The Preacher's Wife (soundtrack)

The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album is the soundtrack to the 1996 film of the same name and features songs performed by Whitney Houston, who also stars in the film. The soundtrack was released on November 26, 1996 by Arista Records and BMG Entertainment. It is the best-selling gospel album of all time, and has sold an estimated 6 million copies worldwide.[2]

The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album
Soundtrack album by
Whitney Houston
ReleasedNovember 26, 1996
RecordedJanuary – February 1996
Genre
Length62:20
LabelArista, BMG Entertainment.
Producer
Whitney Houston chronology
The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album
(1992)		 The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album
(1996)		 My Love Is Your Love
(1998)
Singles from The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album
  1. "I Believe In You And Me"
    Released: December 10, 1996
  2. "Step by Step"
    Released: 24 February 1997
  3. "My Heart Is Calling"
    Released: June 10, 1997
1997 Reissue cover

The lead single, "I Believe in You and Me" (a cover of The Four Tops classic), became a top five hit in the U.S.[3] and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards, as well as for Best R&B Album.[4]

"Step by Step" was another hit single, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "My Heart Is Calling" became the soundtrack's final release.

"Lay Aside Every Weight", covered and performed by Georgia Mass Choir and Whitney Houston, appears in the film but not on the motion picture soundtrack for unknown reasons.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[5]
The New York Times(Positive)[6]
Rolling Stone[7]

Released on November 26, 1996, The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack Album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on the issue dated December 14, 1996, selling 90,500 units in the first week.[8] On its second week, the album jumped to number four on the chart with the Greatest Gainer mark, and the following week reached number three, which was the album's peak position.[9][10] The album also debuted at number eight on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, and in three weeks later, peaked at the number one and remained there for two weeks, becoming her fourth number one album on the chart.[11][12] It stayed for a total of 38 weeks, 49 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and the Top R&B Albums chart respectively.[11][13]

In addition, The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack was more successful on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart than on any other chart. The album debuted straight at number one on the chart and spent 26 consecutive weeks at the top from December 14, 1996 to June 7, 1997. It remained on the chart for 117 weeks.[14][15] Eventually the album became number one gospel album on the 1997 Billboard Top Gospel Albums year-end chart and also "Best-selling gospel recording" by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) in 1996–1997.[16][17] It was certified 3× Platinum for shipping 3 million copies in the United States alone by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 30, 1998.[18] According to the Nielsen SoundScan, as of 2012, the gospel album has sold 2,627,000 copies in the United States alone.[2]

Music critics saw a more emotionally engaged side of Houston, particularly with the soundtrack's gospel offerings. “For the first time in her 12-year recording career, Houston sounds genuinely moved by her material. Early on she stumbles through the Annie Lennox-penned "Step By Step," but the presence of the Georgia Mass Choir on six subsequent tracks melts her frosty reserve,” People magazine wrote.[19]

Nearly 25 years after its release, the album returned to the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart in December 2020 at #4.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Believe in You and Me" (film version)
4:03
2."Step by Step"Annie LennoxStephen Lipson4:10
3."Joy" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Kirk Franklin
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
3:16
4."Hold On, Help Is on the Way" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Rev. Kenneth Paden
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
3:09
5."I Go to the Rock" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Dottie Rambo
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
4:05
6."I Love the Lord" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Richard Smallwood
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
4:57
7."Somebody Bigger Than You and I" (Featuring Bobby Brown, Faith Evans, Johnny Gill, Monica and Ralph Tresvant)
4:42
8."You Were Loved"Diane WarrenKenneth "Babyface" Edmonds4:13
9."My Heart Is Calling"BabyfaceBabyface4:15
10."I Believe in You and Me" (single version)
  • David Wolfert
  • Sandy Linzer
David Foster3:55
11."Step by Step" (Remix)Annie LennoxRemixed by Teddy Riley4:34
12."Who Would Imagine a King"
  • Mervyn Warren
  • Hallerin Hilton Hill
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
3:31
13."He's All Over Me" (with Shirley Caesar and the Georgia Mass Choir)Alvin Darling
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
3:53
14."The Lord Is My Shepherd" (performed by Cissy Houston with Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir)Traditional
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
4:24
15."Joy to the World" (with the Georgia Mass Choir)Traditional
  • Whitney Houston
  • Mervyn Warren
4:41

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[40] Platinum 100,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[41] Platinum 20,000*
Italy (FIMI)[42] Gold 50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[44] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[45] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[47] 3× Platinum 2,471,000[48]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[49] Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide — 6,000,000[2]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Academy Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997Hans Zimmer for The Preacher's WifeBest Original Musical or Comedy Score[50]Nominated

American Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack AlbumFavorite Soundtrack[51]Nominated

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack AlbumFavorite Female, R&B[52]Won
1998The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack AlbumFavorite Soundtrack[53]Nominated

Essence Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997Whitney Houston (herself)The Triumphant Spirit Award[54][55]Won

GMA (Gospel Music Association) Dove Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997Special AwardOutstanding Mainstream Contribution to Gospel Music[56]Won
1998"I Go to the Rock"Traditional Gospel Song of the Year (with Dottie Rambo)[57][58]Won

Grammy Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack AlbumBest R&B Album[59]Nominated
"I Believe in You and Me"Best Female R&B Vocal Performance[59]Nominated

NAACP Image Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack AlbumOutstanding Gospel Artist (with Georgia Mass Choir)[60][61][62]Won
Outstanding Album[60][61][62]Won

The NARM Best Seller Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1997The Preacher's Wife Original Soundtrack AlbumBest-selling Gospel Recording[17]Won

People's Choice Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998Whitney Houston (herself)Favorite Female Musical Performer (tied with Reba McEntire)[63][64]Won

Soul Train Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998Special AwardThe 1998 Quincy Jones Award — for Outstanding Career Achievements in the field of entertainment[65][66]Won

Trumpet Awards

Trumpet Awards, the awards are intended to honor blacks who, through consistency and longevity, have inspired others and have achieved success in their chosen professions or careers.[67]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998Whitney Houston (herself)The Pinnacle Award[67][68]Won

See also

References
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