In the News

Yale University’s Braxton Shelley Wins Four Awards for His First Book

Braxton Shelley, an associate professor of music and sacred music at Yale Divinity School, has won four awards for his book Healing for the Soul: Richard Smallwood, the Vamp, and the Gospel Imagination (Oxford Univerity Press, 2021).

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Faculty appointments, promotions, and honors

Braxton Shelley has been appointed to the newly endowed George Washington Williams(Link is external) Chair at YDS, named for the first African American to graduate from Newton Theological Institution (which continues today as part of Andover Newton Seminary at YDS).

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Playing in the Spirit: A Masterclass with Cory Henry

A celebrated musician, composer, and producer, Henry recently won the 2025 GRAMMY Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for his deeply personal project Church. The album features contributions from members of his own family, including his grandmother, and reflects the musical traditions that have shaped his artistry.

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Died: Gospel Legend Richard Smallwood

In April 1996, Richard Smallwood and his choir, Vision, released Adoration: Live in Atlanta. The groundbreaking gospel album featured the anthem “Total Praise,” which Smallwood would later refer to as “the song that changed everything.” Later that year, Whitney Houston performed Smallwood’s “I Love the Lord” in the blockbuster film The Preacher’s Wife.

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Profess of Gospel: Braxton Shelley Studies “A Continuum of African American Sacred Expression”

“A scholar, musician, and theologian, Braxton Shelley is redefining the study of gospel music through his work at Yale, highlighting its rich theological depth and cultural significance as a cornerstone of Black sacred life.”

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Music and the Black Church Program officially launched

“An interdisciplinary initiative led by Braxton Shelley, Yale’s Music and the Black Church program launched with a dynamic celebration of gospel tradition, bringing together scholars and artists to honor its enduring spiritual, cultural, and historical power.”