Chandler Moore

Chandler Moore is an American Christian singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist and worship leader known for his expressive vocals and his role in the rise of Maverick City Music. Born Chandler David Moore on March 21, 1995, in Charleston, South Carolina, he grew up in a church environment and developed his musical abilities from an early age. His music combines contemporary gospel and worship with elements of R&B and mainstream Christian music, giving him a sound that has connected with audiences well beyond the traditional gospel scene.

Moore first gained widespread attention through his work with Maverick City Music, becoming one of the collective’s prominent vocalists and songwriters. He later established himself as a solo artist, releasing his debut album Feelings in 2020 and the live album Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles in 2024. His career has also included major collaborations with Kirk Franklin, Elevation Worship, Justin Bieber, Tori Kelly, Dante Bowe and Naomi Raine. With five Grammy wins and 17 nominations listed by the Recording Academy, Moore has become one of the most recognised younger voices in contemporary Christian and gospel music.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Musical Background

Chandler David Moore was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and grew up in a deeply religious household. His father was a pastor, meaning that church was a central part of his childhood and provided the environment in which his musical and spiritual interests developed. Moore eventually became a music director at a small church in his hometown, where he says he experienced a personal encounter with God that deepened his desire to study the Bible and pursue worship.

His development was not limited to singing. Moore learned to play piano and guitar and became increasingly involved in songwriting and arranging. Before his breakthrough as a recording artist, he also worked as a background vocalist for artists including Tye Tribbett and Travis Greene. These experiences gave him an opportunity to learn from established gospel musicians while developing his own approach to worship and songwriting.

Moore’s early work as a songwriter also led to contributions for other artists, including Tye Tribbett and Bri Babineaux. His growing experience as a musician, writer and worship leader eventually prepared him for the collaborative environment that would define much of his career.

Rise with Maverick City Music

Moore became closely associated with Maverick City Music during the collective’s formative years. The group emerged from a desire to create a more open and collaborative approach to contemporary worship, bringing together artists from different backgrounds and church traditions.

As one of its prominent voices, Moore became known for his spontaneous and emotionally direct style of worship. His contributions helped Maverick City Music develop a sound that combined gospel traditions with contemporary worship, R&B and other modern influences.

His work with the collective produced several of his most recognised songs. “Jireh”, performed with Naomi Raine on Old Church Basement, became a major success, while “Wait on You” and “Voice of God” further established Moore as a distinctive voice within contemporary Christian music. Old Church Basement, a collaborative album by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2022.

Solo Career and Feelings

Although his work with Maverick City Music brought him international attention, Moore also developed a career as a solo artist. His debut solo album, Feelings, was released in 2020 and showed a more personal side of his songwriting. The album explored emotional and spiritual themes while retaining the contemporary gospel and worship foundations of his music.

Feelings debuted at number four on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart, providing an early indication that Moore could establish himself independently of the collective that had helped introduce him to a wider audience.

The project also reflected his ability to move between worship and more personal songwriting. Rather than presenting faith only through traditional praise songs, Moore often writes about vulnerability, relationships, identity and his own experiences, allowing the spiritual elements of his music to emerge naturally from those subjects.

Musical Style and Influences

Moore’s musical identity is rooted in contemporary gospel and worship, but his sound frequently reaches into R&B and mainstream Christian music. His vocal performances often move between intimate, conversational passages and powerful worship sections, giving his songs a strong sense of emotional progression.

His background as a pianist and guitarist also plays an important role in his musicianship. He approaches music as both a performer and songwriter, and his work often leaves room for improvisation and spontaneous vocal expression, characteristics strongly associated with modern worship music.

Moore has also demonstrated an ability to collaborate across musical boundaries. His work with Justin Bieber and Tori Kelly introduced him to audiences outside the gospel world, while his collaborations with Kirk Franklin, Elevation Worship, Naomi Raine and Dante Bowe have kept him closely connected to contemporary gospel and worship.

Major Songs and Collaborations

Some of Moore’s most important recordings have emerged through collaborations. “Man of Your Word”, recorded with KJ Scriven, and “Voice of God”, featuring Dante Bowe and Steffany Gretzinger, helped establish his profile as a songwriter and featured vocalist.

“Jireh”, performed with Naomi Raine and associated with Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, became one of his signature recordings. “Wait on You”, involving Dante Bowe, Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, similarly became an important contemporary worship song.

Moore also worked extensively with Kirk Franklin. Their collaboration produced the album Kingdom Book One and the song “Kingdom”, which won the Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song in 2023. Their collaboration on “Fear Is Not My Future” also won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

His collaborations have extended beyond gospel music. He appeared on Justin Bieber’s 2021 project and has worked with Tori Kelly, demonstrating the versatility that has become a defining feature of his career.

Awards and Recognition

Moore’s career has been marked by substantial recognition from both gospel and mainstream Christian music institutions. The Recording Academy currently lists him with five Grammy wins and 17 nominations. His Grammy-winning work includes Old Church Basement, “Kingdom”, Kingdom Book One, “Fear Is Not My Future” and Breathe.

His Grammy success reflects the collaborative nature of much of his career. Rather than coming exclusively through solo releases, several of his awards have resulted from his work with Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin and other artists.

Moore has also received recognition from the GMA Dove Awards. His achievements include awards connected to recordings such as “Breathe”, “Praise”, When Wind Meets Fire and Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles. His growing list of honours has established him as one of the significant younger artists working in contemporary gospel and worship.

Recent Work and Legacy

Moore has continued developing his solo career alongside his collaborative work. His 2024 release Chandler Moore: Live in Los Angeles marked another important stage in his solo catalogue, while songs including “Lead Me On” and “God I’m Just Grateful” have continued to expand his individual body of work.

His recent releases have continued into 2026. “God I’m Just Grateful” was followed by radio and piano versions, with the piano version released on August 14, 2026. He has also released “Your Love” and its acoustic version, demonstrating his continued interest in presenting his songwriting through different arrangements.

Moore’s influence comes from his ability to make contemporary worship feel personal, emotionally open and musically accessible. His work with Maverick City Music helped contribute to a new generation of gospel and worship music that places collaboration, spontaneity and cultural diversity at its centre. At the same time, his solo work has shown that he can build an identity beyond the collective. Through his songwriting, musicianship and collaborations, Chandler Moore has become an important voice in the continuing evolution of modern gospel and Christian music.