Yolanda Adams

Yolanda Adams is a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, record producer, actress, and radio host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She has sold nearly 10 million albums worldwide. Adams is known as the "Queen of Contemporary Gospel Music" and the "First Lady of Modern Gospel." Variety dubbed Adams as the "Reigning Queen of Urban Gospel."

On December 11, 2009, Billboard named her the #1 Gospel Artist of that decade. In the same chart, her album Mountain High...Valley Low was acknowledged as the best gospel album.

Adams released her first book, "Points of Power," in 2010. It is a Christian book that encourages living a pure, spirit-filled Christian life.

The eldest of six children, Adams grew up in Houston, Texas. After graduating from Texas Southern University, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model. Eventually, she gave up teaching to perform full-time as a lead singer.

The singer, whose love of children's causes is almost as legendary as her singing, eagerly embraces the social responsibility that comes with the blessings of success. She's served as a spokesperson for the FILA Corporation's Operation Rebound program, which addresses the concerns of inner-city school children. She recalls her days as a teacher fondly and tries to instill in her audience the need for positive reinforcement, no matter from what walk of life.

Adams was inducted into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as an honorary member on July 8, 2018.