DeWayne Lamont Woods (born November 9, 1975) is an American gospel singer and songwriter from Kansas City, Missouri, best known for his 2007 hit single “Let Go,” one of the most-played gospel radio songs of its decade. A former member of John P. Kee’s New Life Community Choir, Woods built a solo career grounded in a personal testimony of healing that has shaped nearly everything he has recorded since.
DeWayne Woods at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | DeWayne Lamont Woods |
| Born | November 9, 1975, Kansas City, Missouri |
| Age | 50 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts |
| Career | |
| Genre(s) | Gospel, urban contemporary gospel, traditional black gospel |
| Years active | 2003-present |
| Labels | Verity, Jive, South Therapy |
| Role | Director of Worship & Arts, Divine Faith Ministries International |
| Best-known song | “Let Go” (2007) |
| Major award | Stellar Award, Male Vocalist of the Year (2008) |
Early Life and Musical Education
DeWayne Woods was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and began singing as a young child at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, where a choir director pulled him out to stand beside her and lead. He later trained at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, a Kansas City magnet school known for producing working musicians.
Woods got his professional start after a chance meeting with gospel artist John P. Kee, who brought him into his ensemble, the New Life Community Choir, and later into Kee’s group The Company. Through those years, Woods worked as a background vocalist for a striking range of artists, including Celine Dion, Kirk Whalum, Kurt Carr, and Karen Clark-Sheard, before launching his own solo career.
Career: From Background Vocals to “Let Go”
Breakthrough with “Let Go”
Woods released his solo debut, The Poets, The Psalms, and the Psalmists, independently in 2003. His real breakthrough came with 2006’s Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet on Verity Records, produced with help from P.J. Morton, Daniel Weatherspoon, and Donald Lawrence’s Quiet Water Entertainment label.
The album’s fifth track carried Woods’ testimony, and its centerpiece song, “Let Go,” written by P.J. Morton, became a massive gospel radio hit in 2007. It won Song of the Year at the 2008 Stellar Awards, and Woods himself won Male Vocalist of the Year that same night, a surprise result that put a spotlight on an artist some outlets mistakenly called a “newcomer” despite years of ensemble experience.
The success of “Let Go” let Woods relocate from Chicago to Atlanta, where he took on the role of Director of Worship & Arts at Divine Faith Ministries International, a position that shifted his career from touring artist toward church-based ministry leadership.
DeWayne Woods’ Testimony
Woods has spoken publicly about being diagnosed with HIV in 1993. According to his own account, he later stopped taking the medication prescribed to manage the virus, choosing instead to trust God for healing, and has said in interviews and testimony segments that he was later confirmed HIV-free through medical testing. This is Woods’ own account of his health journey, shared as part of his public ministry testimony rather than independently documented medical record, and it remains central to how he frames “Let Go” in performance. When Woods first heard the song, written by P.J. Morton before Woods ever recorded it, he has said his reaction was immediate: “It’s like you lived my whole life.”
Later Albums
Woods followed his breakthrough with My Life’s Lyric in 2010 and later Life Lessons, both continuing his collaboration with the production team behind his debut. Each album peaked in the top five of the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, cementing Woods as a consistent, if not chart-topping-every-time, presence in 2000s and 2010s gospel music.[IMAGE: DeWayne Woods in the recording studio]
Personal Life
DeWayne Woods has kept most of his personal life, including his relationship status and family details, out of the public eye. Some online sources reference a daughter, but reliable, verifiable confirmation of his marital history and family is limited, and Flicxa has chosen not to report unverified claims about his personal relationships as fact.
Is DeWayne Woods Still Alive?
Yes, DeWayne Woods is alive and active in ministry as of 2026. He continues to serve in church worship leadership and periodically releases new music, following the same testimony-driven approach that built his career.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
Woods has consistently framed his music as an extension of testimony rather than performance. His approach to “Let Go” in particular treats the song less as a single and more as an invitation for listeners to release their own struggles to God, a theme he has continued through his later work as a worship director rather than a full-time touring recording artist.
Influence and Legacy
“Let Go” remains one of the defining urban gospel radio records of the late 2000s, still played regularly on gospel radio and used in church services as an altar-call song. Woods’ path, from ensemble background singer to solo hitmaker to worship pastor, has also served as a template for other gospel artists who move from performance-centered careers into church-based ministry roles later in their careers.
Awards and Recognition
- Stellar Award, Male Vocalist of the Year (2008)
- Stellar Award, Song of the Year, for “Let Go” (2008)
- Multiple Billboard Gospel Albums chart top-five placements across his catalog
Interesting Facts
- DeWayne Woods was mistakenly described as a “newcomer” by some outlets when he won Male Vocalist of the Year in 2008, despite years of ensemble experience behind Kee and Lawrence.
- He has sung background vocals for Celine Dion, a rare crossover credit for an artist rooted in traditional gospel.
- Woods partnered with PETA in 2013 for an animal welfare campaign, referring to his dogs as his “kids.”
- “Let Go” was written by P.J. Morton, later known for his work with Maroon 5, before Woods recorded his now-definitive version.
Timeline
- 1975: Born November 9 in Kansas City, Missouri.
- 1993: Woods says he was diagnosed with HIV.
- 2003: Releases debut album The Poets, The Psalms, and the Psalmists independently.
- 2006: Signs with Verity Records; releases Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet.
- 2007: “Let Go” becomes a major gospel radio hit.
- 2008: Wins Stellar Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year; relocates to Atlanta.
- 2010: Releases My Life’s Lyric.
- 2026: Continues active ministry as Director of Worship & Arts at Divine Faith Ministries International.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DeWayne Woods still alive?
Yes. DeWayne Woods is alive and remains active in gospel music and church ministry as of 2026.
What is DeWayne Woods’ testimony?
Woods has said he was diagnosed with HIV in 1993 and later chose to trust God for healing rather than continue medication, a story he has shared publicly and credits as the inspiration behind his hit song “Let Go.”
Is DeWayne Woods married?
Reliable public information about DeWayne Woods’ current marital status is limited. He has kept his personal relationships largely private throughout his career.
What is DeWayne Woods’ most famous song?
“Let Go,” released in 2007, is DeWayne Woods’ signature song and remains a staple of gospel radio and church worship services.
