Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin studied at Texas A&M University, Tyler Junior College and Grand Saline High School. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are Christian rock. Distinctions recorded are Covenant Awards, GMA Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year and GMA Dove Award for Vocalist of the Year.

• Name — Chris Tomlin • Landscape — yes • Birth Name — Christopher Dwayne Tomlin • Born — 4 May 1972 • Origin — Grand Saline, Texas, U.S. • Instrument — * Vocals • guitar • Genre — * Contemporary worship music • CCM • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • worship leader • Years Active — 1993–present • Label — Capitol Christian Music Group • Website — christomlin.com

At the age of 13, Tomlin began singing at the Main Street Baptist church in Grand Saline. He wrote his first worship song at age 14. During high school, Tomlin learned to lead worship in his youth group. After graduating from Grand Saline High School in 1990, he entered Tyler Junior College (TJC) planning for a medical or physical therapy career. Tomlin graduated in 1992 and enrolled in Texas A&M University to study medicine. He grew active in a campus Christian group called Breakaway, where he became the worship leader. In 1994, Tomlin graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in psychology. After college Tomlin participated as a worship leader at various camps in Texas, including Dawson McAllister Youth Conferences. While at Breakaway, Tomlin participated in a Bible study led by Choice Ministries founder Louie Giglio. In 1997, Tomlin partnered with Giglio to found Passion Conferences.

• Illustration — Tomlin performing in 2009 In 1995, Tomlin released Inside Your Love, which was released independently. In 1998, he released Authentic on Sparrow Records. In 2000, Tomlin signed onto newly founded Sixstepsrecords, a subsidiary of Passion Conferences. 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. Since his signing onto Sixstepsrecords, Tomlin has released nine full-length studio albums. 2004's Arriving was the first to chart on Billboards 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), both of which topped the Holiday albums chart on Billboard. Tomlin has toured with many contemporary Christian artists, such as Delirious?, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, and MercyMe. Tomlin has headlined several tours, and has also joined Passion Conferences for national and global tours and events. Tomlin has also participated in various other conferences festivals including Grand Saline's annual Salt Festival in Texas, Hillsong's 2007 conference, and the SoCal Harvest in Anaheim. 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. Chris Tomlin left Sixstepsrecords in 2015 and signed to Capitol Records CMG and River Music Holdings in 2016 On September 21, 2025, Tomlin led worship for the memorial service of Charlie Kirk held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The assassination of Charlie Kirk occurred in Utah on September 10, 2025. On July 1, 2026, Tomlin's performance at the United States Semiquincentennial event in Washington, D.C. was met with widespread ridicule due to a lack of fans and a mostly-empty event established by the White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday.

Tomlin married Lauren Bricken on November 9, 2010. They have three daughters.

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

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 2013 — Grace Unplugged — Himself • 2025 — The Last Supper — Executive producer • 2025 — The First Hymn — 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.

Chris Tomlin is recorded as singer-songwriter, singer, composer, writer and musician.

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). In 2008, Tomlin held 6 spots on 20 The Countdown Magazine top 20 praise and worship songs: "We Fall Down" (No. 14), "Forever" (No. 10), "Holy Is the Lord" (No. 8), "Indescribable" (No. 6), "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (No. 3), and "How Great Is our God" (No. 1). In 2012, CCLI reported that his songs were performed more than 3 million times in churches around the world. Time magazine has called him "most often sung artist anywhere" in 2006, and in 2013, he was also pronounced the most sung songwriter in the world. In 2017, he became only the fourth artist to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for surpassing a billion digital radio streams, and in 2018, he became the first Christian artist to receive the Billionaire award from Pandora for reaching a billion Pandora streams.

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

Throughout his career, Chris Tomlin has been nominated for more than 50 Dove Awards (at least 6 of them collaborative efforts) and won 23 of them. • Year — Award — Result • | 2005 — Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Arriving) • 2006 — Artist of the Year • Male Vocalist of the Year • Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") • Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") • Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") • Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") • Worship Song of the Year ("Indescribable") 1 • Special Event Album of the Year (Music Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia) * • Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: How Great Is Our God) * • Special Event Album of the Year (WOW Christmas: Green) * • 2007 — Artist of the Year • Male Vocalist of the Year • Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") • Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") • Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (See The Morning) • Worship Song of the Year ("Holy Is the Lord") • Worship Song of the Year ("Made to Worship") • Praise & Worship Album of the Year (See The Morning) • Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Everything Glorious) * • 2008 — Artist of the Year • Male Vocalist of the Year • Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") • Worship Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") • Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") • Special Event Album of the Year (Music Inspired By the Motion Picture Amazing Grace) * • 2009 — Artist of the Year • Male Vocalist of the Year • Song of the Year ("Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)") • Worship Song of the Year ("Jesus Messiah") • Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) • Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: God of This City) * • Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God") 2 • 2010 — Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") • Worship Song of the Year ("I Will Rise") • Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Hello Love) • Christmas Album of the Year (Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship) • 2011 — Artist of the Year • Male Vocalist of the Year • Song of the Year ("Our God") • Worship Song of the Year ("Our God") • Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Awakening) * • 2012 — Praise & Worship Album of the Year (And If Our God Is For Us...) • 2013 — Song of the Year ("Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)") • Praise & Worship Album of the Year ("Burning Lights") • Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year ("Burning Lights") • Artist of the Year • Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: White Flag) * • Special Event Album of the Year (Passion: Let The Future Begin) * • Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Passion: White Flag) * • Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Passion: Let The Future Begin) * • 2014 — Songwriter of the Year • 2015 — Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Love Ran Red) • 2016 — Songwriter of the Year • 2017 — Artist of the Year • Songwriter of the Year • Worship Album of the Year ("Never Lose Sight") • Short Form Video of the Year ("Jesus") • | 2018 — Worship Recorded Song of the Year ("Resurrection Power") • 2019 — Worship Album of the Year (Holy Roar) • Long Form Video of the Year (Holy Roar: Live from Church) • 2026 — Worship Recorded Song of the Year ("How Good It Is") • * 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.

• Year — Award — Result • 2011 — Top Christian Artist • Top Christian Album (And If Our God Is for Us...) • Top Christian Song ("Our God")

• Year — Award — Result • 2026 — Worship Song of the Year ("How Good It Is") • Male Artist of the Year

• Year — Award — Result • 2025 — Worship Song of the Year ("How Good It Is")