What Is Kim Burrell's Net Worth?
Kim Burrell is a renowned American gospel singer, pianist, and pastor with a net worth of $5 million. Her unique musical style, which she describes as "jazz gospel," sets her apart in the gospel music industry. Burrell performs and writes much of her material, making her a distinctive figure in this genre. Her musical journey began at a very young age, performing her first vocal solo with a church choir at just 1 year old. She stepped into the professional realm with Rev. James Cleveland's Gospel Music Workshop Choir and other gospel choirs in Dallas and Houston. Kim has an impressive discography including albums such as "Try Me Again" (1995), "Everlasting Life" (1998), "Live In Concert" (2001), "No Ways Tired" (2009), "The Love Album" (2011), and "A Different Place" (2015).
She made a surprising appearance on R. Kelly's "3-Way Phone Call" in 2004 and collaborated with George Clinton on his 2008 album. Additionally, Burrell has shared the stage with gospel legends like Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, and Marvin Winans. She has also worked on secular music projects with artists like Missy Elliott, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Harry Connick, Jr.
Early Life
Kim Burrell was born Kimberly Jean Burrell on August 26, 1972, in Houston, Texas. She is the daughter of pastor Julius Burrell Jr. and evangelist singer Helen Ruth Graham. Kim grew up with three siblings and was deeply influenced by her mother, who sang with The Church of God in Christ. Burrell honed her skills with the GMWA Youth Mass Choir, associated with the legendary Rev. James Cleveland, often referred to as the "King of Gospel."
Career
Kim Burrell's professional career was marked by performances with The Inspirational Sounds Mass Choir of Houston and the Trinity Temple Full Gospel Mass Choir of Dallas. Her breakthrough came with the independent release of "Try Me Again" in 1995 under Pearl Records. This led to a contract with Tommy Boy Gospel, through which she released "Everlasting Life" in 1998, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Gospel Charts. Her follow-up album, "Live In Concert" (2001), earned her a Grammy nomination. Despite the shutdown of Tommy Boy Gospel, Burrell continued to thrive by signing with Elektra Records and contributing to various successful projects.
Notably, she performed on the song "Higher Ground" on Missy Elliott's 2001 album. She also appeared on R. Kelly's track "3-Way Phone Call" in 2004 and George Clinton's "Mathematics of Love" in 2008. After a hiatus, Burrell returned with her studio album "No Ways Tired" in 2009 under Shanachie Records. She continued creating notable works such as "The Love Album" (2011) and "A Different Place" (2015). Kim collaborated with Pharrell Williams on "I See a Victory," which featured in the 2016 film "Hidden Figures."
Burrell has collaborated with numerous artists including the Tri-City Singers, Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Whalum, Shirley Caesar, Harry Connick, Jr., Stevie Wonder, Frank Ocean, Jay Z, and Snoop Dogg. Kim also appeared in special programs such as "Harry for the Holidays" (2003), "Whitney Houston: Close Up" (2018), and the 2023 UPtv special "I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston."
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Personal Life
Kim Burrell was previously married to Pastor Joseph Wiley, with whom she shares a son named Christian. In late 2016, a video surfaced of Burrell delivering a homophobic sermon at the Love & Liberty Fellowship Church. In her sermon, she referred to the LGBTQ community as "perverted" and claimed that the "homosexual spirit" had embarrassed the Kingdom of God. Following public backlash, she addressed the controversy in a Facebook Live video, reiterating her love for everyone but maintaining her stance against what she described as sinful behavior. This incident led to significant repercussions, including the cancellation of her appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," her removal as an honoree at the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music event, and the discontinuation of her radio program "Bridging the Gap with Kim Burrell" at Texas Southern University.
Awards and Nominations
Kim Burrell's exceptional talent has earned her numerous accolades. She has received three Grammy nominations: Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for "Live In Concert" (2002), Best Gospel Performance for "I Understand" (2009), and Best Gospel Album for "The Love Album" (2012). In 2017, she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song – Traditional for "I See a Victory," a collaboration with Pharrell Williams. She was also nominated for Outstanding Gospel Album for "A Different Place" in 2016. Burrell has won several Stellar Awards, including Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year for "Everlasting Life" (2000) and "The Love Album" (2012), and the Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year award for "The Love Album." Additionally, she won a Dove Award for Urban Recorded Song of the Year for "Sweeter" in 2012 and was nominated for a Soul Train Award for Best Gospel Album for "Live in Concert" in 2002.