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Tauren Gabriel Wells is an American Contemporary Christian music singer and pastor from Houston, Texas.[1] Wells was the frontman of former Christian band Royal Tailor.[1]
Tauren Wells | |
|---|---|
 Wells in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tauren Gabriel Wells |
| Born | April 7, 1986 Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Royal Tailor |
| Spouse |
Lorna Macey (m. 2011) |
| Website | taurenwells |
After the group's disbandment in 2015, he released Undefeated EP in 2016, followed by his first studio album Hills and Valleys, released in June 2017. The album and its lead single "Hills and Valleys" received nominations at the 60th Grammy Awards in 2018. Its fifth single "Known" topped the Billboard Christian Airplay chart and was nominated for Top Christian Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
Wells' second studio album Citizen of Heaven was released in January 2020. The album and one of its singles, "Famous For (I Believe)" – his third Christian Airplay No. 1 – were nominated at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021. His third album Joy in the Morning was released in June 2022, followed by his second EP Take It All Back in 2023. In 2024, Wells became a lead pastor at a church in Austin, Texas, which was planted by him and his wife Lorna.
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At the age of sixteen, Wells felt called to serve God.[2] He was a founding member of Royal Tailor along with DJ Cox and Blake Hubbard while they were attending Indiana Bible College A Oneness Apostolic College[3] in 2004.[4] Jarred Ingram later joined. Wells toured with Christian band Casting Crowns in 2012.[5]
2016–2018: Undefeated EP and Hills and Valleys
In 2016, Wells signed with Reunion Records as a solo artist[6] and released his first single "Undefeated" in May, featuring rapper KB.[7] It served as the soundtrack for Dude Perfect's "World Records Edition" video on YouTube.[8] Wells released his second single "Love Is Action" in August[9] and his first EP, titled Undefeated EP, on September 12.[10] "Love Is Action" was No. 1 on Christian Hot AC/CHR Radio for nine weeks.
In January 2017, Wells released "Hills and Valleys", which reached No. 8 on the Christian Airplay Chart and No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[11] His first studio album Hills and Valleys was released digitally on June 23, and physically on July 21.[12] The fourth single, "When We Pray", was released on October 20[13] and peaked at No. 7.[14] He was featured on Crowder's "All My Hope".[15] The single peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and No. 1 on the Christian Airplay chart, becoming his first number one.[16] In mid-2017, he accompanied American singers Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey on their All the Hits Tour as the opening act.[17][18]
In 2018, Wells received Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song and Contemporary Christian Album of the Year, but did not win either. In the same year, he also became a worship leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.[19]
The fifth single, "Known", was released on June 23, 2018.[20] The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his fourth Top 10 single from that chart.[21] It topped multiple Christian radio charts including Christian Airplay and Christian AC Songs, and it was nominated for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.[22] It was also nominated for Top Christian Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
2019–2023: Citizen of Heaven, Joy in the Morning and Take It All Back
In January 2020, Wells released his second studio album Citizen of Heaven. The album was supported by lead single "Like You Love Me",[23] accompanied by "Famous For (I Believe)", featuring Bethel Music singer Jenn Johnson.[24] A music video for "Millionaire (Good Like That)", featuring Kirk Franklin, released on August 24.[25] "Famous For (I Believe)", which had its own EP released in December 2020,[26] topped the Billboard Christian Airplay chart in January 2021,[27] and received a nomination along with Citizen of Heaven at the 63rd Grammy Awards that same year.[26]
In March 2021, Wells collaborated with American R&B singer H.E.R. to release "Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)".[28] He released Citizen of Heaven LIVE on April 16, 2021, through Essential Records.[29] To accompany the album, he released four music videos which were recorded during Citizen of Heaven's launch event at Lakewood Church in January 2020.[30]
On February 25, 2022, Wells released "Fake It", featuring Christian rapper Aaron Cole,[31] as the lead single to his third studio album Joy in the Morning, which was released on June 10, 2022.[32] "Empty" and "Come Home" was released as singles.[33][32] He released his third EP Take It All Back on August 18, 2023.[34]
2023–present: Lead pastor at Church of Whitestone
In April 2023, Wells revealed plans to launch a church in 2024 with his wife Lorna.[35][36] In 2024, the Church of Whitestone was launched in Austin, Texas, where they both serve as lead pastors.[35][37] In 2024, he announced an upcoming book.[38] TAUREN WELLS SAID IN HIS CONCERT THAT HE IS PENTECOST FROM HEAD TO TOE. HE ALSO CONFIRMS THAT HIS CHURCH IS PENTECOST.
