<P> In April 2010, "I Can Only Imagine" was certified platinum by the RIAA, signifying sales of over 1,000,000 digital downloads . It is the first single by any artist in the Christian music genre to go platinum . The song was certified 2x platinum in 2014 . As of March 2018, it has sold 2.5 million copies, making it the best - selling Christian single of all time . </P> <P> "I Can Only Imagine" earned two GMA Dove Awards in 2002;' Pop / Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year' and' Song of the Year' . Millard also won' Songwriter of the Year' at the same ceremony . In November 2009, the song was played on board Space Shuttle Atlantis as a wake - up call for Barry E. Wilmore during STS - 129 . </P> <P> The original version of "I Can Only Imagine" was a track on MercyMe's 1999 independent release The Worship Project . In August 2006, both an acoustic and live form (as well as the original 1999 version) were included in the' Platinum edition' of Almost There . MercyMe recorded a version of the song for their iTunes Originals album . In 2009, two further variants were included on their compilation album 10; a' symphony version' featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, and a live version . </P> <P> "I Can Only Imagine" has also been covered by several artists . In 2002 Amy Grant released a reworked version of the song (titled "Imagine" and paired with "Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus") on her album, Legacy...Hymns and Faith . In 2003, Jeff Carson and Kathryn Scott each issued variants of the song; Carson's version peaked at No. 50 on the Country Songs chart . In 2005 Wynonna Judd issued her form of the song; while in 2007 Emerson Drive provided theirs . The song was covered again in 2010 by Marie Osmond and in 2013 by gospel artist Tamela Mann . </P>

When did i can only imagine first come out