Phil Wickham
American Christian musician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philip David Wickham[1] (born April 5, 1984)[2][3] is an American contemporary Christian singer-songwriter and musician from San Diego, California. He has released fourteen worship albums: Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, Singalong in 2008, Heaven & Earth in 2009, Response in 2011, Singalong 2 in 2012, The Ascension in 2013, Singalong 3 in 2015, Children of God in 2016, Living Hope in 2018, Hymn of Heaven in 2021, I Believe in 2023, and Song of the Saints in 2025.[4] He has also led worship at Soul Survivor.[5] His single "This is Amazing Grace" has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and it topped the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay chart.[6]
April 5, 1984
Phil Wickham | |
|---|---|
Wickham in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Philip David Wickham April 5, 1984 |
| Origin | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Genres | CCM, contemporary worship |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, worship leader |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Label | Simple/INO |
Spouse |
Mallory Plotnik (m. 2008) |
| Website | philwickham |
Early life and education
Born Philip David Wickham[1] on April 5, 1984,[2][3] Phil Wickham was raised in a Christian home, the second of three children—with brother Evan and sister Jillian—of parents John and Lisa (née Irwin) Wickham. The context for Phil Wickham's early musical and religious pursuits was his parents' commitments; Wickham's father John played in early bands for the early Maranatha! Music label, and met Evan's mother, Lisa, in the band Parable; consistently since 1981, they served as worship leaders in their congregation.[7][8][9] Phil Wickham began leading worship for his youth group at Maranatha Chapel at 13 years old; his parents encouraged him to learn popular praise songs and to write his own.[10]
In 2002, he graduated from Calvary Christian School in Vista, California.[citation needed]
Career
Albums
Wickham began a full-time music career by touring California and recording his first album, Give You My World, in 2003.[11] After that release Wickham signed with Simple Records. Wickham released his self-titled label debut in 2006.[11][12] Wickham's second release with Simple/INO Records, Cannons, was released in 2007.[11] Cannons was partly inspired by cannon explosions and C. S. Lewis' book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader from The Chronicles of Narnia series. Wickham stated in an interview with ChristianityToday.com, "The album is about how the universe is exploding with the glory of God, and we are compelled to join in with its song."[3] The 10th track from Cannons, "Jesus Lord of Heaven",[13] has been translated into seven different languages.[3] On August 8, 2008, Wickham released a live worship album, Singalong, recorded at Solid Rock Church in Portland, Oregon with 3,000 in attendance.[14] The album was released as a free download, only available from his website, and received over 8,000 downloads within a week of being released. After the release of Singalong, his self-titled album hit No. 25 on iTunes Store Top Christian Albums sales, two years after its initial release.[15]
Heaven & Earth, Wickham's third studio album, was released on November 17, 2009.[16] His Christmas album Songs for Christmas was released as a digital download available on his website on October 29, 2010.[17] Wickham's fourth full-length studio album, Response, was released on October 4, 2011.[18] On October 30, 2012, Phil Wickham released his second live acoustic album, Singalong 2.[19] The Ascension, Wickham's fifth studio album, was released on September 24, 2013.[20] The album peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200, making it Wickham's highest charting album on the chart.[21] The lead single off of this album, "This is Amazing Grace", became No. 1 on the 2014 year-end Christian Airplay Songs chart.[22]
In February 2016, Wickham released the first single, "Your Love Awakens Me", from his album, Children of God, which was released later that year. Living Hope, Wickham's seventh full-length studio project, was released in August 2018.[23] The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, his first album to do so.[24] On October 4, 2019, Wickham's 10-track holiday album Christmas was released along with the music video for "Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)". Wickham toured both Texas and California with Shane & Shane that same December on their annual Christmas tour.[25] Christmas would go on to spend 12 weeks on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, peaking at No. 24.[26]
In June 2021, Wickham's eighth studio album Hymn of Heaven was released.[27] Featuring a guest appearance by Brandon Lake, its releases included "Battle Belongs" (No. 2 on the Hot Christian Songs chart), "House of the Lord" (No. 1) and "Hymn of Heaven" (No. 2), along with It's Always Been You released as a promotional single. Debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart in the United States, it also entered at No. 6 on the Official Charts' Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart in the United Kingdom. At the 2021 GMA Dove Awards, "Battle Belongs" was nominated for the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year.[28] The album was nominated for the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Album at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.[29] At the 2022 GMA Dove Awards, Hymn of Heaven won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Album of the Year, the title track won the GMA Dove Award for Worship Recorded Song of the Year, and "House of the Lord" was nominated for two GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year.[30]
In 2023, Wickham released his next studio album I Believe which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Contemporary Christian Music Album.[31] His next album, Song of the Saints was released in 2025.[32] Song of the Saints debuted at number 2 On the Top Christian Albums Chart.[33] Wickham released a new version of Rich Mullins' 1988 song "Awesome God" in April 2025 titled "What an Awesome God". The single became a success and became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry and topped Billboard's Christian Airplay and AC Airplay charts.[34][35]
Tours