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Wells married his wife Lorna Brittany (née Macey) Wells in 2011.[39][40] Wells served on the staff of his father-in-law's church in Houston known as Royalwood Church until 2018. Wells and his wife Lorna started the Prisma Worship Arts School, to train musicians.[41] Together, they have four sons.[42][43] The oldest, Kanaan, was born in 2013. Their second son, Lawson Mayer, was born in 2016.[44] Their third son, Navy Elliot, was born in 2018.[45] Their fourth son, Banner Paul, was born in 2021.[46] The family lives in Austin, Texas.[37]
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Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [47] |
US Christ [48] | |||
| Hills and Valleys |
|
— | 5 | |
| Citizen of Heaven[49] |
|
169 | 3 | |
| Joy in the Morning |
|
—[A] | 3 | |
| Making Room[38] |
|
TBA | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | ||||
Live albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Citizen of Heaven (Live) |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Christ [48] | ||
| Undefeated EP |
|
33 |
| Conocido EP |
|
— |
| Take It All Back EP |
|
— |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | ||
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bubb. [51] |
US Christ. [51] |
US Christ. Airplay [52] |
US Christ. AC [53] |
US Christ. Digital [54] | ||||
| "Undefeated" (featuring KB) |
2016 | — | — | — | — | — | Hills and Valleys | |
| "Love Is Action" | — | 49 | 30 | — | — | |||
| "Hills and Valleys" | 2017 | — | 3 | 8 | 12 | 3 | ||
| "When We Pray" | — | 7 | 2 | 2 | 19 | |||
| "Known" | 2018 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| |
| "God's Not Done with You" | 2019 | — | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| |
| "Like You Love Me" | — | 17 | 14 | 11 | — | Citizen of Heaven | ||
| "Famous For (I Believe)" (featuring Jenn Johnson) |
2020 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| "Until Grace" (with Rascal Flatts) |
— | 11 | 7 | 8 | 18 | |||
| "Millionaire (Good Like That)" (with Kirk Franklin) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||
| "All God's Children" | — | 29 | — | — | 11 | Non-album singles | ||
| "Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)" (with H.E.R.) |
2021 | — | 20 | 50 | — | 18 | ||
| "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Fake It" (featuring Aaron Cole) |
2022 | — | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | Joy in the Morning | |
| "Joy in the Morning" | — | 27 | 27 | — | 6 | |||
| "Something Better" (with Blanca) |
2023 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Take It All Back" (with We the Kingdom and Davies) |
— | 8 | 1 | 14 | 1 | Take It All Back | ||
| "Making Room" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | Making Room | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | ||||||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ [51] |
Christ Airplay [52] |
US Christ. AC [53] |
US Christ. Digital [54] | ||||
| "All My Hope" (Crowder featuring Tauren Wells) |
2017 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Non-album single | |
| "War Cry" (Social Club Misfits featuring Tauren Wells) |
2018 | 32 | 27 | — | — | Into the Night | |
| "Echo" (Elevation Worship featuring Tauren Wells) |
18 | 11 | 9 | 17 |
|
Hallelujah Here Below | |
| "O Holy Night" (Tommee Profitt featuring Tauren Wells) |
2020 | 34 | 27 | 11 | — | The Birth of a King | |
| "Like You" (Aaron Cole featuring Tauren Wells and TobyMac) |
2021 | — | — | — | — | Two Up Two Down | |
| "Deeper" (TobyMac featuring Tauren Wells) |
2022 | — | — | — | — | Life After Death | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | |||||||
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ [51] |
Christ Airplay [52] | |||
| "Miracle" | 2019 | 38 | — | Citizen of Heaven[58] |
| "Close" (featuring Steven Furtick) |
43 | 28 | ||
| "Perfect Peace" | — | — | ||
| "Trenches" (with Donald Lawrence & Company) |
2020 | 41 | — | non-album single |
| "Empty" | 2022 | 48 | — | Joy in the Morning |
| "Come Home" | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart | ||||
Other charted songs
As lead artist
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ [51] |
US Christ. Digital [54] | |||
| "Never Lost" (Elevation Worship featuring Tauren Wells) |
2020 | 31 | 17 | Graves into Gardens |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Black & White (with Royal Tailor) | Best Contemporary Christian Music Album | Nominated |
| 2015 | Royal Tailor (with Royal Tailor) | Nominated | |
| 2018 | "Hills and Valleys" | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song | Nominated |
| Hills and Valleys | Best Contemporary Christian Music Album | Nominated | |
| 2019 | "Known" | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song | Nominated |
| 2020 | "God's Not Done With You (Single Version)" | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song | Nominated |
| 2021[60] | "Famous For (I Believe)" (featuring Jenn Johnson) | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song | Nominated |
| Citizen of Heaven | Best Contemporary Christian Music Album | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Citizen of Heaven (Live) | Best Contemporary Christian Music Album | Nominated |
Billboard Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019[61] | "Known" | Top Christian Song | Nominated |
| 2021 | "Famous For (I Believe)" (with Jenn Johnson) |
Top Christian Song | Nominated |
GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Royal Tailor (as former frontman) | New Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2017 | Tauren Wells | Won | |
| 2019 | "Known" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Tauren Wells | Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| "Known" | Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Tauren Wells | Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year | Won |
| Citizen of Heaven | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year | Won | |
| Citizen of Heaven | Short Form Video of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2021 | "Famous For (I Believe)" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Tauren Wells | Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| "Famous For (I Believe)" | Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year | Won | |
| 2022 | "Fake It" (featuring Aaron Cole) |
Short Form Video of the Year (Performance) | Won |
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