Crystal Aikin

Crystal Aikin, a versatile praise & worship singer, weaves a tapestry of classic gospel, jazz, rock, hip-hop, and R&B in her music. Her eponymous debut album, which garnered a Dove Award nomination and a Stellar Award, was released in 2009. She made a triumphant return to the gospel charts in 2015 with All I Need. Aikin's contemporary gospel sound, characterized by vibrant, message-driven singles like "Trouble Don't Last" and "He Can Handle It," continued to captivate audiences in the 2020s.

Crystal Aikin grew up in Tacoma, WA, and participated early in choirs and singing groups at her local church. Eventually, she took on more and more lead singing and directing duties, even as she worked long hours as an emergency room nurse at a Catholic hospital in Tacoma. Everything changed, though, when she became a contestant on the first season of BET's high-profile gospel competition Sunday Best in 2007. Aikin was a fan favorite and was the first-season winner, turning the exposure into a record and production contract. Her debut album, the self-titled Crystal Aikin, appeared in 2009 from Zomba Gospel. Produced by PAJAM , Dre & Vidal, and Asaph A. Ward, the album reached number three on Billboard's Gospel Albums chart, which allowed Aikin to quit her job as a nurse to concentrate on singing. She returned to the Gospel Albums Top Ten in 2015 with All I Need, a collection of songs reflecting her personal faith, and continued to refine her deeply felt CCM on high-energy singles such as 2022's "Trouble Don't Last" and 2023's "He Can Handle It." ~ Steve Leggett