Donald Andrew McClurkin Jr. (born November 9, 1959) is an American gospel singer and minister. He has won three Grammy Awards, ten Stellar Awards, two BET Awards, two Soul Train Awards, one Dove Award and one NAACP Image Awards. He is one of the top selling gospel artists, selling over 13 million albums. Variety dubbed McClurkin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel".
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Early life
McClurkin was born in Copiague, New York. When he was eight years old, his two-year-old brother was hit and killed by a speeding driver, which generated family turmoil. Shortly thereafter, McClurkin was a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of his great uncle and, years later, by his great uncle's son. Two of his sisters dealt with substance abuse, and that's when the young McClurkin found solace in going to church and also through an aunt who sang background vocals with gospel musician Andraé Crouch.
By the time he was a teenager, he had formed the McClurkin Singers and later formed the New York Restoration Choir, with recordings as early as 1975. He released three albums with the New York Restoration Choir before departing to launch a solo career.
Ministry
He was hired as an associate minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan, in 1989. McClurkin served as an assistant to Winans for over a decade.
In 1991, a sharp pain and swelling, followed by internal bleeding, led, he says, to his diagnosis with leukemia. The doctor recommended immediate treatment, but McClurkin, who was then 31, decided instead to take his own advice. "I tell people to believe that God will save you," he says, "[and] I had to turn around and practice the very thing that I preached."
He was ordained and sent out by Marvin Winans in 2001 to establish Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, where he is senior pastor.
Music
A friendship with a Warner Alliance executive resulted in his signing to the label for his 1996 self-titled LP, with producers Bill Maxwell, Mark Kibble of Take 6, Cedric and Victor Caldwell plus Andraé Crouch. The disc, which featured the perennially popular "Stand," went gold shortly after being publicly lauded by Oprah Winfrey. At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, he won in the category Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for "Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs." McClurkin is best known for his hit songs "Stand" and "We Fall Down," which were played in heavy rotation on both Gospel and Urban radio. His three solo albums have topped the Billboard Charts
Dovetailing off the success of his near double platinum selling album, "Live in London and More," McClurkin released "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" in 2005 and "We All Are One: Live In Detroit" in 2009, which also topped Billboard charts across various musical genres.
In 2014, McClurkin released "Duets" a collaborative album that features artists like Mary Mary’s Erica and Tina Campbell, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Tramaine Hawkins, Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett. The album debuted at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Gospel Billboard charts. This was followed by his 2016 album, "The Journey," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. It marked his seventh solo release and features live performances of some of his classics like “Speak to My Heart,” "Great Is Your Mercy," "Stand," and “That's What I Believe.” His 2019 release, "A Different Song," debuted at No. 2 on the Gospel Billboard charts.
In 2025, McClurkin released the single "Better Afterwhile," which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart and led the Gospel Airplay chart. Recorded live at Trinity Broadcasting Network Studios, the song was written by McClurkin and produced by Tre’ Corley and Trent Phillips. The single blends traditional gospel elements with contemporary worship influences and received sustained national airplay across major and secondary gospel markets.
Following the success of the single, McClurkin announced that it would serve as the lead release for his final studio album titled "Finally", marking his first full-length project since 2019.
Radio and television
Tom Versen and Tony Sisti of T&T Creative signed McClurkin to a radio syndication deal with advertising giant Dial Global Local and syndicator Gary Bernstein. T&T Creative provided a mobile recording studio in Pastor Donnie's church that he can also take on the road. He is quoted as saying, "As much as I love music and singing, I really love doing radio and the direct feedback I get from my listeners all over the country. I never thought I would be having this much fun doing radio, and I could touch and impact so many beautiful people."[19]
In 2009, he also broadcast his own television series, Perfecting Your Faith, on cable television. His television appearances include Good Morning America, CBS’s The Early Show, The View, Girlfriends and The Parkers. He has also been featured in such films as The Gospel and The Fighting Temptations. He played a Single man or a church pastor.
Personal life
McClurkin, in 2002, told a Christian website that, due to sexual abuse and porn, he had struggled with homosexuality. "McClurkin believes he "turned" gay because of childhood molestation and traumatic exposure to pornography but was able to reverse his orientation through "will and prayer." He also said that he had rejected that "lifestyle": "I’ve been through this and have experienced God’s power to change my lifestyle. I am delivered, and I know God can deliver others, too."
McClurkin's listing as a headlining performer for then-Senator Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign stirred controversy because of his views on homosexuality. As a result, McClurkin was removed from the performance roster but he still performed at one of the concerts. In August 2013, McClurkin was disinvited from the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom as his ex-gay status was seen as disruptive. In 2015 he spoke out against same-sex marriage in response to the U.S. Supreme Court making it legal nationwide.
McClurkin has a son, Matthew, born in 2000. McClurkin is also related to singer Marsha McClurkin of the short-lived new jack swing group Abstrac.
In 2018, McClurkin survived a serious road accident after he lost consciousness while driving.
Sexual misconduct allegations
In January 2026, McClurkin was sued for sexual assault by Giuseppe Corletto, a former personal assistant from 2004 to 2008. The lawsuit, filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court, states Corletto met McClurkin in 2003 after reading his autobiography, in which McClurkin wrote he had been delivered from homosexuality. Corletto became McClurkin's assistant in 2004, and within two years, the lawsuit states McClurkin began to grope him during "pray the gay away" sessions. The lawsuit states that the abuse also took place at McClurkin's Perfecting Faith Church and continued for several years during work trips. After an alleged sexual assault in 2013, McClurkin wrote an email apologizing for his actions, in which he allegedly referred to himself as a "dirty old man". McClurkin's attorney responded the allegations were "categorically false."
Discography
Videography
Live in London and More... (VHS) (2001)
Again (VHS) (2004)
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs (VHS) (2005)
Music Videos
"Stand"
"We Fall Down"
"The Prayer" (with Yolanda Adams)
"Ooh Child" (with Kirk Franklin)
"I Need You"
Filmography
Film
1998: The Prince of Egypt (wrote and sang "I Am" & "Humanity")
2003: The Fighting Temptations
2004: Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem
2004: The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness to Light
2005: The Gospel
Television
2001: Girlfriends (TV show)- Season 2 Ep 7 “Trick or Truth”
2002: The Parkers (TV show)- Season 3 Ep 16 “Make a Joyful Noise”
2002: 17th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2004: 19th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2005: 20th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2006: 21st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2006: An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder (documentary)
2009: 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – co-host
2010–15: BET's Sunday Best – judge
2010: 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – host
Awards and nominations
BET Awards
The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. McClurkin has received 2 awards from 5 nominations.
Dove Awards
The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. McClurkin has won 4 awards from 13 nominations.
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. McClutkin has won 3 awards from 5 nominations.
Soul Train Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. McClurkin has received 2 awards from 5 nominations.
Stellar Awards
The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. McClurkin has received 12 awards from 24 nominations.