Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance explained

The Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance was awarded from 1962 to 1986. During this time the award had several name changes:

• Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording (1962, 1963)
• Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording (Musical) (1964–66)
• Best Sacred Performance (Musical) (1967)
• Best Sacred Performance (1968, 1969)
• Best Sacred Performance (Non-Classical) (1970)
• Best Sacred Performance (Musical) (1971)
• Best Sacred Performance (1972)
• Best Inspirational Performance (1973, 1974)
• Best Inspirational Performance (Non-Classical) (1975)
• Best Inspirational Performance (1976–86)

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

Recipients

Year	Winner(s)	Title	Nominees	Ref.
1962	Mahalia Jackson	Everytime I Feel the Spirit		^[1]
1963	Mahalia Jackson	Great Songs of Love and Faith		^[2]
1964	Soeur Sourire	Dominique		^[3]
1965	Tennessee Ernie Ford	Great Gospel Songs		^[4]
1966	George Beverly Shea & Anita Kerr Quartet	Southland Favorites		^[5]
1967	Porter Wagoner & Blackwood Brothers	Grand Old Gospel		^[6]
1968	Elvis Presley	How Great Thou Art		^[7]
1969	Jake Hess	Beautiful Isle of Somewhere		^[8]
1970	Jake Hess	Ain't That Beautiful Singing		^[9]
1971	Jake Hess	Everything Is Beautiful		^[10]
1972	Charley Pride	Did You Think to Pray		^[11]
1973	Elvis Presley	He Touched Me		^[12]
1974	Bill Gaither Trio	Let's Just Praise the Lord		^[13]
1975	Elvis Presley	"How Great Thou Art" from the album Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis		^[14]
1976	Bill Gaither Trio	Jesus, We Just Want to Thank You		^[15]
1977	Gary S. Paxton	The Astonishing, Outrageous, Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable, Different World of Gary S. Paxton		^[16]
1978	B.J. Thomas	Home Where I Belong		^[17]
1979	B.J. Thomas	Happy Man		^[18]
1980	B.J. Thomas	You Gave Me Love (When Nobody Gave Me a Prayer)		^[19]
1981	Debby Boone	With My Song		^[20]
1982	B.J. Thomas	Amazing Grace		^[21]
1983	Barbara Mandrell	He Set My Life to Music		^[22]
1984	Donna Summer	"He's a Rebel" from the album She Works Hard for the Money		^[23]
1985	Donna Summer	"Forgive Me" from the album Cats Without Claws		^[24]
1986	Jennifer Holliday	"Come Sunday" from the album Say You Love Me		^[25]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Grammy Awards 1962. AwardsandShows. January 9, 2021.
2. Web site: Grammy Awards 1963. AwardsandShows. January 11, 2021.
3. Web site: Grammy Awards 1964. AwardsandShows. January 11, 2021.
4. Web site: Grammy Awards 1965. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
5. Web site: Grammy Awards 1966. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
6. Web site: Grammy Awards 1967. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
7. Web site: Grammy Awards 1968. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
8. Web site: Grammy Awards 1969. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
9. Web site: Grammy Awards 1970. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
10. Web site: Grammy Awards 1971. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
11. Web site: Grammy Awards 1972. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
12. Web site: Grammy Awards 1973. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
13. Web site: Grammy Awards 1974. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
14. Web site: Grammy Awards 1975. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
15. Web site: Grammy Awards 1976. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
16. Web site: Grammy Awards 1977. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
17. Web site: Grammy Awards 1978. AwardsandShows. January 12, 2021.
18. Web site: Grammy Awards 1979. AwardsandShows. January 15, 2021.
19. Web site: Grammy Awards 1980. AwardsandShows. January 15, 2021.
20. Web site: Grammy Awards 1981. AwardsandShows. January 15, 2021.
21. Web site: Grammy Awards 1982. AwardsandShows. January 15, 2021.
22. Web site: Grammy Awards 1983. AwardsandShows. January 15, 2021.
23. Web site: Grammy Awards 1984. AwardsandShows. January 15, 2021.
24. Web site: Grammy Awards 1985. AwardsandShows. January 16, 2021.
25. Web site: Grammy Awards 1986. AwardsandShows. January 16, 2021.