Christian music label Word Records was founded in 1951 in Waco, Texas, by Jarrell F. McCracken. It operated as the largest independent Christian label until 1974, when it was sold to the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), although McCracken remained as head of the label.

In 1984, Word entered into a distribution deal with A & M Records (US), making them the first Christian label widely available in the secular market. This contract ended in 1990 when Polygram bought A & M, at which point Word moved their secular market distribution to Epic.

Word changed hands several times in the 1990s, and is now owned by the Warner Music Group, where it has become known as Word Entertainment.