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Chris Tomlin

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Chris Tomlin
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Dwayne Tomlin
Born (1972-05-04) May 4, 1972 (age 53)
OriginGrand Saline, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1993–present
LabelsCapitol Christian Music Group
Websitechristomlin.com

Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972)[1] is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, and worship leader from Grand Saline, Texas.[2] He is signed to Universal's Capitol Christian Music Group. Some of his most well-known songs are "How Great Is Our God", "Our God", "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)" and "Holy Forever".

In 2006, according to Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), an organization that licenses music to churches, Tomlin was the most often sung contemporary artist in U.S. congregations.[3] Tomlin has produced 21 number-one radio singles, 30 top-ten hits (more than any other Christian artist), and spent over 158 weeks at number-one during his career. He has sold more than 12 million albums with more than 7 Billion career global streams, won a Grammy, three Billboard Music Awards, 31 GMA Dove Awards, is a two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year honoree, and is an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year. In 2016, he was named one of only four artists to ever receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 billion digital radio streams, alongside Justin Timberlake, Pitbull, and Garth Brooks. Tomlin is also the first Christian artist to reach 1 billion streams on Pandora and was presented with their BILLIONAIRE award. Regarded as one of the most successful Christian touring artists today, Tomlin has sold-out venues including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and LA’s Banc of California Stadium. His “Good Friday Nashville” concerts have frequently sold out. The event holds the record as the longest running annual charity related concert at Bridgestone Arena.[4]

Early life

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At the age of 13, Tomlin began singing at the Main Street Baptist church in Grand Saline.[5] He wrote his first worship song at age fourteen. During high school, Tomlin learned to lead worship in his youth group.[6] After graduating from Grand Saline High School in 1990, he entered Tyler Junior College (TJC) planning for a medical or physical therapy career.[7] Tomlin graduated in 1992[8] and enrolled in Texas A&M University to study medicine.[9] He grew active in a campus Christian group called Breakaway, where he became the worship leader.[9] In 1994, Tomlin graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in psychology.[8][10] After college Tomlin participated as a worship leader at various camps in Texas, including Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences.[11] While at Breakaway, Tomlin participated in a Bible study led by Choice Ministries founder Louie Giglio.[9] In 1997, Tomlin partnered with Giglio to found Passion Conferences.[12][13]

Career

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In 1995, Tomlin released Inside Your Love, which was released independently.[14] In 1998, he released Authentic on Sparrow Records.[15]

In 2000, Tomlin signed onto newly founded Sixstepsrecords, a subsidiary of Passion Conferences.[16] His first nationally released solo project, titled The Noise We Make, was released in 2001, featuring the song "Forever". He released the live EP 545 and his second studio album Not to Us in 2002.[17]

Since his signing onto Sixstepsrecords, Tomlin has released nine full-length studio albums. 2004's Arriving was the first to chart on Billboard's Hot Christian Albums chart and the Billboard 200. Tomlin has topped the Hot Christian Albums chart six times, and his 2013 album Burning Lights topped the Billboard 200, making the album only the fourth contemporary Christian album to do so.

Tomlin has also released one live album, recorded in Austin Music Hall, and two Christmas albums (2009, 2015),[18] both of which topped the Holiday albums chart on Billboard.[19]

Tomlin has toured with many contemporary Christian artists, such as Delirious?, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, and MercyMe.[20][21] Tomlin has headlined several tours, and has also joined Passion Conferences for national and global tours and events.[22] Tomlin has also participated in various other conferences festivals including Grand Saline's annual Salt Festival in Texas,[23] Hillsong's 2007 conference,[24] and the SoCal Harvest in Anaheim.[25]

On June 14, 2007, Tomlin's version of the song "Indescribable" was used as the official wake-up call for Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester on Space Shuttle mission STS-117.[26] Chris Tomlin left Sixstepsrecords in 2015 and signed to Capitol Records CMG and River Music Holdings in 2016[27]

Personal life

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Tomlin married Lauren Bricken[28] on November 9, 2010.[29][30][31] Together they have three daughters, Ashlyn, Madison and Elle.[32]

Discography

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Main articles: Chris Tomlin discography and Passion Conferences § Albums

Independent releases

  • Inside Your Love (1995)
  • Authentic (1998)
  • Too Much Free Time (1998) [with Ross King]

