Blessing Offor’s Cover of Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ Tops Christian Radio Charts
Written by djfrosty on December 27, 2023
Nigeria-born singer-songwriter Blessing Offor nets his second No. 1 – and first in a lead role – on Billboard’s Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay charts (dated Dec. 30) with his cover of Paul McCartney’s classic “Wonderful Christmastime.”
During the Dec. 15-21 tracking week, the update increased by 11% to 1.5 million impressions on reporting Christian Airplay stations, according to Luminate.
McCartney’s original “Wonderful Christmastime” is from 1979 and has gone as high as No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. The holiday staple ranks at No. 36 on the Dec. 30-dated all-genre Billboard Hot 100.
Blessing Offor lands his second No. 1 on both Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay. He first led for three and four weeks, respectively, as featured on tobyMac’s “The Goodness,” starting in September 2022.
“Wonderful Christmastime” is one of two Blessing Offor songs at their highest ranks on Christian Airplay: “Your Love” holds at No. 13 (767,000 in audience).
‘Kept’ Is a Keeper
Marvin Sapp’s “You Kept Me” becomes his seventh Gospel Airplay No. 1, and third in succession. The single, which he co-authored, follows “All in Your Hands,” which ruled for two weeks in October 2022, and “Thank You for It All” (one week, October 2020).
Sapp, from Grand Rapids, Mich., earned his first Gospel Airplay No. 1 when “Never Would Have Made It” started a record 46-week domination in August 2007.
Meanwhile, with seven Gospel Airplay leaders, Sapp ties Jekalyn Carr and Todd Dulaney for the fourth-best total. Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann share the top spot with 10 No. 1s each, followed by James Fortune & FIYA with eight.