Melvin Crispell III (born 1998) is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and producer from Charlotte, North Carolina. He is best known for winning Season 9 of BET’s “Sunday Best” in 2019, and for gospel hits like “Wonderful Is Your Name,” “God Is,” and “The Blessing.” With four Grammy nominations, multiple Stellar and Dove Award nods, and a growing catalog built on his family’s musical legacy, Crispell has become one of gospel music’s most recognizable young voices.
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Melvin Crispell III |
| Born | 1998, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Melvin Crispell Jr. (father, d. 2014); Tunesha Crispell (mother, d. 2016) |
| Marital status | Not publicly confirmed as married |
| Career | |
| Genre(s) | Traditional and contemporary gospel |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Label | RCA Inspiration |
| Breakthrough | Winner, BET’s “Sunday Best,” Season 9 (2019) |
| Debut album | I’ve Got A Testimony (2020) |
| Grammy nominations | 4 (through 2025) |
| Stellar Award wins | 2 (2024), including Male Artist of the Year |
| Website | melvincrispell.com |
[IMAGE: Melvin Crispell III performing live on stage with microphone]
Early Life and Family
Melvin Crispell III was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, into one of gospel music’s most respected families. His father was Melvin Crispell Jr., a celebrated gospel organist and songwriter whose compositions were recorded by some of the genre’s biggest names, including Hezekiah Walker. His mother, Tunesha Crispell, was a gospel singer whose voice appeared on well-known choir recordings and her own solo project.
Crispell started singing at age two. By the time he reached his teenage years, he was already performing regularly in church. Music was never a hobby in his house. It was the family business, and everyone had a part to play.
Then his world fell apart twice. His father died suddenly in 2014, when Crispell was 16. Two years later, his mother died of cancer, when he was 18. He lost both parents before he finished high school.
“[My parents] were already in the industry and didn’t want me to experience some of the darker side to the gospel industry,” Crispell has said, explaining his early hesitation about a music career.
That grief could have ended his story. Instead, it became the foundation of it. Crispell has said he leaned on his faith and on music itself to get through losing both parents by 18. He turned down the chance to audition for “Sunday Best” three separate times before finally saying yes.[IMAGE: Young Melvin Crispell III with parents Melvin Crispell Jr. and Tunesha Crispell]
Career: From Sunday Best to the National Stage
Winning Sunday Best (2019)
In 2019, Crispell competed on and won Season 9 of BET’s gospel singing competition “Sunday Best.” The win introduced his voice to a national audience for the first time and opened the door to a recording contract with RCA Inspiration.
I’ve Got A Testimony (2020)
His debut album, I’ve Got A Testimony, arrived in 2020. Its lead single, “Wonderful Is Your Name,” was originally written by his late father and became a full-circle moment for the family. The song reached number one on the Billboard Gospel Digital Song Sales chart and earned Crispell his first Grammy nomination, at just 23 years old.
“I was a complete and total wreck,” Crispell said of hearing the news. “I had to go out to my car and cry for thirty minutes.”
No Failure (2023)
Crispell’s live sophomore album, No Failure, followed in 2023. The project includes the single “Alright” and his second Grammy-nominated single, “God Is,” a reworking of the 1976 gospel classic. The album’s central message, that “there is no failure in God,” reflects his own story of walking through loss and coming out the other side still standing.
Covered, Vol. 1 (2024)
In 2024, Crispell released Covered, Vol. 1, an EP paying tribute to the artists who shaped his sound. The project includes his versions of Tye Tribbett’s “Hold On,” CeCe Winans’ “He’s Never Failed Me Yet,” and Mary Mary’s “Yesterday.” He earned his third and fourth Grammy nominations off this project, heading into the 2025 Grammys.[IMAGE: Melvin Crispell III album cover for No Failure]
Discography
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | I’ve Got A Testimony | Studio album |
| 2023 | No Failure | Live album |
| 2024 | Covered, Vol. 1 | EP |
| 2020 | “Wonderful Is Your Name” | Single |
| 2023 | “The First Noel” | Holiday single |
| 2023 | “God Is” | Single |
| 2023 | “Something About The Name Jesus” (feat. Lewis Sky & Rance Allen) | Single |
| 2025 | “Whatever It Is” | Single |
| 2026 | “Thank You” (with Jovonta Patton) | Single |
Awards and Recognition
Crispell has built one of the strongest award résumés of any young gospel artist working today. As of 2025, his totals include four Grammy Award nominations, six Stellar Award nominations, and four Dove Award nominations. In 2024, he took home two Stellar Awards, including Male Artist of the Year, plus one Dove Award.
Personal Life
Crispell keeps his personal life relatively private. There is no verified public record confirming that he is married or in a relationship, despite ongoing curiosity from fans and search interest around the question. He has spoken openly, however, about the emotional weight of losing both parents as a teenager and how his faith carried him through it.
Influence and Legacy
Melvin Crispell III occupies a unique place in gospel music. He is both a torchbearer for his parents’ legacy and an artist building something distinctly his own. Recording his father’s compositions, like “Wonderful Is Your Name,” connects a new generation of listeners to songs written decades earlier. At the same time, projects like No Failure and Covered, Vol. 1 show an artist with his own voice, willing to honor his influences while carving out fresh ground.
Interesting Facts
- Crispell began singing at just two years old.
- He turned down his “Sunday Best” audition three times before agreeing to compete.
- His Grammy-nominated hit “Wonderful Is Your Name” was written by his father years before Crispell ever recorded it.
- He has over 18 million views across his YouTube channel.
Timeline
- 1998: Born in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- 2014: His father, Melvin Crispell Jr., dies unexpectedly.
- 2016: His mother, Tunesha Crispell, dies of cancer.
- 2019: Wins Season 9 of BET’s “Sunday Best”; signs with RCA Inspiration.
- 2020: Releases debut album I’ve Got A Testimony; earns first Grammy nomination.
- 2023: Releases No Failure; earns second Grammy nomination for “God Is.”
- 2024: Releases Covered, Vol. 1; wins two Stellar Awards and one Dove Award.
- 2025: Earns third and fourth Grammy nominations.
- 2026: Releases new single “Thank You” with Jovonta Patton.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Melvin Crispell pass away from?
This question usually refers to Melvin Crispell Jr., the singer’s father, who died in May 2014 following complications connected to diabetes during a minor surgical procedure. Melvin Crispell III himself is alive and actively performing.
Is Melvin Crispell III still alive?
Yes. Melvin Crispell III is alive and continues to release new music, including a 2026 single, “Thank You.”
Who are Melvin Crispell III’s parents?
His father was gospel organist and songwriter Melvin Crispell Jr., who died in 2014. His mother was gospel singer Tunesha Crispell, who died of cancer in 2016.
Where is Melvin Crispell III from?
He was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Is Melvin Crispell III married?
There is no publicly confirmed information about Crispell being married. He keeps his personal relationships private.
How old is Melvin Crispell III?
He was born in 1998, which puts him in his mid-to-late twenties as of 2026.
What is Melvin Crispell III’s song “God Is”?
“God Is” is a 2023 single from his live album No Failure. It reworks a 1976 gospel classic and earned Crispell his second Grammy nomination.
