Kelontae Gavin first made headlines at age 15 after a video of him singing the Reverend Paul Jones’ hymn “I Won’t Complain” to a cafeteria worker went viral, this happened in South Carolina.
Now 22, Gavin has gone through many good and bad things, such as the long-term sexual abuse he wrestled with as his fame was rising.
Early Life & Education
Gavin was born in Charleston, located in South Carolina, but raised in Summerville where he began to sing at Favor Ministries, a non-denominational church in Ridgeville, at the age of four.
He was a member of Bold Ministries International in Moncks Corner in South Carolina. He attended Summerville High School.
Upon graduation, Kelontae Gavin stated he’s going to serve as a minister at the Ark of Salvation Church in Atlanta Georgia, and pursue a degree in divinity and theology.
Kelontae Gavin’s Career & Struggles
The singer’s rise to fame began in 2014 when a YouTube video of him singing “I Won’t Complain” to a cafeteria worker at his former high school went viral with over two million YouTube views.
In 2016, Gavin was discovered by a star-maker manager named Marquis Boone. Marquis was connected with Tyscot Records and together they produced the single “Higher” that fall.
The song was produced by renowned Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Myron Butler. The track also made the Top 20 on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Indicator chart in the spring of 2017.
This song also earned the singer a Stellar Gospel Music Award nomination in the Youth Project category at the ceremony in January, a year later.
Gavin’s radio single, “No Ordinary Worship,” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart in March 2019 while his debut album, “The Higher Experience,” made its debut at No. 2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart in spring of 2018. ”
The project was given 5 stars by Bob Marovich in a Journal of Gospel Music review that focused on the radio single. “`No Ordinary Worship’ is no ordinary worship song and is likely to become Gavin’s signature song,” Marovich wrote.
And until now, most people didn’t know about Gavin’s story, because he has never opened up to his fans.
This changed in 2020 when he gave an exclusive interview on the Willie Moore Jr. Show.
When he revealed that he was sexually abused from age 5 to 12.
In that interview, Kelontae Gavin discusses being molested by a male cousin for 7 years and how the abuse impacted him personally, his family, and his faith.
Gavin is working to help other victims of sexual abuse.
The now 22-year-old released his second full-length album, titled The N.O.W. Experience, and is using his platform to openly talk about his molestation and recovery.
“I was molested from age five to 13, which led me into a lifestyle of perversion,” Gavin said to The Christian Post, revealing that his cousin was the perpetrator.
He found himself feeling hopeless at 17 years old after serving as a worship leader and helping others through tough times. He thought that his life wasn’t what he was singing about and wanted to walk away from God.
“It’s scary to be gifted in the Church because sometimes your gift can cloud and block the thing that God really requires of you most, and that’s your heart,” he said, admitting that his molestation led to a life of exploring his sexuality.
“I was giving God a lot of my gift but I wasn’t giving Him my heart, I was doing what I wanted to do. I just found myself — I didn’t care, like many people today, they don’t care. They serve God. We have to make sure that we’re doing what we do for the glory of God and our life aligns with our lips.”
“It was in that faithfulness season that I became faithful because God was faithful,” he testified. “And man, I’m just excited to share my story — that all of us have been in a season where we needed God to hold us close.”
Despite his life of sin, Kelontae Gavin gushed about God’s faithfulness.
“I made a conscious decision that ‘God, if you would deliver me from this lifestyle, or this feeling or this perspective of homosexuality, to think that it’s OK and to still serve you, then I promise you I’ll tell it until my lungs collapse, that you’re not just Lord, but you are a deliverer, and you do love us enough to pull us out what we want to come out.'”
His transformation came because Gavin no longer wanted to only sing about God—he wanted to experience God in all of His fullness, he explained.
“It’s a conversation that the Church has to have because we’re not willing to be transparent”, he noted. “I knew when God was dealing with me about my life, I had to make a conscious decision, am I going to be concerned about what other people think? Or am I going to do what God has called me to do and see souls won to the Kingdom?”
“So many people walk in guilt and shame, female and male, because of what they’ve done but not realizing, the Church doesn’t know, that is just fruit. and he continued by saying “ Because we focus more so on the lifestyle of the person, we don’t want to sit down and have conversations.”
The young minister said that many people love to talk about God giving people free will, but he said that really, God gives people the freedom to choose. The choice is theirs.
“This generation, they need more transparency, we need authenticity, we want to hear that. We want to know that you care, we want to know that you’re not just interested in how well I sing or play or produce or operate or manage, I want to know if you really care about me, the gift, rather than me having a gift.”
The native of South Carolina wants everyone to know that God can still use someone despite their brokenness.
Frequently asked questions:
Is Kelontae Gavin Gay?
Kelontae Gavin, the renowned gospel singer behind hits like “No Ordinary Worship” and “Hold Me Close,” recently revealed a deeply personal truth.
He disclosed that he endured years of molestation by his cousin, an experience that contributed to his identification as gay. In fear of overshadowing his musical gift, he suppressed his true self. Now, he regrets not seeking help earlier and emphasizes the importance of being genuine.
He received the needed help and now doesn’t identify himself as gay anymore.
This revelation sparks a crucial conversation about the challenges faced by gifted individuals in the Church and the significance of embracing authenticity. Kelontae Gavin’s story inspires others to find solace in their true identities.
Who is Kelontae Gavin signed to?
Kelontae Gavin’s musical odyssey took a remarkable turn in 2016 when he signed with Marquis Boone Enterprises. Their partnership, coupled with his exceptional talent, propelled him to new heights. But the story didn’t end there. Recognizing his immense potential, Gavin later inked a deal with RCA Inspiration, solidifying his status as a gospel music icon.
Kelontae Gavin net worth
Kelontae Gavin’s net worth stands at a staggering $1.5 million, a testament to his remarkable success as a gospel singer. At his young age, his financial accomplishments are truly impressive, solidifying his status as a rising star in the industry.
So, let us know in the comment section, what you think about Gavin.
Thank you for reading.