Erica Campbell
Erica Campbell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Erica Monique Atkins April 29, 1973 Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, songwriter |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Member of Mary Mary, solo gospel albums including Help and I Love You |
Erica Monique Campbell (born Atkins; April 29, 1973) is an American vocalist and songwriter known for her work in urban contemporary gospel, Christian R&B, and contemporary R&B genres. She began her musical journey in the late 1990s alongside her sister, Tina Campbell, as a member of the duo Mary Mary.
Her first solo project, Help (2014), achieved a top 10 position on the Billboard 200 and earned her the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. The album's re-release, Help 2.0 (2015), included the gospel trap hit "I Luh God", which reached number one on the gospel charts. In 2023, she followed up with her sophomore album, I Love You. Her collaborative effort in 2024, "One Hallelujah," featuring artists such as Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Israel Houghton, secured the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song.
In addition to her music career, Campbell has appeared in films like Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) and The Fighting Temptations (2003). Since May 2016, she has co-hosted the morning radio program Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell with comedian Griff, which is produced by Reach Media under Urban One.
Early life
Erica Monique Atkins was born on April 29, 1973, in Inglewood, California. She is the daughter of Eddie Aaron Atkins Jr. (1948–2013), a pastor originally from Merced, California, and Thomasina Andrea "Honey" Atkins (née Daniels) from Stamford, Connecticut. Her family includes one elder sister and five younger sisters, among whom is her musical collaborator Tina Campbell. She also had two older brothers; tragically, one died at a young age due to health issues.
Music career
Starting in 1998, Erica Campbell partnered with her sister Tina Campbell to form the gospel duo Mary Mary. The group garnered numerous honors such as Stellar Music Awards, Dove Awards, four Grammy Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, two American Music Awards, a Soul Train Award, and a BET Award. In 2008, she contributed a solo song titled "Stand" for the soundtrack of A Good Man Is Hard to Find. Mary Mary was also recognized with the ASCAP Golden Note Award in 2011 for exceptional songwriting achievements.
Erica embarked on her solo path in 2013 with the release of her debut album HELP, which came out on March 25, 2014 through Entertainment One Music. This project marked her first significant chart success, peaking at No. 6 on The Billboard 200, topping the Top Gospel Albums chart at No. 1, and reaching No. 2 on Independent Albums. At the 57th Grammy Awards ceremony, she received the award for Best Gospel Album. Her next release, Help 2.0, arrived on March 31, 2015; it also led the Top Gospel Albums chart and placed at No. 120 on The Billboard 200.
In April 2018, Erica and her husband Warryn Campbell featured in a TV One reality series highlighting her recording process for an upcoming album. That year they also unveiled the music video for "All of My Life." On September 23, 2022, she launched the single “Positive,” followed by “Feel Alright (Blessed)” on January 13, 2023. Both songs are part of her second solo record, I Love You, which was released later in 2023.
Personal life
Erica Campbell is married to music producer Warryn Campbell, and together they reside in Los Angeles with their three children. On January 15, 2023, she was honored with an honorary membership in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release details | Highest chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel | US Independent | ||
| Help |
|
6 | 1 | 2 |
| Help 2.0 |
|
120 | 1 | 12 |
| I Love You |
|
— | 10 | — |
Singles
| Year | Song Title | Chart peak position | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel | |||
| 2013 | "A Little More Jesus" | 7 | Help |
| 2014 | "Help" (feat. Lecrae) | 2 | |
| "You Are" | 17 | ||
| "P.O.G." | 24 | ||
| 2015 | "More Love" | 18 | Help 2.0 |
| "I Luh God" (feat. Big Shizz) | 1 | ||
| 2017 | "Well Done" | 10 | Standalone single |
| 2018 | "All of My Life" (with Warryn Campbell) | 3 | Standalone single |
| 2022 | "Positive" | 13 | I Love You |
| 2023 | "Feel Alright (Blessed)" | 9 | |
| 2025 | "Trust And Obey" | — |
American Music Awards
| Year | Category | Work Recognized | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Favorite R&B/Soul or Hip-Hop New Artist | Mary Mary | Nominee |
| 2005 | Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist | Winner | |
| 2009 | Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist | Winner | |
| Favorite Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group | Nominee | ||
| 2014 | Favorite Gospel Artist | Nominee |
Billboard Music Awards
| Year | Category | Work Recognized | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Top Gospel Song | "I Luh God" (featuring Big Shizz) | Nominee |
BET Awards
The BET Awards honor outstanding achievements in entertainment. Erica Campbell has received three wins from a total of seventeen nominations.
| Year | Category | Work Recognized | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Female Group | Mary Mary | Nominee |
| Best Gospel Artist | Nominee | ||
| 2003 | Best Group | Nominee | |
| 2006 | Nominee | ||
| Nominee | |||
| Nominee | |||
| Best Group | Nominee | ||
| 2009 | Best Gospel Artist | Winner | |
| 2011 | Winner | ||
| 2013 | Winner | ||
| Best Artist | Nominee | ||
| 2014–2016 (three consecutive years) | Best Gospel Artist | Erica Campbell | Nominations across all three years |
| 2019–2020, 2024 | Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | Various works | Nominations received |
GMA Dove Awards
The Gospel Music Association annually recognizes outstanding achievements in gospel music. Campbell has earned 8 awards out of 20 nominations throughout her career.
& Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year & "Help" (featuring Lecrae) & Template:Nom & Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album & Help & Template:Nom & Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year & "A Little More Jesus" & Template:Won & 2015 & Gospel Artist of the Year & Herself & Template:Nom & 2020 & Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year & "All In His Plan" (with PJ Morton and Le'Andria Johnson) & Template:Nom & 2024 & Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year & I Love You & Template:Nom & 2025 & Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year & "One Hallelujah" (with Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Israel Houghton, Jonathan McReynolds, and Jekalyn Carr) & Template:Nom| Year | Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "Shackles (Praise You)" | Template:Won |
| Urban Album of the Year | Thankful | Template:Won | |
| 2002 | Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "Thank You" (featuring Kirk Franklin) | Template:Won |
| 2003 | Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | "In the Morning" | Template:Won |
| 2004 | Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "Dance, Dance, Dance" | Template:Won |
| 2006 | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Mary Mary | Template:Won |
| 2009 | Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "Get Up" | Template:Won |
| "Love Him Like I Do" | Template:Nom | ||
| Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | The Sound | Template:Nom | |
| Group of the Year | Mary Mary | Template:Nom | |
| 2010 | Artist of the Year | Herself | Template:Nom |
| 2012 | Urban Album of the Year | Something Big | Template:Nom |
| 2013 | Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "Go Get It" | Template:Nom |
| 2014 | Gospel Performance of the Year | "Help" (featuring Lecrae) | Template:Nom |
Grammy Awards
The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences annually presents the Grammy Awards, which have acknowledged Campbell with six victories out of eighteen nominations.
| Year | Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Template:Won | |
| 2006 | Mary Mary | Template:Nom | |
| Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song | "Heaven" | Template:Nom | |
| 2009 | "Get Up" | Template:Nom | |
| Best Gospel Performance | Template:Won | ||
| Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album | The Sound | Template:Nom | |
| 2010 | Best Gospel Song | "God In Me" | Template:Won |
| 2012 | "Sitting With Me" | Template:Nom | |
| Best Gospel Album | Something Big | Template:Nom | |
| 2013 | Best Gospel Song | "Go Get It" | Template:Won |
| Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance | Template:Nom | ||
| 2014 | Best Gospel Song | "A Little More Jesus" | Template:Nom |
| 2015 | Best Gospel Album | HELP | Template:Won |
| Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song | "HELP" | Template:Nom | |
| 2023 | "Positive" | Template:Nom | |
| 2024 | "Feel Alright (Blessed)" | Template:Nom | |
| Best Gospel Album | I Love You | Template:Nom |
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards, organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), have recognized Campbell with a total of 5 victories out of 11 nominations.
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Outstanding Duo or Group | Mary Mary | Template:Nom |
| 2003 | Template:Nom | ||
| Outstanding Gospel Artist | Template:Nom | ||
| 2006 | Template:Nom | ||
| 2009 | Template:Won | ||
| 2010 | Outstanding Song | "God In Me" | Template:Won |
| 2012 | Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary) | Something Big | Template:Nom |
| 2013 | GO GET IT | Template:Won | |
| Duo, Group or Collaboration | Themselves | Template:Won | |
| 2017 | Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series | Mary Mary | Template:Nom |
| 2023 | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song | "Positive" | Template:Won |
Soul Train Awards
Presented annually, the Soul Train Music Awards and Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards have honored Campbell with five wins from fifteen nominations.
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Train Awards | |||
| 2001 | Best Gospel Album | Thankful | Template:Nom |
| 2009 | Best Gospel Performance | "God In Me" | Template:Won |
| Best Collaboration | Template:Nom | ||
| Song of the Year | Template:Nom | ||
| 2011 | Best Gospel Performance | "Walking" | Template:Won |
| Best Dance Performance | Template:Nom | ||
| 2014 | Best Gospel/Inspirational Song | "Help" (with Lecrae) | Template:Won |
| 2015 | "More Love" | Template:Nom | |
| 2019 | Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | Herself | Template:Nom |
| 2022 | Template:Nom | ||
| 2024 | "Feel Alright (Blessed)" | Template:Nom | |
| Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards | |||
| 2001 | Best Gospel Album | Thankful | Template:Won |
| Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Duo or Group | Mary Mary | Template:Won | |
| Best R&B/Soul Single Duo or Group | "Shackles (Praise You)" | Template:Nom | |
| 2003 | Best Gospel Album | Incredible | Template:Nom |
Stellar Awards
The Stellar Awards, granted each year by SAGMA, have acknowledged Campbell with an impressive tally of 27 wins from 57 nominations.
| Year | Category | Work | Result | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | New Artist of the Year | Mary Mary | |||||||||
| Group/Duo of the Year | |||||||||||
| Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year | |||||||||||
| Artist of the Year | |||||||||||
| Contemporary CD of the Year |
Thankful |
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| Music Video of the Year | "Shackles (Praise You)" | ||||||||||
| "Incredible" | |||||||||||
| "Heaven"; Mary Mary | |||||||||||
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Mary Mary |
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| "Heaven" | |||||||||||
| "God In Me" | |||||||||||
| "Walking" | |||||||||||
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Go Get It |
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| "I Luh God" | |||||||||||
| "All In His Plan" (with PJ Morton and Le'Andria Johnson) | |||||||||||
|
Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell |
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-} Additional Recognitions
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