Mary Mary

Mary Mary are an American gospel duo composed of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell, who were both born in Inglewood, California. After forming in 1998, the pair rose to fame in the early 2000s with their unique blend of contemporary gospel, R&B, and soul music. Their musical career took off with the release of their debut album, Thankful, in 2000, which garnered widespread acclaim for their hit single "Shackles (Praise You)," which stands as one of the biggest gospel songs of all time. The popularity helped to earn the duo the Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2000. Mary Mary broke barriers by bringing gospel music into mainstream popularity, combining spiritual messages with catchy, radio-friendly tracks. The duo's success continued with subsequent albums like Incredible (2002), The Sound (2005), and Go Get It (2012)—which topped the gospel chart—all of which featured chart-topping singles and earned them numerous accolades, including three other Grammy Awards, multiple BET Awards and Dove Awards. Beyond their music, Mary Mary expanded their influence into television and entrepreneurship. They starred in their own reality TV series, Mary Mary, which aired on WE tv from 2012 to 2017, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at their personal lives and professional challenges. The show became a cultural phenomenon, showcasing their faith, family dynamics, and the balance they maintained between their gospel music career and personal lives. Individually, both Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell have enjoyed successful solo careers, with the former releasing albums such as Help (2015) and the latter releasing It's Still Personal (2018). Together, however, Mary Mary have maintained their status as one of the most influential and beloved gospel groups of all time, known for their uplifting messages, crossover appeal, and dedication to their Christian faith. In 2023, they were featured on the soundtrack to The Color Purple remake with the Taraji P. Henson collaboration, "Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Somethin'."