkin's Perfecting Faith Church and continued for several years during work trips. After an alleged sexual assault in 2013, McClurkin wrote an email apologizing for his actions, in which he allegedly referred to himself as a "dirty old man". McClurkin's attorney responded the allegations were "categorically false."

Videography

Live in London and More...
Again
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

Music Videos

"Stand"
"We Fall Down"
"The Prayer"
"Ooh Child"
"I Need You"

Filmography

Film

1998: The Prince of Egypt
2003: The Fighting Temptations
2004: Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem
2004: The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness to Light
2005: The Gospel

Television

2001: Girlfriends - Season 2 Ep 7 “Trick or Truth”
2002: The Parkers - Season 3 Ep 16 “Make a Joyful Noise”
2002: 17th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2004: 19th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2005: 20th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2006: 21st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2006: An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder
2009: 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2010–15: BET's Sunday Best – judge
2010: 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – host

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. McClurkin has received 2 awards from 5 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
2001	Best Gospel Artist	Himself	Won
2003	Best Gospel Artist	Himself	Nomitated
2004	Best Gospel Artist	Himself	Nomitated
2005	Best Gospel Artist	Himself	Won
2014	Best Gospel Artist	Himself	Nomitated

Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. McClurkin has won 4 awards from 13 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1997	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	Donne McClurkin	Nomitated
1998	Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Speak To My Heart"	Nomitated
2001	Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"We Fall Down"	Won
2001	Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"That's What I Believe"	Nomitated
2001	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	Live in London and More	Nomitated
2004	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	...Again	Nomitated
2005	Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Through the Fire"	Won
2006	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs	Nomitated
2010	Male Vocalist of the Year	Himself	Nomitated
2010	Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year	"Wait on the Lord"	Nomitated
2011	Traditional Gospel Album of the Year	Duets	Won
2017	Traditional Gospel Album of the Year	The Journey Live	Won
2020	Traditional Gospel Album of the Year	A Different Song	Nomitated
2023	Traditional Gospel Recorded Song	"See the Goodness"	Nomitated

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. McClutkin has won 3 awards from 5 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1998	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	Donnie McClurkin	Nomitated
2004	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	...Again	Won
2006	Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album	Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs	Won
2006	Best Gospel Performance	"I Call You Faithful"	Nomitated
2010	Best Gospel Performance	"Wait on the Lord"	Won

Soul Train Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. McClurkin has received 2 awards from 5 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
2002	Best Gospel Album	Live In London	Won
2004	Best Gospel Album	Donnie McClurkin... Again	Nomitated
2006	Best Gospel Album	Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs	Won
2014	Best Gospel/Inspirational Song	"We Are Victorious"	Nomitated
2016	Best Gospel/Inspirational Song	"I Need You"	Nomitated

Stellar Awards

The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. McClurkin has received 12 awards from 24 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
2000	Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year	The Prince of Egypt Inspirational	Won
2000	Male Vocalist of the Year	The Prince of Egypt Inspirational	Won
2001	New Artist of the Year	The McClurkin Project	Nomitated
2002	Artist of the Year	Live In London and More	Won
2002	CD of the Year	Live In London and More	Won
2002	Male Vocalist of the Year	Live In London and More	Won
2002	Traditional CD of the Year	Live In London and More	Won
2002	Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year	Live In London and More	Won
2002	Music Video of the Year	Live In London	Won
2004	Music Video of the Year	"The Prayer"	Nomitated
2004	Music Video of the Year	...Again	Nomitated
2004	Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year	...Again	Nomitated
2004	Male Vocalist of the Year	...Again	Nomitated
2004	Producer of the Year	...Again	Nomitated
2006	Artist of the Year	Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs	Nomitated
2006	Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year	Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs	Nomitated
2007	Music Video of the Year	"Ooh Child"	Nomitated
2008	Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year	We Praise You	Won
2008	Group or Duo of the Year	We Praise You	Nomitated
2010	Traditional Male Artist of the Year	We All Are One	Won
2017	Traditional Male Artist of the Year	The Journey	Won
2017	Male Vocalist of the Year	The Journey	Nomitated
2021	Traditional Album of the Year	A Different Song	Nomitated
2021	Traditional Male Artist of the Year	A Different Song	Won