The Best Gospel Music of 2000

Looking for the best gospel music of 2000? Look no further than our list of the top 10 tracks of the year! From Kirk Franklin to Yolanda Adams, these are the songs that will get you moving and grooving.

Best Gospel Songs of 2000

Gospel music is a genre of Christian music. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment product for the marketplace.

“Shackles (Praise You)”- Mary Mary

Shackles (Praise You)” is a song performed by American contemporary R&B duo Mary Mary. It was released in March 2000 as the second single from their self-titled debut album. The song earned the duo their first Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.

“Put Your Hands Up”- Kirk Franklin

“Put Your Hands Up” is a song performed by Kirk Franklin on his 2000 album The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin. It was released as the lead single from the album and peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance.

“Thank You”- CeCe Winans

“Thank You” is a song recorded by American contemporary gospel singer CeCe Winans. Written by Winans and produced by frequent collaborator Aaron Lindsey, it was released on March 14, 2000, through Purespring Gospel as the lead single from Winans’ third studio album Purified (2000). Commercially, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart.

A radio edit of the song with an extended intro and outro was included on Winans’ 2004 compilation album The Best of CeCe Winans. The song was used in a 2016 Pepsi commercial featuring model Kendall Jenner.

Best Gospel Albums of 2000

Gospel music has always been a popular genre, with artists like Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, and The Pilgrim Jubilees. In 2000, there were some great gospel albums released. Here are some of the best ones.

Breathe- Michael W. Smith

Breathe is the eighth studio album by American contemporary Christian music artist Michael W. Smith, released on October 5, 1999 through Reunion Records. The album was produced by Michael W. Smith and Tommy Sims.

Critical reception

AllMusic’s Steve Huey wrote that “on his eighth album, Michael W. Smith returns to the adult contemporary pop sound that made him a crossover success in the first place […] what’s most impressive about Breathe is how fresh and inspired it all sounds […] Breathe is probably the most consistent and rewarding of all of Smith’s many albums.” At Christianity Today, Mark Allan Powell found that “the overall feel of Breathe might be summarized as serene” and that it was “a significant artistic step forward for a performer who has not been shy about growing artistically over the course of his career.” At CCM Magazine, Bob Phillipy found that “this is easily [Smith’s] best work since Go West Young Man.”

Thankful- CeCe Winans

CeCe Winans returns to the urban contemporary scene after a self-imposed sabbatical with this career-spanning greatest hits collection. culled from her seven albums released between 1993 and 2000, Thankful celebrates the joy, faith, and hope that have intangibly growing CeCe’s fan base and album sales throughout the last decade. Along with the handclapping church anthem “Praise Him in Advance,” this collection includes the ethereal ballad “Alabaster Box,” which was featured on the Rush Hour soundtrack, as well as the title track penned by Winans for Whitney Houston’s film soundtrack to The Preacher’s Wife. As a precursor to Winans’ planned return to recording new material, Thankful is a welcome reminder of why this artist has remained at the forefront of contemporary gospel.

The Battle- Kirk Franklin

The Battle- Kirk Franklin
This was the second gospel album by Kirk Franklin and the first album by a solo artist to spend thirteen weeks at the top of Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. The Battle features the hit singles “Stomp”, “Revolution” and “Wonderful”.