Natasha Tameika Cobbs Leonard (born July 7, 1981) is an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...

musician and songwriter. She released the extended play ''

Grace Grace may refer to: Places United States * Grace, Idaho, a city * Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois * Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office * Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninc ...

'' in 2013 with the hit lead single " Break Every Chain". The EP reached No. 61 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' charts. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, Cobbs won the Grammy for

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance The Grammy Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. According to the 54th Grammy Awards descri ...

. She has also won 15

Stellar Awards A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.Sagma
The Stell ...

, 3

Billboard Music Awards The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by ''Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annually since 1990, with the exception of t ...

, and 9 Dove Awards. Her biggest hit song was Break Every Chain.

Early life

Natasha Tameika Cobbs was born on July 7, 1981, in Jesup, Georgia, to Bishop Fritz Cobbs (1954–2014) and Pastor Bertha Cobbs. She started leading worship at Jesup New Life Ministries, founded by her father.

Personal life

In 2016, Cobbs Leonard revealed that she had been diagnosed with depression in 2007. On March 3, 2017, in a private ceremony attended by family and friends, she married Kenneth Leonard, a music producer and her longtime love. In July 2021 she adopted a son, Asher.

Ministry

Starting in 2006, Cobbs Leonard toured America with Pastor William H. Murphy III (of the dReam Center Church in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...

) for three years. Since then, she has been leading worship at the dReam Center and managing the Worship and Arts department. In 2018, she appeared as herself in the film ''Sinners Wanted''. In 2019, Cobbs and her husband, Kenneth, founded The Purpose Place Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where they serve as pastors.

Music career

She started her solo music career in 2010, with the independently self-released album ''Smile''. The album got the attention of EMI Gospel (now Motown Gospel), and they released her EP, ''Grace'', on February 5, 2013. This was listed on two ''

'' charts: the ''Billboard'' 200 at No. 61, and at No. 2 on the

Top Gospel Albums The ''Billboard'' charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs and albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in ''Billboard'' magazine. ''Billboard'' biz, the online extension of the ''Billboard'' charts, pr ...

chart. The EP later reached No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart. The singles " Break Every Chain" and "For Your Glory" also reached No. 1 on the Hot Gospel Songs charts. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014, Tasha Cobbs took home Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance, winning her first Grammy. Cobbs also won Gospel Performance of the Year, Contemporary Gospel/Urban Song (and Album) Of The Year at the 44th GMA Dove Awards. In 2015, Cobbs was awarded the Gospel Artist of the Year, at the 46th

GMA Dove Award A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Award ...

Discography

Albums

Guest appearances

Singles

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

, - , 2021 , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Favorite Artist – Gospel ,

ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards

, - , rowspan="1" , 2017 , "Put a Prise on it" , rowspan="5" , Award Winning Gospel Songs , , - , rowspan="1" , 2019 , "I'm Getting Ready" , , - , rowspan="1" , 2020 , "You Know My Name" , , - , rowspan="2" , 2022 , "In Spite of Me" , , - , "Jehovah Jireh" ,

BET Awards

, - , 2016 , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Best Gospel Artist , , - ,

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

, "My World Needs You"
, Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award , , - , 2018 , "I'm Getting Ready"
, Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award ,

''Billboard'' Music Awards

, - , rowspan="2" , 2016 , Tasha Cobbs , Top Gospel Artist , , - , '' One Place Live'' , Top Gospel Album , , - , rowspan="2" ,

, "Put a Praise On It"
, Top Gospel Song , , - , '' One Place Live'' , Top Gospel Album , , - , rowspan="2" , 2018 , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Top Gospel Artist , , - , ''Heart. Passion. Pursuit.'' , Top Gospel Album , , - ,

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

, Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Top Gospel Artist , , - ,

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in ...

, Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Top Gospel Artist , , - , 2021 , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Top Gospel Artist , , -

GMA Dove Awards

, - , rowspan="5" ,

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment ...

, " Break Every Chain" , Song of the Year , , - , Tasha Cobbs , New Artist of the Year , , - , "Break Every Chain" , Gospel Performance of the Year , , - , "Break Every Chain" , Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year , , - , ''

'' , Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year , , - ,

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the April ...

, Tasha Cobbs , Gospel Artist of the Year , , - , rowspan="4" , 2016 , Tasha Cobbs , Gospel Artist of the Year , , - , "Fill Me Up" , Urban Worship Recorded Song of the Year , , - , '' One Place Live'' , Urban Worship Album of the Year , , - , "Put a Praise On It" , Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year , , - ,

, Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Gospel Artist of the Year , , - , rowspan="4" , 2018 , rowspan="2" , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Gospel Artist of the Year , , - , Artist of the Year , , - , "The Name Of Our God" , Urban Worship Recorded Song of the Year , , - , Heart. Passion. Pursuit. , Urban Worship Album of the Year , , - , rowspan="4" ,

, Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Gospel Artist of the Year , , - , "This Is A Move (Live)" , Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year , , - , ''Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Live)'' , rowspan="2" , Gospel Worship Album of the Year , , - , ''Settle Here''
, , - , rowspan="3" ,

, Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Gospel Artist of the Year , , - , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Artist of the Year , , - , "Something Has To Break (Live)"
, Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year , , - , 2021 , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Gospel Artist of the Year , , -

Grammy Awards

, - , rowspan="2" ,

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

, " Break Every Chain (Live)" ,

, , - , ''

'' , Best Gospel Album , , - , 2016 , '' One Place Live'' , Best Gospel Album , , - ,

, " This Is a Move (Live)" , Best Gospel Performance/Song , , -

NAACP Image Awards

, - , 2018 , ''Heart. Passion. Pursuit.'' , Outstanding Gospel Album – Traditional or Contemporary , , - ,

, ''Heart. Passion. Pursuit. Live at Passion City Church'' , Outstanding Gospel Album – Traditional or Contemporary , , -

Soul Train Music Awards

, - ,

, " Break Every Chain" , Best Gospel/Inspirational Song , , - ,

, Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Best Gospel/Inspirational Award , , - , 2021 , Tasha Cobbs Leonard , Best Gospel/Inspirational Award ,

References

Notes

Citations

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cobbs Leonard, Tasha 1981 births Living people American gospel singers African-American Christians American women singer-songwriters Musicians from Atlanta 21st-century American singers 21st-century American women singers African-American women musicians 21st-century African-American women singers 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American women Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)