Deitrick Vaughn Haddon (born May 17, 1973, in Detroit, Michigan) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actor, and pastor known for pioneering a progressive style of gospel that blends soul, R&B, and hip-hop with traditional worship.
He rose to national fame leading Voices of Unity before launching a solo career built on hits like “Sinner’s Prayer” and “Well Done,” and later became a household name through the Oxygen reality series Preachers of L.A.
Deitrick Haddon at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Deitrick Vaughn Haddon |
| Born | May 17, 1973 Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Age | 53 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Dominique Haddon (née McTyer), m. 2013; previously married to Damita Haddon, m. 1996, divorced 2011 |
| Children | Destin, Denver, and Deitrick II (with Dominique); an additional daughter from a prior relationship |
| Parents | Bishop Clarence Haddon (father); Prophetess Joyce Haddon (mother) |
| Siblings | Gerald Haddon, Zina Kirksey, David Haddon, Clareta Haddon-Jackson |
| Education | |
| Genre(s) | Gospel, urban gospel, gospel soul |
| School | Mumford High School, Detroit |
| Ministry | |
| Former church | Unity Cathedral of Faith / Kingdom Culture Church, Detroit |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Tyscot; Arista; Verity; RCA Inspiration |
| Awards | |
| Recognition | 3 Grammy nominations; multiple Stellar Awards, including Male Artist of the Year (2015) |
Early Life and Background
Deitrick Vaughn Haddon was born on May 17, 1973, in Detroit, Michigan, into a family built entirely around ministry.
His father, Bishop Clarence Haddon, founded the Unity Cathedral of Faith on Detroit’s west side, and his mother, Prophetess Joyce Haddon, was equally active in church life.
Haddon preached his first sermon at 11 years old and became choir director at his family’s church by age 13, a role he held for more than 15 years.
He has four siblings: Gerald Haddon, Zina Kirksey, David Haddon, and Clareta Haddon-Jackson. His brother Gerald followed him into gospel music as a producer, and the two would later collaborate professionally.
Haddon attended Mumford High School in Detroit; formal college details remain limited, since his real training came from growing up inside his father’s church.
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Career: Voices of Unity to Solo Stardom
Come Into This House and Live the Life
Haddon’s recording career began in 1995 when he signed with Tyscot Records and formed Deitrick Haddon & Voices of Unity.
The group’s debut, Come Into This House, introduced what Haddon called “gospel soul,” a sound that leaned on secular R&B and hip-hop structures without losing its spiritual center.
Their 1997 follow-up, Live the Life, won two Gospel Music Workshop of America Excellence Awards, for New Artist of the Year and Album of the Year in the Urban Contemporary category.
Chain Breaker and the Solo Breakthrough
Haddon’s early 2000s double-disc project, Chain Breaker, became a genuine breakthrough, generating multiple radio favorites and helping define the urban contemporary gospel sound of the era.
He built on that momentum with his solo debut, Lost & Found (2002), which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Charts on the strength of the single “Sinner’s Prayer,” a track that crossed over onto mainstream R&B radio.
Crossroads, 7 Days, and Mainstream Crossover
2004’s Crossroads carried a 1970s-influenced sound and the upbeat single “God Is Good,” and Haddon promoted it with an appearance on the long-running series Soul Train, an unusual booking for a gospel act at the time.
His 2006 album 7 Days pushed even further into mainstream R&B production, working with hitmakers Tim & Bob.
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Revealed, Church on the Moon, and Later Work
2008’s Revealed produced the popular single “Love Him Like I Do,” featuring Mary Mary and Ruben Studdard. Haddon continued releasing albums through the 2010s, including Church on the Moon (2011) and Masterpiece (2015), along with hits like “Have Your Way” and “He’s Able.”
His most enduring song, “Well Done,” remains one of his most requested tracks for funerals and homegoing services, a testament to how personally listeners connect with it.
Haddon has received three Grammy nominations across his career, for Best Gospel Song (“Have Your Way,” 2014), Best Traditional Gospel Album (2009), and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (Lost & Found, 2003). He’s also a multiple Stellar Award winner, including Male Artist of the Year in 2015.
Acting Career and Preachers of L.A.
Haddon’s public profile grew well beyond gospel radio once he moved into film and television. He starred in the 2012 drama A Beautiful Soul, playing an R&B star confronting spiritual emptiness, and later took a lead role as Pastor Clarence Burnett in the 2019 TV movie Sins of the Father.
