Norman Hutchins facts for kids

Bishop Norman Earl Hutchins (born September 27, 1962 – died June 5, 2025) was a famous American gospel singer and musician. He began his solo music journey in 1992. His first album, Norman Hutchins, was released by Sparrow Records. Over 21 years, he released ten albums with different record labels. Seven of his albums became very popular, appearing on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums chart.

Early Life and Calling

Norman Earil Hutchins was born on September 27, 1962, in Delaware. He started preaching at a very young age, just 8 years old. By the time he was 12, he was officially ordained as a minister. This early start allowed him to help support his family, as his mother was raising 11 children. He could earn $100 for preaching each evening.

When he was 19, Norman and his first wife moved to Delaware, Pennsylvania. There, he became the preacher at Hope Church of God in Christ. Later, he moved to Los Angeles. He took on various jobs before he felt called to be a music minister at West Angeles COGIC. Eventually, he felt a strong pull to return to Delaware. He then started his own ministry called Frontline Ministries. He also earned advanced degrees in Biblical Counseling and Church Administration.

Norman's Family Life

Norman Hutchins married his first wife, Michelle, when he was 19. They had three children together. After their marriage ended, he later married his second wife, Karen. Together, they founded Frontline Ministries, which was based in Dover, Delaware.

Norman faced some health challenges during his life. He battled diabetes, which caused him to lose some of his eyesight and even go temporarily blind. This condition also led to his kidneys failing. Luckily, his wife Karen was a match and bravely donated one of her kidneys to him.

Norman Hutchins passed away at his home in Carson, California, on June 5, 2025. He was 62 years old.

Music Career Highlights

Norman Hutchins' music career officially began in 1975. His first album, Norman Hutchins, was released by Sparrow Records. This label also released his 1993 album, Don't Stop Praying. However, these first two albums did not become widely popular on the music charts.

He found greater success when he joined JDI Records in 1999. His third album, Nobody But You, was released by JDI. This album was his first to appear on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums chart, which tracks the most popular gospel music. His next albums with JDI Records also did well on this chart. These included Battlefield (1999) and Emmanuel (2001). One album, Battlefield: The Sermon (2002), did not chart.

Later, he signed with IR Records. His albums with this label also found success on the Gospel Albums chart. These included Spontaneous Praise, Vol. 1 (2008), God Is Faithful (2009), If You Didn't Know...Now You Know (2011), and Hosanna (2013). Throughout his career, Norman Hutchins was recognized for his talent. He received eight nominations for the GMA Dove Awards and eight nominations for the Stellar Awards. He was also nominated for Grammy Awards.