Music

78 voters

The Best Contemporary Christian Artists of the 2000s

Updated June 14, 2019 414 votes 78 voters 6.6k views40 items

List RulesVote up the best Contemporary Christian artists that were active and releasing albums between 2000 and 2009.

Lyrically focused on the Christian faith, contemporary Christian Music (CCM) music stands out from other modern Christian music, where the religious themes are often secondary to the style. Continuing its popularity from the 90s, in the 2000s contemporary Christian music's popularity continued its merge into the mainstream.

Millennials and even Gen Z added the best '00s CCM bands to mixtapes and playlists. Many songs from bands such as Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, and Tenth Avenue North fit right alongside the secular alt and indie bands of the time. From folk rock artists such as Joy Williams to CCM alt rock like the Newsboys, the best contemporary Christian music artists of the 2000s held their own within their genres while also following their faith.

We've put together a list of some of the best '00s contemporary Christian artists and bands, but if we're missing one be sure to add it to the list and vote up the best bands that played contemporary Christian music the 2000s.

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8
Third Day
Pop music, Christian alternative rock
Albums: Christmas Offerings, Third Day, Offerings: A Worship Album, Time, Come Together
Third Day is a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was... more on Wikipedia
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23
11
Newsboys
Contemporary Christian music, Pop rock
Albums: Go, Thrive, Going Public, Not Ashamed, Take Me to Your Leader
Newsboys (sometimes stylised as newsboys) are a Christian rock band founded in 1985 in... more on Wikipedia
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18
5
Casting Crowns
Pop music, Rock music
Albums: Peace on Earth, Until the Whole World Hears, Lifesong, Casting Crowns, The Altar and the Door
Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band started in 1999 by youth... more on Wikipedia
4
14
1
MercyMe
Pop music, Grunge
Albums: The Christmas Sessions, The Hurt & The Healer, Spoken For, Coming Up to Breathe, Undone
MercyMe is an American contemporary Christian music band founded in Edmond, Oklahoma. The band... more on Wikipedia
5
15
2
Steven Curtis Chapman
Christian music, Pop music
Albums: The Music of Christmas, All I Really Want for Christmas, Christmas Is All in the Heart, This Moment, Signs of Life
Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music... more on Wikipedia
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12
2
Big Daddy Weave
Rock music, Contemporary Christian music
Albums: Fields of Grace, What I Was Made For, Love Come to Life, One and Only, Every Time I Breathe
Big Daddy Weave is a contemporary Christian band composed of Mike Weaver, Jay Weaver, Jeremy... more on Wikipedia
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10
1
Caedmon's Call
Rock music, Folk music
Albums: In the Company of Angels 2: The World Will Sing, Caedmon's Call, Overdressed, 40 Acres, Share the Well
Caedmon's Call is a contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music... more on Wikipedia

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12
4
Jeremy Camp
Christian music, Contemporary Christian music
Albums: We Cry Out: The Worship Project, Carried Me: The Worship Project, Live Unplugged, Restored, Beyond Measure
Jeremy Thomas Camp (born January 12, 1978) is an American contemporary Christian music singer... more on Wikipedia
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14
6
Chris Tomlin
Christian music, Contemporary worship music
Albums: Arriving, Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship, See the Morning, Not to Us, Burning Lights
Christopher Dwayne Tomlin (born May 4, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian music... more on Wikipedia
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11
4
Matthew West
Indie pop, Adult contemporary music
Albums: Something to Say, History, Happy, Into the Light, The Heart of Christmas
Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977) is an American contemporary Christian musician,... more on Wikipedia
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11
5
Tenth Avenue North
Rock music, Contemporary Christian music
Albums: The Struggle, Speaking of Silence, Over and Underneath, Don't Look Back, The Light Meets the Dark
Tenth Avenue North (stylized as tenth avenue north) is an American contemporary Christian... more on Wikipedia
12
9
4
Michael W. Smith
Christian music, Pop music
Albums: Christmastime, It's a Wonderful Christmas, Christmas, The Big Picture, Healing Rain
Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American musician, who has charted in both... more on Wikipedia
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9
5
Needtobreathe
Christian alternative rock, Rock music
Albums: The Heat, Daylight, Rivers in the Wasteland, The Outsiders, Live Horses EP
Needtobreathe is an American Christian rock band from Seneca, South Carolina. The band is... more on Wikipedia
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12
9
Francesca Battistelli
Christian music, Pop music
Albums: If We're Honest, Christmas, My Paper Heart, Hundred More Years, Lead Me To The Cross
Francesca Battistelli (born May 18, 1985) is an American Christian singer and songwriter from... more on Wikipedia
15
7
4
Brandon Heath
Christian music, Pop music
Albums: Don't Get Comfortable, Christmas Is Here, What If We, Blue Mountain, Leaving Eden
Brandon Heath Knell (born July 21, 1978) is an American contemporary Christian musician,... more on Wikipedia
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5
2
Nichole Nordeman
Christian music, Pop music
Albums: Brave, Wide Eyed, This Mystery, The Ultimate Collection, Woven & Spun
Nichole Ellyse Nordeman (born January 3, 1972) is an American contemporary Christian singer... more on Wikipedia
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7
5
Building 429
Pop music, Rock music
Albums: Space in Between Us, Flight, Iris to Iris, Rise, Building 429
Building 429 is a Christian rock band. They were the Gospel Music Association 2005 New Artist... more on Wikipedia
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5
4
Leeland
Contemporary Christian music, Christian rock
Albums: Sound of Melodies, Opposite Way, Love Is on the Move, The Great Awakening, Majesty: The Worship EP
Leeland may refer to: Leeland (band), an American Christian rock band Leeland,... more on Wikipedia
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4
2
Aaron Shust
Christian music, Contemporary worship music
Albums: Anything Worth Saying, Whispered And Shouted, Take Over, Christmas EP, This Is What We Believe
Aaron Michael Shust (born October 31, 1975) is an American contemporary Christian music artist... more on Wikipedia
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4
0
Addison Road
Adult contemporary music, Rock music
Albums: Breaking Beautifully, Some Kind of Spark, Not What You Think, Addison Road, Stories
Addison Road was a Christian alternative pop/rock band from Dallas, Texas. The band was signed... more on Wikipedia
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4
2
BarlowGirl
Adult contemporary music, Rock music
Albums: Another Journal Entry, BarlowGirl, Love & War, How Can We Be Silent, Home for Christmas
BarlowGirl was an American Christian rock–CCM all-female band from Chicago, Illinois. The band... more on Wikipedia
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4
2
Mat Kearney
Hip hop music, Christian music
Albums: City of Black & White, Bullet, Nothing Left to Lose, The Chicago EP, Young Love
Mathew William Kearney (; born December 1, 1978) is an American musician born in Eugene,... more on Wikipedia
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4
2
Mylon LeFevre
Christian music, Rock music
Albums: On the Road to Freedom
Mylon R. LeFevre (born October 6, 1944) is an American Christian rock singer best known for... more on Wikipedia
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4
1
Joy Williams
Christian music, Pop music
Albums: Barton Hollow, By Surprise, Genesis, Joy Williams, We Mapped the World
Joy Elizabeth Williams (born November 14, 1982) is an American singer-songwriter. The winner... more on Wikipedia
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4
1
Phillips, Craig & Dean
Contemporary Christian music
Albums: Phillips, Craig & Dean, Top Of My Lungs, Breathe In, Where Strength Begins
Phillips, Craig and Dean are a contemporary Christian music trio composed of Randy Phillips,... more on Wikipedia