With his final recording project, Finally, gospel legend Donnie McClurkin reflects on obedience to God, returning Christ to gospel music, overcoming depression, and leaving behind a timeless spiritual legacy. The full interview is above and excerpts are below edited for clarity.
Allen Reynolds: Welcome to Urban Faith! Today we are joined by a legend of gospel music, minister, artist, and pastor—Donnie McClurkin—to share about his new album, Finally.
Donnie McClurkin: I’m glad to be here, Allen. Thank you so much.
Allen Reynolds: As I listened to this album, I was reminded of the incredible legacy of music you’ve built over the decades. Why did you decide now is the time for Finally, which I understand is your final recording project?
Donnie McClurkin: The decision really wasn’t mine, it was God’s. Everything I’ve always done, I wanted to make sure it had significance. When that significance starts to change, it’s time for me to follow wherever God is leading next. It wasn’t strategic; it was a matter of following God.
Allen Reynolds: Your sound remains so consistent and feels like a healing balm. What went into shaping the sound of this project?
Donnie McClurkin: The sound, songs, and singing flow holistically as a spiritual impartation. Whatever I hear in my head, I throw it at the great singers I work with—people I’ve collaborated with for decades who know my ministry and abilities. It’s about being bold enough to record the songs without worrying about people’s approval more than God’s.
Allen Reynolds: One thing you do so well is ensure the music points back to God rather than the artists. Why is that central to your mission?
Donnie McClurkin: The premise behind this whole project and its subtitle was “bringing gospel back to gospel music.” In many cases, we’ve turned gospel music into an entertainment form with a positive message and a little spirituality. You don’t even need a lifestyle to sing gospel anymore; it’s just a genre where Jesus isn’t always the main focus, and that’s problematic. This project is about bringing Christ back to the center of gospel music—sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, His love for us, and our love for one another through song.
Allen Reynolds: For younger generations who may not remember classics like Stand or Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, what legacy of faithfulness do you hope to leave behind?
Donnie McClurkin: The great thing about gospel music is it never ages out. Whatever is produced as gospel music has a perpetual lifespan—from Precious Lord, Take My Hand to Amazing Grace, which we’re still singing hundreds of years later. Day before yesterday, I was listening to Walter Hawkins’ Love Alive—that was 51 years ago! We’re still singing Going Up Yonder and Changed today. My legacy isn’t my concern; it’s what God established, so that He would be glorified long after I’m gone.
Allen Reynolds: Scripture shines brightly throughout this project, such as your musical adaptation of Psalm 51. Why is using music to share scripture so powerful?
Donnie McClurkin: Music is divine and comes directly from God. It helps you remember things better. When you put scriptures to music, like we used to sing Galatians 2:20 (“I am crucified with Christ…”) when I was 11 or 12 years old, it goes deep into the soul and spirit. All of Psalms is a hymnal; David’s writings were songs, and that’s how the Word becomes alive in us.
Allen Reynolds: What made this project extra special was collaborating with iconic background singers and featured artists like Michael W. Smith and Tremaine Hawkins. Can you talk about those relationships?
Donnie McClurkin: Doing a final project is emotional, but having iconic people join you makes it priceless. Beyond featured artists like Michael W. Smith and Tremaine Hawkins, my background singers—family and longtime friends like Andrea McClurkin Mellini, Jovanna Woods, and Dwan Starling—made this signature sound. We also had 28 people from across America and Canada learn the songs and fly in on their own to form the choir.
Working with Tremaine Hawkins, who sang a song I wrote specifically for her at 74 years old, and breaking down the long-standing wall between CCM and gospel alongside Michael W. Smith on Place in This World and Friends, made this more special than anything I’ve ever done.
Allen Reynolds: What is your core message to listeners, particularly the evangelistic tracks like I’ve Got Room for You and Shine On?
Donnie McClurkin: I’ve Got Room for You is an evangelistic song about reaching out to people going through deep pain, offering a God who is waiting to comfort them. Shine On came out of a deeply dark season of health struggles and depression when God rescued me. The song says, “I said I didn’t want to testify about how depressed I was… I was in darkness till you came to shine your light on me.” It’s a testimony of God pulling us out of fear and darkness.
Allen Reynolds: What encouragement would you give to young adults facing a difficult world today?
Donnie McClurkin: Knowing who God is takes away the angst. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. If He can take me from abject poverty and difficult trials, heal me, and give me more than I could ever dream, He will do the same for you.
Allen Reynolds: Do you have a sense of what’s next as you step away from recording?
Donnie McClurkin: Haven’t a clue! All I know is I’ll be able to go to sleep, enjoy life without worrying about the commerciality of the industry or meeting quotas, and just sing when I want to sing.
Allen Reynolds: Bless you, Pastor Donnie. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your final project with us.