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Third Day may sing of heaven above, but their music comes wrapped in Southern rock's earthy tones. The Georgia act, steeped in both down-home twang and contemporary worship music, tackles questions of faith in ways that are fervent yet understated. An early hit, 1996's “Forever” pivots on jam-band swing and Mac Powell's gospel-kissed baritone. “I Believe” is significantly more measured, with meditative harmonies resting on warm organ chords. Released in 2015, Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship finds the band fully embracing praise with rousing, participatory productions like “Soul On Fire.”

Getting arms aloft in arenas while singing God's praises is the noble mission of for KING & COUNTRY. Talented siblings Joel and Luke Smallbone announced themselves in dramatic fashion with 2011's “Busted Heart (Hold On To Me),” a sternum-rattling plea for grace set to a thumping rhythm and harmonies that split the stratosphere. The brothers prove to be shape-shifters while staying on message—Christmas track “Baby Boy” stirs the soul with sleigh bells and massed chorus, while 2018's “God Only Knows” finds them expertly adopting a clapback dance beat and slinky R&B vocals.

Contemporary Christian music, like creation itself, is in a process of unfolding. CCM artists change with the times, always seeking out new ideas and means in which to express the strength and vulnerability, mystery and morality, at the core of their faith. As a consequence, CCM grows increasingly diverse. Upon the movement’s emergence in the ’70s, artists largely looked to secular rock and folk for inspiration. By the ’90s, however, CCM was rapidly spreading across the sonic map. Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith were crafting immaculate pop with crossover appeal, while one young band after another could be heard embracing grunge, hip-hop, and indie pop. This unfolding continues unabated into the 21st century, a time when Lauren Daigle’s ingeniously universal anthems and for KING & COUNTRY’s thumping club beats don’t appeal to Christians exclusively, but to people from all walks of life who crave catchy music that speaks to the soul in the here and now.

Matthew West first found success as a songwriter, penning songs for top Christian artists like Point of Grace and Casting Crowns, as well as mainstream country acts like Rascal Flatts and Vince Gill. When the Chicago native began releasing his own albums in the late '90s, he connected to audiences with impassioned vocals and lyrics and songs that swing effortlessly between rock anthems and intimate ballads. He signed to a major label in 2003 and was soon scoring No. 1 hits on the Christian charts. West also acts, occasionally appearing in Christian-themed TV shows and films.

When DC Talk took an extended hiatus in 2000, singer and rapper Toby McKeehan went solo as tobyMac, going on to even greater success thanks to his innovative fusion of hip-hop, rock, and praise songs. His inspiring message quickly found a devoted audience in the world of Christian music, winning him multiple GRAMMY® Awards in the process. A multi-talented artist, songwriter, and producer, tobyMac has forged strong links between the worship community and the secular music scene, bringing his catchy sound to the top of the Billboard charts.

Singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli sounds warm and optimistic even when she's singing about disappointment. Born in New York City to parents who were involved in musical theater, Battistelli cut her teeth performing and singing in plays, which led to her picking up the guitar and writing songs. Her 2008 major-label debut, My Paper Heart, with its openhearted lyrics and driving pop hooks, immediately stood out in the Christian music world, eventually going gold. As her career unfolded, she added hints of smooth jazz, country, and R&B to her inspirational brand of pop.

David Crowder Band came out of University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. With a techno-mix of instrumentation—including turntables, electric violins, and a robot drummer called Steve 3PO—as well as unparalleled fan engagement and killer lyrical hooks, DCB created its own brand of life-as-worship music. Eight Dove Awards and a GRAMMY® nomination later, the band called it quits in 2012 after its final album, Give Us Rest, took the top spot on the Billboard Christian chart and No. 2 on the multi-genre Billboard 200. Today, Crowder performs solo, while his bandmates formed The Digital Age in 2014.

This Seattle-born contemporary Christian singer/songwriter began her career as a member of the group Truth before moving to Nashville to pursue a solo career. Her 1999 self-titled debut struck a chord with believers, but it was her fifth album, 2005's Awaken, that made her a Christian music superstar. Her uplifting, string-enhanced piano ballads and gutsy pop songs, as well as her warm, dynamic voice, have guaranteed her a long and prosperous career. The mother of three has won numerous Dove Awards too, and her humanitarian work finds her campaigning hard against human trafficking.

Mandisa's stellar talent was apparent from her mid-'00s television debut, and in the years since, she's mastered a mix of gospel and modern pop that's both spiritual and danceable. The sunny “Overcomer” pairs a sweetly joyous vocal with early-'10s lite-country beats; her cover of “I Hope You Dance” backs up tender sentiments with sumptuous EDM. “What You're Worth,” her soul-tinged collaboration with fellow CCM star Britt Nicole, advocates for women's self-respect. The storming “Bleed the Same” puts forth a pro-unity message that's underlined by Mandisa bringing in hip-pop pioneer TobyMac and gospel legend Kirk Franklin.