Phil Wickham

Philip David Wickham He has also led worship at Soul Survivor. His single "This is Amazing Grace" has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and it topped the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay chart.

Early life and education Born Philip David Wickham on April 5, 1984, Phil Wickham was raised in a Christian home, the second of three children—with brother Evan and sister Jillian—of parents John and Lisa (née Irwin) Wickham. The context for Phil Wickham's early musical and religious pursuits was his parents' commitments; Wickham's father John played in early bands for the early Maranatha! Music label, and met Evan's mother, Lisa, in the band Parable; consistently since 1981, they served as worship leaders in their congregation. Phil Wickham began leading worship for his youth group at Maranatha Chapel at 13 years old; his parents encouraged him to learn popular praise songs and to write his own.

In 2002, he graduated from Calvary Christian School in Vista, California.

Career Albums Wickham began a full-time music career by touring California and recording his first album, Give You My World, in 2003. After that release Wickham signed with Simple Records. Wickham released his self-titled label debut in 2006. Wickham's second release with Simple/INO Records, Cannons, was released in 2007. has been translated into seven different languages. The album was released as a free download, only available from his website, and received over 8,000 downloads within a week of being released. After the release of Singalong, his self-titled album hit No. 25 on iTunes Store Top Christian Albums sales, two years after its initial release.

Heaven & Earth, Wickham's third studio album, was released on November 17, 2009. His Christmas album Songs for Christmas was released as a digital download available on his website on October 29, 2010. Wickham's fourth full-length studio album, Response, was released on October 4, 2011. On October 30, 2012, Phil Wickham released his second live acoustic album, Singalong 2. The Ascension, Wickham's fifth studio album, was released on September 24, 2013. The album peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200, making it Wickham's highest charting album on the chart. The lead single off of this album, "This is Amazing Grace", became No. 1 on the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay Songs chart.

In February 2016, Wickham released the first single, "Your Love Awakens Me", from his album, Children of God, which was released later that year. Living Hope, Wickham's seventh full-length studio project, was released in August 2018. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, his first album to do so. On October 4, 2019, Wickham's 10-track holiday album Christmas was released along with the music video for "Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)". Wickham toured both Texas and California with Shane & Shane that same December on their annual Christmas tour. Christmas would go on to spend 12 weeks on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, peaking at No. 24.

In June 2021, Wickham's eighth studio album Hymn of Heaven was released. Featuring a guest appearance by Brandon Lake, its releases included "Battle Belongs" (No. 2 on the Hot Christian Songs chart), "House of the Lord" (No. 1) and "Hymn of Heaven" (No. 2), along with It's Always Been You released as a promotional single. Debuting at No. 1 on Billboards Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States, it also entered at No. 6 on the Official Charts' Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom. At the 2021 GMA Dove Awards, "Battle Belongs" was nominated for the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year. The album was nominated for the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Album at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. At the 2022 GMA Dove Awards, Hymn of Heaven won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Album of the Year, the title track won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year, and "House of the Lord" was nominated for two GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year.

In 2023, Wickham released his next studio album I Believe which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Contemporary Christian Music Album. His next album, Song of the Saints was released in 2025. Song of the Saints debuted at number 2 On the Top Christian Albums Chart. Wickham released a new version of Rich Mullins' 1988 song "Awesome God" in April 2025 titled "What an Awesome God". The single became a success and became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry and topped Billboards Christian Airplay and AC Airplay charts.

Tours

Wickham visits churches around the world to play his music. From late 2006 to early 2007, he went on the "Coming Up to Breathe" tour with MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline. In late 2007, he went on the Remedy tour with the David Crowder Band and The Myriad. In the summers of 2023, 2024, and 2025, Wickham embarked on the Summer Worship Nights Tour with Brandon Lake.

Festival and other activities Wickham has played Christian worship festivals, e.g., Creation Fest in 2008. In the mid-2010s, Wickham was one of the worship leaders for Soul Survivor week and Momentum Festival in the UK.

On September 21, 2025, Wickham led worship at the memorial service of Charlie Kirk held at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. The assassination of Charlie Kirk occurred in Utah on September 10, 2025.

Wickham voiced King David in the animated biblical film David, which was released in theaters on December 19, 2025 by Angel Studios.

Personal life Wickham married Mallory Plotnik in 2008; as of December 2023, the couple was living in San Diego, California, with their four children. Wickham attends Light Church, a small chapel based in Encinitas, California.

Wickham underwent surgery to remove a polyp from folds of his vocal cords on April 28, 2014, after which he was prescribed a month of silence to allow the surgical site to heal. He was uncertain that he would be able to sing again, leading to identity issues and self-doubt; spiritual insights from this period formed the basis for his 2016 album, Children of God. 2007 The Wager Soundtrack (Grace) 2013 On the Spot Interviews Self TV series 2019 Breakthrough Worship Leader This Is Amazing Grace (Breakthrough Mix) 2019 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards Performer TV Special 2020 Christmas with the Chosen Self TV Special 2021 Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers Self 2024 For The One - A Tour Documentary Self Documentary about Summer Worship Nights Tour Awards and nominations American Music Awards 2022 Phil Wickham Favorite Inspirational Artist

Billboard Music Awards 2022 Hymn of Heaven Top Christian Album

GMA Dove Awards Year Nominee Award Result ref 2015 "This Is Amazing Grace" Song of the Year Worship Song of the Year Worship Song of the Year Christmas: Acoustic Sessions Christmas / Special Event Album of the Year Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year Himself Songwriter of the Year - Artist "Holy Forever" Song of the Year with writers Chris Tomlin, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Jason Ingram Himself Artist of the Year "The King Is In The Room" Worship Recorded Song of the Year "What an Awesome God" Songwriter of the Year Himself Artist of the Year "Homesick for Heaven" Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year "Psalm 8" Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year "What an Awesome God" Worship Recorded Song of the Year "Follow the Light" Children's Recorded Song of the Year Song of the Saints Worship Album of the Year

Grammy Awards Year Nominee Award Result Ref 2023 "Hymn of Heaven (Radio Version)" Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song "Holy Forever" "Homesick for Heaven" Worship Song of the Year Himself Artist of the Year Male Artist of the Year

We Love Awards 2025 "What an Awesome God" Worship Song of the Year