Introduction
Natasha Tameika "Tasha" Cobbs Leonard (born July 7, 1981) is an American gospel musician and songwriter. She released the extended play Grace in 2013 with EMI Gospel (now Motown Gospel). The EP reached No. 61 on the Billboard charts. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, Cobbs won the Grammy for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance. She has also won 3 Stellar Awards and 3 Dove Awards.
Personal life
Tasha Cobbs was born as Natasha Tameika, on July 7, 1981 in Jesup, Georgia. Her parents are Bishop Fritz Cobbs (1954–2014) and Lady Bertha Cobbs. She started leading worship at Jesup New Life Ministries, founded by her father.
In 2016, Cobbs-Leonard revealed that she was diagnosed with depression in 2007.
On March 3, 2017, in a private ceremony attended by family and friends, she married Kenneth Leonard – music producer and long term love.
Ministry
Starting in 2006, Cobbs-Leonard toured with Pastor William H. Murphy III of Dream Center Church for three years around America. After the tour, she has been leading worship at Dream Center Church in Atlanta, Georgia and managing the Worship and Arts Department. In 2018, she appeared as herself in the film, "Sinners Wanted".
Cobbs has come under some scrutiny for homophobic views. In her rendition of “Break Every Chain” she asks the Spirit to “come against the spirit of homosexuality.” Further, she’s been outspoken in her support of Rev Kim Burrell after her 2016 sermon in which she strongly encouraged all gay men and women to repent of their sin (of homosexuality).[1] In 2018, she appeared as herself in the movie "Sinners Wanted".
Music career
She started her solo music career in 2010, with the independently self-released album Smile. The album got the attention of EMI Gospel (now Motown Gospel), and they released her EP, Grace, on February 5, 2013. This was listed on two Billboard charts: the Billboard 200 at No. 61, and at No. 2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart.The EP later reached No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart. The singles "Break Every Chain" and "For Your Glory" also reached No. 1 on the Hot Gospel Songs charts. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014, Tasha Cobbs took home Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance, winning her first Grammy. Cobbs was awarded the Gospel Artist of the Year, at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Project details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
USGos | |||||||||||||
| Smile |
|
— | — | |||||||||||
| Grace |
|
61 | 1 |
| ||||||||||
| One Place: Live |
|
28 | 1 |
| ||||||||||
| Heart. Passion. Pursuit. |
|
35 |
1 |
|||||||||||
| Heart. Passion. Pursuit.: Live at Passion City Church |
|
— | 1 | |||||||||||
| Smile (Live) |
|
— | — | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory | ||||||||||||||
Guest appearances
| Song | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Little Chicago Boy" | 2016 | Common | Black America Again |
| "My World Needs You" (featuring Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs and Tamela Mann) |
2016 | Kirk Franklin | Losing My Religion |
| "Jesus Is Willing" | 2017 | Kristene DiMarco | Where His Light Was |
| "Gracefully Broken" | Matt Redman | Glory Song | kierra sheard |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Certifications | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Gosp |
USAdult R&B |
USR&B/HH | ||||
| 2013 | "Break Every Chain" | 1 | 29 | 54 |
|
Grace |
| "For Your Glory" | 1 | — | — | "your spirit" | ||
| "O Come All Ye Faithful" | 21 | — | — | Motown Christmas | ||
| 2015 | "Overflow" | 16 | — | — | One Place | |
| "Fill Me Up" | 25 | — | — | |||
| "Jesus Saves" | 10 | — | — | |||
| "Put a Praise on It" |
2 | — | — | |||
| 2017 | "Great God" | 13 | — | — | Heart. Passion. Pursuit. | |
| "I'm Getting Ready" |
1 | — | — | |||
| 2018 | "Your Spirit" | — | — | — | non-album single | |
| 2019 | "This Is a Move" | 4 | — | — | non-album single | |
| "O Holy Night" | — | — | — | non-album single | ||