Commercial releases

Awards and achievements

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According to Christian Copyright Licensing International's list of the top 25 worship songs in the US in August 2007, Tomlin held five spots with songs he has either written, co-written or performed: "How Great Is Our God" (No. 1), "Forever" (No. 5), "Holy Is the Lord" (No. 7), "We Fall Down" (No. 12), and "Indescribable" (No. 22) (written by Laura Story[34]). In 2008, Tomlin held 6 spots on 20 The Countdown Magazine's top 20 praise and worship songs: "We Fall Down" (No. 14), "Forever" (No. 10), "Holy is the Lord" (No. 8), "Indescribable" (No. 6),[34] "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (No. 3), and "How Great is our God" (No. 1).[35] In 2012, CCLI reported that his songs were performed more than 3 million times in churches around the world.[36] Time magazine has called him "most often sung artist anywhere" in 2006,[37] and in 2013, he was also pronounced the most sung songwriter in the world.[38] In 2017, he became only the fourth artist to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for surpassing a billion digital radio streams,[39] and in 2018, he became the first Christian artist to receive the Billionaire award from Pandora for reaching a billion Pandora streams.[40]

Grammy Awards

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Year Award Result
2007 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (See the Morning) Nominated
2009 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (Hello Love) Nominated
2011 Best Gospel Song ("Our God") Nominated
2012 Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance ("I Lift My Hands") Nominated
Best Contemporary Christian Music Song ("I Lift My Hands") Nominated
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (And If Our God Is For Us...) Won[41]
2014 Best Contemporary Christian Music Song (Whom Shall I Fear)[42] Nominated
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (Burning Lights)[42] Nominated
2016 Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (Love Ran Red) Nominated[43]
2023 Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song ("Holy Forever") Nominated
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (Always) Nominated

GMA Dove Awards

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Throughout his career, Chris Tomlin has been nominated for 32 Dove Awards (6 of them collaborative efforts) and won 19 of them.

Year Award Result
2005 Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Arriving) Won[44]
2006 Artist of the Year Won[45]
Male Vocalist of the Year Won[45]
Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") Nominated[45]
Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") Won[45]
Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") Nominated[45]
Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") Won[45]
Worship Song of the Year ("Indescribable")1 Nominated[45]
Special Event Album of the Year (Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia)* Won[45]
Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: How Great Is Our God)* Nominated[45]
Special Event Album of the Year (WOW Christmas: Green)* Nominated[45]
2007 Artist of the Year Won[46]
Male Vocalist of the Year Won[46]
Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") Nominated[46]
Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") Nominated[46]
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (See The Morning) Won[46]
Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") Won[46]
Worship Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") Nominated[46]
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (See The Morning) Won[46]
Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Everything Glorious)* Won[46]
2008 Artist of the Year Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Won
Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") Nominated
Worship Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") Nominated
Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") Won
Special Event Album of the Year (Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace)* Nominated
2009 Artist of the Year Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") Nominated
Worship Song of the Year ("Jesus Messiah") Nominated
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) Nominated
Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: God of This City)* Won
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God")2 Won
2010 Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") Nominated
Worship Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") Nominated
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) Nominated
Christmas Album of the Year (Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship) Nominated
2011 Artist of the Year Nominated
Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year ("Our God") Nominated
Worship Song of the Year ("Our God") Won
Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Awakening)* Won
2012 Praise & Worship Album of the Year (And If Our God Is For Us...) Won[47]
2013 Song of the Year ("Whom Shall I Fear [God of Angel Armies]") Nominated[48]
Praise & Worship Album of the Year ("Burning Lights") Won[48]
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year ("Burning Lights") Nominated[48]
Artist of the Year Nominated[48]
Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: White Flag)* Nominated[48]
Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Let The Future Begin)* Won[48]
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Passion: White Flag)* Nominated[48]
Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Passion: Let The Future Begin)* Nominated[48]
2014 Songwriter of the Year Won[49]
2015 Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Love Ran Red) Nominated
2016 Songwriter of the Year Nominated[50]
2017 Artist of the Year Nominated
Songwriter of the Year Nominated
Worship Album of the Year ("Never Lose Sight") Won
Short Form Video of the Year ("Jesus") Nominated
2018 Worship Recorded Song of the Year ("Resurrection Power") Nominated
2019 Worship Album of the Year (Holy Roar) Nominated
Long Form Video of the Year (Holy Roar: Live from Church) Nominated
  • *Denotes a collaborative effort or a song contribution to a "Various artists" album.
  • 1 The song was performed by Tomlin, but written and produced by Laura Story.
  • 2 The song was performed by LaRue Howard, but written by Tomlin.

Billboard Music Awards

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Year Award Result[51]
2011 Top Christian Artist Won
Top Christian Album (And If Our God Is for Us...) Nominated
Top Christian Song ("Our God") Won

Others

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Tomlin was nominated for two 2009 Visionary Award: Male Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year for "Jesus Messiah".[52]

Bibliography

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  • Chris Tomlin, The Way I Was Made: Words and Music for an Unusual Life, Multnomah, 2004. ISBN 978-1-59052-327-8

