Conference Agenda

As Melinda Weekes has argued, improvisation has remained a hallmark of the Gospel music tradition since its inception in the early twentieth century. From groups to individual singing acts, many have been known to employ the widely-regarded authentic convention of Gospel vocal singing known as the improvised ad-lib. Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell’s use of the ad-lib, however, brought about serious questioning of her spiritual status as an anointed singer in the Black Church community during her 2024 viral singing engagements. For example, Burrell began singing the well-known hymn, “Thank You, Lord” at one performance in late January 2024. Before completing the song’s introductory melodic phrase, Burrell interjected the ad-lib, “It’s a solo, God’s using me, don’t sing with me right now,” to a woman in the audience who began singing the popular worship song alongside her. Burrell essentially asserts her anointing, or divine calling, through the use of ad-libs to quiet a straggling audience member. This bold act sent the Gospel music community into a frenzy, igniting discourse on how anointing is delegated. Raymond Wise’s insightful commentary distinguishes between performances led by entertainment purposes compared to ones led by spiritual conviction, a key argument differentiating between anointing and authenticity.

Existing scholarship has not explored the way that anointing is bestowed in Gospel vocal singing. My paper differentiates between anointing and authenticity through an analysis of the controversy surrounding the vocal ad-libs of famed Gospel singer Kim Burrell. Specifically, I first define and situate these two concepts and then I apply Hugh Barker and Yuval Taylor’s concept of a multilayered authenticity in folk music to Gospel music. I argue that anointing can be sullied due to one’s character or intent. Further, I use the case of the Burrell controversy to illustrate the two-fold manner in how anointing is assigned in Gospel music ministry, in that it requires both a divine appointment and community validation. The Burrell situation highlights the dynamic role that community plays in anointing, and that while there is a duty for vocalists to honor the conventions of the style, there is an equal one to avoid spiritual complacency.