The Preacher's Wife (soundtrack)
Whitney Houston's gospel soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album ever.
The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album is the second soundtrack released by American singer Whitney Houston, accompanying the 1996 film of the same name, in which she starred. Released on November 26, 1996, by Arista Records and BMG Entertainment, it was Houston's first album to be mainly produced by the singer, co-producing alongside Mervyn Warren on traditional gospel material. The album became the best-selling gospel album of all time, with six million copies sold worldwide, and holds records for highest single-week sales of a gospel album in the United States and longest-running number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart for a female artist.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Whitney Houston
- Released
- November 26, 1996
- Recorded
- January – February 1996
- Genre
- Gospel · soul · R&B
- Length
- 62:20
- Label
- Arista · BMG
- Producer
- Whitney Houston · Mervyn Warren · Rickey Minor · Steve Lipson · Babyface · David Foster
- Prev Title
- The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album
- Prev Year
- 1992
- Next Title
- My Love Is Your Love
- Next Year
- 1998
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The soundtrack produced three singles: 'I Believe in You and Me', which debuted in the top ten on multiple US charts and sold over a million copies; 'Step by Step', a gospel-dance rendition that was a bigger international hit; and 'My Heart Is Calling', a moderate US hit. The album received a controversial Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album, won the American Music Award for Favorite Soundtrack, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album, and Houston's rendition of 'I Go to the Rock' won the Dove Award for Best Traditional Gospel Recording. It was ranked the top-selling gospel album of 1997 by Billboard and won the NARM Award for best-selling gospel release of 1997.
Reader's Guide
The Preacher's Wife soundtrack represents a pivotal moment in Whitney Houston's career, marking her first full-length gospel album and her most hands-on production role. It demonstrated her ability to merge her pop and R&B stardom with her gospel roots, a balance she had long sought. The album's commercial success—selling six million copies worldwide and becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time—established gospel music's viability in the mainstream market. Its record of 26 consecutive weeks at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart for a female artist remains unbroken. The soundtrack also showcased Houston's collaborative spirit, bringing together a wide range of gospel, R&B, and pop artists. Critics noted a more emotionally engaged side of Houston, particularly in the gospel offerings. The album's triple platinum certification and its status as the first gospel release to sell a million copies in Europe and half a million in Asia underscore its global impact. It remains a landmark in both Houston's discography and gospel music history.
Did You Know?
- The album produced the highest single-week sales of a gospel album in US history, selling over 330,000 copies in its sixth week.
- The album debuted at number one on the Top Gospel Albums chart and stayed there for 26 consecutive weeks, a record for a female artist.
More in Band Members & Collaborators
Elsewhere in Whitney Houston
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced