Jonathan McReynolds
Jonathan McReynolds | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 17, 1989 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Gospel music artist, singer-songwriter, record producer, author, actor, educator |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for | Grammy Award-winning gospel music artist |
Jonathan Caleb McReynolds (born September 17, 1989) is an acclaimed American gospel music artist and Grammy recipient. His professional journey began in 2012 with the release of Life Music under Entertainment One Music. He secured two No. 1 positions on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart with Life Music: Stage Two (2015) and Make Room (2018). Throughout his career, McReynolds has earned fifteen Stellar Awards, four GMA Dove Awards, and five Grammy Award nominations, including a victory in 2021.
Early life
Originating from Chicago, Illinois, McReynolds was brought up by a single mother, receiving considerable encouragement from his relatives, church community, and pastor at New Original Church of God in Christ. Demonstrating musical talent early on, he began playing drums at age five and piano by eight, frequently performing as a church musician. Although initially hesitant to sing publicly, he expanded his musical presence beyond his immediate environment during his high school years.
While attending Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, McReynolds refined his musical abilities and gained hands-on experience in recording and production through participation in the school's podcast initiative. These competencies were instrumental during his college years when he recorded initial tracks—including the widely shared "No Gray"—from his dormitory.
Music career
Jonathan McReynolds initiated his recording career in 2012 with the album Life Music, released through Light Records and Entertainment One Music. This debut reached No. 98 on the Billboard 200, climbed to No. 3 on the Top Gospel Albums, and placed No. 23 on the Independent Albums chart. The track "No Gray" gained substantial viral momentum, earning him television appearances and endorsements from notable artists such as India Arie and Nicki Minaj.
His follow-up album, Life Music: Stage Two, garnered a Grammy Award nomination and dominated the Billboard Gospel charts for four consecutive weeks while securing a GMA Dove Award. Featuring collaborations with Israel Houghton, India.Arie, and Chantae Cann, it included the top-five gospel single "Gotta Have You." Critics lauded the album for its sincere and spiritually rooted style. In 2016, McReynolds surprised fans with the EP Sessions, which included R&B singer Tweet and quickly ascended to No. 1 on the iTunes Christian chart.
The release of Make Room, his third studio album, marked a pinnacle in his career, earning eight Stellar Awards alongside two Grammy nominations. The album debuted atop the Billboard Gospel charts and featured his first No. 1 radio single "Not Lucky, I'm Loved," as well as the viral song "Cycles." This project attracted endorsements from a wide array of artists including Justin Bieber and Kandi Burruss. McReynolds also became the pioneering gospel artist to collaborate with Tidal, while his televised special "Make Room" was broadcast multiple times on TVOne. In 2018, he published Make Room: Finding Where Faith Fits, a book that narrowly missed achieving bestseller status.
In June 2019, McReynolds took on a judging role alongside Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price, and Erica Campbell for Season 9 of BET's Sunday Best. The following year, he released the EP People, which included "Moving On," earning him the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song.
Building on this momentum, he made his acting debut in the BET+ film Favorite Son, starring opposite Rotimi, Serayah, and Loren Lott.
By August 2021, McReynolds secured his fourth straight No. 1 on Gospel Airplay with the track "Grace." He also appeared at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and published his second book titled Before You Climb Any Higher: Valley Wisdom for Mountain Dreams in February 2025.
Personal life
In 2016, McReynolds established Elihu Nation, a charitable organization dedicated to nurturing young individuals who pursue wisdom and serve as role models. This initiative organizes events that encourage Christian academic engagement and personal development, distributing more than $30,000 in scholarships for higher education.
Alongside his pursuits in music, Jonathan spent five years teaching within the music department at Columbia College Chicago. He earned a bachelor's degree in music from Columbia College and later completed a master's degree in Biblical studies at Moody Theological Seminary in 2015.
In 2018, McReynolds became a member of Mensa International and was also honored with an honorary membership in Alpha Nu Omega, Inc., a global Christian fraternity.
He is related as the uncle to actor Khalil Everage.
Discography
| Album Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Gospel |
US Indie | ||
| Life Music |
|
98 | 3 | 23 |
| Life Music: Stage Two |
|
44 | 1 | 11 |
| Make Room |
|
97 | 1 | 5 |
| People |
|
— | 2 | — |
| My Truth |
|
— | 3 | — |
| "—" indicates albums that either did not chart or were not released in the specified market. | ||||