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
2013 Grace Unplugged Himself
2025 The Last Supper — Executive producer
2025 The First Hymn[53][54] Himself A documentary on the Oxyrhynchus Hymn—the oldest known Christian hymn—featuring a modern adaptation co-written by Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding. Directed by Australian historian John Dickson (author).[55]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Argyrakis, Andy (May 1, 2001). "Opening Acts: Get to Know Chris Tomlin" (PDF). CCM Magazine: 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "USA Today Premieres Chris Tomlin's Music Video For "Home"". themcollective.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  3. ^ "Hip Hymns Are Him". November 19, 2006.
  4. ^ "Good Friday Nashville Returns for the Eighth Consecutive Year | News".
  5. ^ KLTV, Christian recording artist Chris Tomlin welcomed in 'Grand' style, kltv.com, USA, May 5, 2011
  6. ^ Mallette, Cindy (June 2, 2007). "Superstar's Homecoming Brings Memories, Praise". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  7. ^ Fletcher, Hannah. "Chris Tomlin". www.tjc.edu. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Contemporary Christian artist Chris Tomlin returning to his Tyler Junior College roots on Oct. 26". cbs19.tv. October 21, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Chris Tomlin | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  10. ^ Jones, Kim (November 18, 2017). "Chris Tomlin Biography - The Story Behind the Popular Christian Artist". ThoughtCo. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  11. ^ "Chris Tomlin: Serving Others Through Music". CBN.com - The Christian Broadcasting Network. September 7, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  12. ^ "Chris Tomlin Biography". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  13. ^ Don Cusic, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2009, p. 441
  14. ^ "Inside Your Love by Chris Tomlin". www.newreleasetoday.com. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  15. ^ "Chris Tomlin | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  16. ^ "Passion". the media collective. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  17. ^ "Chris Tomlin Biography". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  18. ^ "NewReleaseTuesday.com". NewReleaseTuesday.com. September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  19. ^ "Chris Tomlin Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  20. ^ "Jesusfreakhideout.com: All Things New Tour 2005, Steven Curtis Chapman, Christ Tomlin, Casting Crowns". jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  21. ^ "Delirious? Farewell Show – Live in London". Jesus Freak Hideout. May 18, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  22. ^ "Chris Tomlin's official Site". Christomlin.com. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  23. ^ Van Zandt Newspapers, Chris Tomlin to Kick off Salt Festival Archived September 25, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "Chris Tomlin Extends 'How Great is Our God' Tour". www.christianpost.com. July 5, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  25. ^ "Christian musicians will be performing during SoCal Harvest in Anaheim Aug. 26-28". Fontana Herald News. August 26, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  26. ^ "Audio Wakeup Call Index". spaceflight.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on June 15, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  27. ^ "Chris Tomlin". Capitol Christian Music Group. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  28. ^ "Chris Tomlin Marries". Parachute Music. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  29. ^ "Louie Giglio's Twitter Page". Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  30. ^ "Shelley Giglio's Twitter Page". Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  31. ^ "Janet Reeve's Twitter Page". Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  32. ^ "StackPath". www.ccmmagazine.com. December 17, 2020.
  33. ^ "Chris Tomlin To Release "Never Lose Sight" October 21". thechristianbeat.org. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  34. ^ a b "Worship.com". worship.com. 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  35. ^ "CCLI Top 25 Worship Songs List". Ccli.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  36. ^ "Chris Tomlin Most Sung Songwriter in the World". Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  37. ^ Luscombe, Belinda (November 11, 2006). "Hip Hymns Are Him". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  38. ^ "Chris Tomlin Most Sung Songwriter in the World". cbn.com. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  39. ^ "Chris Tomlin Talks New Album, Connecting Fans, And Stadium-Sized Dreams". MusicRow - Nashville's Music Industry Publication - News, Songs From Music City. October 25, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  40. ^ Longs, Herb (November 2018). "Chris Tomlin Reaches A Billion Streams On Pandora". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  41. ^ "Chris Tomlin Wins Best Contemporary Christian Music Album". grammy.com. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  42. ^ a b Tucker, Rebecca (January 27, 2014). "Grammys 2014: The full list of winners". National Post. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  43. ^ "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  44. ^ "36th Annual GMA Dove Awards Wrap-Up". christianpost.com. April 14, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Chris Tomlin Tops Dove Awards". Billboard. April 6, 2006. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The 2007 GMA Dove Awards". cbn.com. April 26, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  47. ^ "Coverage of the 2012 43rd Annual Dove Awards - 2012 Dove Award Nominees and Winners!". newreleasetoday.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h "2013 Dove Awards: Winners and More!". ccmmagazine.com. October 16, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  49. ^ "Songwriter of the Year". doveawards.com. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  50. ^ "2016 Nominees - The 48th Annual GMA Dove Awards". Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  51. ^ "2011 Billboard Music Awards Winners". The Inquisitr. May 22, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  52. ^ "Christian Music Hall of Fame official site". Archived from the original on December 25, 2009.
  53. ^ "The First Hymn – Official Website". The First Hymn Movie. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  54. ^ "'First Hymn' Released by Popular Christian Artists". Premier Christian News. April 11, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  55. ^ "The First Hymn Project". Undeceptions. Undeceptions. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
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