[17] After graduating from Texas Southern University, she began a career as a schoolteacher and part-time model in Houston.

Adams first attracted the attention of Thomas Whitfield and Sound of Gospel Records as a lead singer with Houston's Southeast Inspirational Choir affiliated with the Church of God in Christ, under the direction of Carl Preacher, Brenda Waters, and Shirley Joiner.

In 1986, Adams was featured on the Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar Choir released Give Us Peace, with a performance entitled "My Trust Lies in You".

[20] In 1990, she was discovered by producer/keyboardist Ben Tankard, and signed to his independent label Tribute Records and released Through The Storm.

He featured Adams' vocals on his album and concept video single "You Bring Out The Best in Me" on his 1994 release Play Me in Your Key.

Her next release was 1995's More Than a Melody, which featured more production work from Tankard with contributions from O'Landa Draper, and BeBe Winans.

The footage from this recording was released as a collection of two videos on VHS initially, and later as a single set on DVD and CD.

The album also included "Still I Rise", a dedication to Rosa Parks, which was inspired by the Maya Angelou poem of the same name.

Adams' first significant attention outside the urban contemporary gospel arena came with the release of Mountain High... Valley Low in 1999 on Elektra Records.

Several mainstream artists and producers helped in the production of this album including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men), James "Big Jim" Wright (Mariah Carey, Nicole C. Mullen), Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy), and Keith Thomas (BeBe & CeCe Winans).

Believe, which included the hit "Never Give Up" was released in 2001 and reached gold status according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

She would later go on to perform this song at "The Salute to Gospel Music" at the White House during President George W. Bush's administration.

Adams recorded a song for the 2003 film Honey entitled "I Believe", which played during the last scene in the final dance.

[citation needed] On December 25, 2009, Adams performed on BET's The Mo'Nique Show, where she sang "Already Alright", from her 1999 Mountain High...Valley Low album.

The new single, "Be Still", by Donald "Drathoven" Atkins, Jr., debuted on Tuesday, April 19 on The Yolanda Adams Morning Show.

On an April 2013 episode of BET's Lift Every Voice, Adams announced that she was working on her twelfth studio album.

[27] Adams served as a spokesperson for the Fila Corporation's Operation Rebound, a program that addressed the concern of inner-city schoolchildren.