His biggest mainstream exposure came from the Oxygen Network’s reality series Preachers of L.A., which followed a group of pastors, Haddon included, navigating ministry and personal life in Los Angeles.
The show made his divorce and remarriage very public and turned him into one of gospel’s most recognized names outside of church circles.
Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage
Haddon married gospel singer Damita Chandler on June 29, 1996. The two co-pastored Kingdom Culture Church, the church Haddon’s father founded, starting in 2009.
After 15 years together, the marriage ended in divorce in 2011, following public accusations that Damita had an affair with fellow gospel artist Isaac Carree.
Damita later disputed parts of Haddon’s public account, saying the full story was more complicated than what he shared on social media, and that unresolved grief following her mother’s death also strained the marriage.
The fallout cost Haddon his pastoral role, since church members disapproved of the divorce and his subsequent relationship choices.
Haddon married his second wife, Dominique McTyer, in July 2013. The two reconnected while Haddon was still finalizing his divorce, and Dominique became pregnant before the divorce was final, a detail Haddon has openly discussed rather than hidden.
The couple has three children together: daughters Destin and Denver, and a son, Deitrick II. Haddon has also spoken about fathering a daughter outside of marriage prior to his second marriage.
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A Note on Recent Viral Claims
In late 2025, a wave of YouTube and TikTok videos claimed Haddon “collapsed in church” after his wife made an unspecified revelation.
These claims are not substantiated by any credible news outlet and follow a familiar pattern of sensationalized, ad-driven social content built around real public figures.
Readers should treat such claims skeptically until reported by an established gospel or entertainment news source.
Personal Life
Haddon remains close with his brother Gerald Haddon, a gospel producer in his own right. The two have worked together professionally, including producing the comeback album Brand New Day for veteran gospel singer Vanessa Bell Armstrong.
Haddon has been outspoken about the stigma around divorce inside the Black church, arguing publicly that Christians should stop shaming people for the end of a marriage.
Interesting Facts
- He preached his first sermon at age 11 and became a choir director by 13.
- “Sinner’s Prayer” crossed over from gospel radio to mainstream R&B stations.
- He performed on Soul Train to promote his 2004 album Crossroads.
- His brother Gerald co-produced Vanessa Bell Armstrong’s comeback album with him.
- He released his first full holiday album, A Deitrick Haddon Christmas, in 2024.
- In 2020, he released the protest single “I Can’t Breathe,” referencing George Floyd’s death.
Timeline
- 1973 — Born May 17 in Detroit, Michigan.
- 1984 — Preaches his first sermon at age 11.
- 1995 — Signs with Tyscot Records and forms Voices of Unity.
- 1996 — Marries Damita Chandler.
- 2002 — Releases solo debut Lost & Found, hits No. 1 on gospel charts.
- 2009 — Begins co-pastoring Kingdom Culture Church with Damita.
- 2011 — Divorces Damita Haddon after 15 years of marriage.
- 2013 — Marries Dominique McTyer.
- 2013–2014 — Appears on Oxygen’s Preachers of L.A.
- 2015 — Wins Stellar Award for Male Artist of the Year.
- 2024 — Releases A Deitrick Haddon Christmas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Deitrick Haddon’s first wife?
His first wife was gospel singer Damita Chandler (later known as Damita Haddon), whom he married in 1996. They divorced in 2011 after 15 years together.
Did Deitrick Haddon leave his wife?
Haddon and his first wife, Damita, divorced in 2011 amid public accusations of infidelity on both sides. Both have since spoken publicly about the breakdown of the marriage, with differing accounts of what happened.
Did Deitrick Haddon remarry?
Yes. He married his second wife, Dominique McTyer, in July 2013, shortly after his divorce from Damita Haddon was finalized.
Is Deitrick Haddon still a pastor?
He stepped down from pastoring Kingdom Culture Church, the church his father founded, following his divorce, when congregation members disapproved of his relationship choices. He remains an ordained pastor and continues ministry work through music and media.
Is Deitrick Haddon related to Gerald Haddon?
Yes. Gerald Haddon is his brother, also a gospel artist and producer, and the two have collaborated on projects including Vanessa Bell Armstrong’s comeback album.
What is Deitrick Haddon’s most famous song?
“Sinner’s Prayer” and “Well Done” are widely considered his most recognized songs, with “Well Done” especially known as a staple at gospel funerals and homegoing services.
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