Wickham visits churches around the world to play his music.[36] From late 2006 to early 2007, he went on the "Coming Up to Breathe" tour with MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline.[37] In late 2007, he went on the Remedy tour with the David Crowder Band and The Myriad.[38] In the summers of 2023, 2024, and 2025, Wickham embarked on the Summer Worship Nights Tour with Brandon Lake.[39]
Festival and other activities
Wickham has played Christian worship festivals, e.g., Creation Fest in 2008.[40] In the mid-2010s, Wickham was one of the worship leaders for Soul Survivor week and Momentum Festival in the UK.[5] Since 2012, he has performed at the Big Church Festival in the UK.[41]
On September 21, 2025, Wickham led worship at the memorial service of Charlie Kirk held at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. The assassination of Charlie Kirk occurred in Utah on September 10, 2025.[42]
Wickham voiced King David in the animated biblical film David, which was released in theaters on December 19, 2025 by Angel Studios.[43]
Personal life
Wickham married Mallory Plotnik in 2008; as of December 2023, the couple was living in San Diego, California, with their four children.[44] Wickham attends Light Church, a small chapel based in Encinitas, California.[45][AI-retrieved source]
Wickham underwent surgery to remove a polyp from folds of his vocal cords on April 28, 2014, after which he was prescribed a month of silence to allow the surgical site to heal.[46] He was uncertain that he would be able to sing again, leading to identity issues and self-doubt; spiritual insights from this period formed the basis for his 2016 album, Children of God.[7]
Discography
- Phil Wickham (2006)
- Cannons (2007)
- Heaven & Earth (2009)
- Response (2011)
- The Ascension (2013)
- Children of God (2016)
- Living Hope (2018)
- Christmas (2019)
- Hymn of Heaven (2021)
- I Believe (2023)
- Song of the Saints (2025)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Favouritism | Self | TV series | [47] | |
| 2005 | Michael Portillo's Great British Losers | Self | [47] | ||
| 2007 | The Wager | Soundtrack (Grace) | [48] | ||
| 2013 | On the Spot Interviews | Self | TV series | [47] | |
| 2013 | This is Amazing Grace | Self | Video short | [47] | |
| 2014 | Believe Me | Soundtrack (You're Beautiful) | You're Beautiful | [47] | |
| 2016 | Worship Night in America | Self | Documentary | [49] | |
| 2019 | Breakthrough | Worship Leader | This Is Amazing Grace (Breakthrough Mix) | [50] | |
| 2019 | 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards | Performer | TV Special | [51] | |
| 2020 | Christmas with the Chosen | Self | TV Special | [52] | |
| 2021 | Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers | Self | [53] | ||
| 2024 | For The One - A Tour Documentary | Self | Documentary about Summer Worship Nights Tour | [47] | |
| 2025 | David | King David | Voice | [54] |
Awards and nominations
American Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Phil Wickham | Favorite Inspirational Artist | Nominated | [55] |
Billboard Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hymn of Heaven | Top Christian Album | Nominated | [56] |
GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result | ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "This Is Amazing Grace" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [57] |
| Worship Song of the Year | Nominated | [57] | ||
| Himself | Songwriter of the Year (Artist) | Nominated | [57] | |
| 2019 | "Living Hope" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [58] |
| Worship Song of the Year | Nominated | [58] | ||
| Worship Recorded Song of the Year | Won | [58] | ||
| Living Hope | Worship Album of the Year | Nominated | [58] | |
| 2021 | Himself | Artist of the Year | Nominated | [59] |
| "Battle Belongs" | Worship Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | [59] | |
| Christmas: Acoustic Sessions | Christmas / Special Event Album of the Year | Nominated | [59] | |
| 2022 | "House of the Lord" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [60] |
| Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | [60] | ||
| Himself | Songwriter of the Year - Artist | Won | [60] | |
| "I've Got Joy"[A] (CeCe Winans) |
Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | [60] | |
| "Hymn of Heaven" | Worship Recorded Song of the Year | Won | [60] | |
| Hymn of Heaven | Worship Album of the Year | Won | [60] | |
| 2023 | "Then Christ Came"[B] (MercyMe) |
Song of the Year | Nominated | [61] |
| Himself | Songwriter of the Year - Artist | Nominated | [61] | |
| Himself | Artist of the Year | Nominated | [61] | |
| "Holy Forever"[C] (Chris Tomlin) |
Worship Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | [61] | |
| "This Is Our God" | Nominated | [61] | ||
| 2024 | I Believe | Worship Recorded Album of the Year | Won | [62] |
| "Holy Forever" | Song of the Year with writers Chris Tomlin, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Jason Ingram | Won | [62] | |
| 2025 | "The Jesus Way" | Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year | Won | [63] |
| Himself | Artist of the Year | Nominated | [64] | |
| "The King Is In The Room" | Worship Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | [64] | |
| Hallelujah! It’s Christmas! | Christmas/Special Event Album of the Year | Won | [64] |
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | "Hymn of Heaven (Radio Version)" | Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song | Nominated | [65] |
| "Holy Forever"[D] (Chris Tomlin) |
Nominated | [65] | ||
| 2024 | I Believe | Grammy Award for Contemporary Christian Music Album | Nominated | [65] |
We Love Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | "What an Awesome God" | Worship Song of the Year | Pending | [66] |
Further reading
- Ford, Braden (June 21, 2018). "Artist Profile: Evan Wickham". NewReleaseToday.com. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- Papadatos, Markos (November 13, 2023). "Phil Wickham Talks About His New Music, Tour, and the Digital Age". DigitalJournal.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
Published works
- Wickham, Phil. "On Our Knees". Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- Wickham, Phil. "I Believe Devotional". Retrieved April 5, 2025.
Notes
- Wickham is credited as a co-writer of "I've Got Joy" performed by CeCe Winans.
- Wickham is credited as a co-writer of "Holy Forever" performed by Chris Tomlin.
- Wickham is credited as a co-writer of "Holy Forever" performed by Chris Tomlin.
