Christian/Gospel
Newly crowned American Idol winner Jamal Roberts, a 27-year-old gym teacher from Meridian, Miss., debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart (dated May 31) with “Heal.” He capped off his championship run on the ABC competition May 18 with a stirring rendition of the faith-based track, which was written by Tom O’Dell, who released his version in 2013.
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Released May 18, Roberts’ “Heal” sold 9,000 downloads in the United States in the week ending May 22, according to Luminate. It tops Gospel Digital Song Sales, marking his initial No. 1; he previously hit No. 4 with “He’s Preparing Me” earlier in May. On the all-genre Digital Songs survey, “Heal” opens at No. 2, granting Roberts his first top 10 in his rookie appearance. The spiritual power ballad also drew 918,000 official U.S. streams in the tracking week.
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Meanwhile, Roberts is joined on Digital Song Sales by two fellow American Idol finalists: Breanna Nix with “Higher” (No. 4; 5,000 sold), and John Foster with “Tell That Angel I Love Her” (No. 6; 4,000 sold). They finished in third and second place, respectively, in the series’ latest season.
Notably, the three acts’ haul outpaces that of American Idol contestants from a year ago, when champion Abi Carter was the sole competitor to appear on the Digital Song Sales chart (dated June 1, 2024) following the finale, with “This Isn’t Over” (No. 23; 2,000 sold).
We Get an ‘Amen’
Pastor Mike Jr. adds his record-extending seventh straight career-opening leader on Gospel Airplay as “Amen” lifts 2-1. He co-authored the song with Adia Andrews, David Lamar Outing II and Terrell Anthony Pettus.
Pastor Mike Jr., from Birmingham, Ala., last led Gospel Airplay with “Windows” for a week in June 2024. Before that, he reigned as featured on Kierra Sheard’s “Miracles,” for a week in July 2023, and with his own “Impossible,” featuring James Fortune (two weeks, April 2023); “Amazing” (two weeks, May 2022); “I Got It” (four weeks, beginning in March 2021); and “Big Rock City” (10 weeks, beginning in February 2020).
In addition to owning the career-opening record run, Pastor Mike Jr. boasts the longest streak of Gospel Airplay No. 1s overall. Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Tamela Mann follow with active streaks of six consecutive chart-toppers. (Cobbs Leonard ranks at No. 7 on the latest list with “Do It Anyway,” a week after it reached No. 6.)
Additional reporting by Alex Vitoulis.
Jackie Patillo, Gospel Music Association president, is set to receive the BMI Spotlight Award for her dedication to the genre and for her career as an advocate for all Christian and gospel music creators. Previous recipients of the award include Dottie Leonard Miller, Randy Edelman and Frank Gari.
The award will be presented at the 2025 BMI Christian Awards, which will be held on June 17 at the organization’s Nashville office. The private event will be hosted by Leslie Roberts, BMI’s avp of creative, Nashville, and Mike O’Neill, BMI’s president & CEO. In addition, BMI’s Christian songwriter of the year, song of the year, publisher of the year and the 25 most-performed Christian songs of the previous year will be announced.
“Through Jackie’s dynamic leadership, innovative vision, and unwavering love for Christian and Gospel music, she’s been able to bring both genres together through a message that unifies all while reaching a new generation of music lovers,” Roberts said in a statement. “The work that she’s done over her illustrious career is inspiring, and we’re thrilled to be presenting Jackie with the BMI Spotlight Award. We’re also looking forward to celebrating all our award-winning songwriters and producers, highlighting their achievements through community, worship and music.”
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As a veteran music executive with posts at Star Song, Benson, Integrity, and Verity Records, Patillo helped shape the careers of such artists as Natalie Grant, Stephen Hurd, Lisa McClendon, Donnie McClurkin, Joe Pace, Israel & New Breed, Marvin Sapp and Alvin Slaughter. As the president of the Gospel Music Association and GMA Foundation, where she has led the organization since 2010, Patillo has demonstrated her commitment to advocating for all Christian and Gospel music makers.
Patillo also serves as the co-executive producer of the GMA Dove Awards, which is viewed by over 3 million people annually on TBN. She was inducted into the Stellar Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2019, the SOURCE Hall of Fame in 2023, and was honored on her 10th anniversary with the Jackie Patillo Leadership Dove Award.
Singer-songwriter MAJOR. (real name Major R. Johnson Finley), who has previously found chart success on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay list, notches his first No. 1 on Gospel Airplay (dated May 17). “I Prayed for You (Said a Prayer)” jumps three spots to the top, up 13% in plays among reporting stations during the May 2-8 […]
Singer-songwriter Brandon Lake scores his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart as “Hard Fought Hallelujah” ascends a spot to the top of the survey dated May 10. During the April 25-May 1 tracking week, the song increased by 6% to 3.9 million audience impressions, according to Luminate. The 34-year-old Lake, from Charleston, S.C., […]
The slate of nominees have been announced for the 12th annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, Billboard can exclusively reveal. The awards show, which honors top hitmakers in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre each year, will return to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House on May 25, and will be hosted by Matthew West, Jeremy Camp, Mac Powell and MercyMe‘s Bart Millard.
This year, 10 artists will vie for artist of the year: Brandon Lake, Crowder, Anne Wilson, TobyMac, Tauren Wells, Josh Baldwin, for KING & COUNTRY, MercyMe, CeCe Winans and Forrest Frank. Meanwhile, the song of the year contenders are Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” Baldwin’s “Made for More,” Wells’ “Take It All Back,” Crowder’s “Somebody Prayed,” Megan Woods’ “The Truth,” Leanna Crawford’s “Still Waters,” Jamie MacDonald’s “Desperate,” Winans’ “That’s My King,” MercyMe’s “Oh Death” and TobyMac’s “Nothin’ Sweeter.”
The annual awards show serves as the pinnacle each year for the three-day K-LOVE Ultimate Fan Experience, which also includes a Friday night kick-off concert, Emerging Artist Showcase, Songwriter’s showcase, Sunday morning worship service and more. This year’s Ultimate Fan Experience weekend will be held May 23-25 in Nashville.
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Last year, for King & Country took home the artist of the year honor, while other winners included Lake (male artist of the year as well as worship song of the year for “Praise You Anywhere”), Wilson (female artist of the year) and Elevation Worship (group of the year). The annual awards show is a John Sanders LLC production presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated.
See the full list of this year’s K-LOVE Fan Awards nominees below:
Song of the year:
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” – Brandon Lake“Made for More” – Josh Baldwin“Take It All Back” – Tauren Wells“Somebody Prayed” – Crowder“The Truth” – Megan Woods“Still Waters” – Leanna Crawford“Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald“That’s My King” – CeCe Winans“Oh Death” – MercyMe“Nothin’ Sweeter” – TobyMac
Worship song of the year:
“Goodbye Yesterday” – Elevation Rhythm“God Is Not Against Me” – Elevation Worship“That’s Who I Praise” – Brandon Lake“Take You at Your Word” – Cody Carnes“Lead On Good Shepherd” – Patrick Mayberry“In the Name of Jesus” – JWLKRS Worship“The Jesus Way” – Phil Wickham
Breakout single: “Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald“The Truth” – Megan Woods“Still Waters” – Leanna Crawford“Whisper and the Wind” – Bodie“Flowers” – Samantha Ebert
Artist of the year:
Brandon LakeCrowderAnne WilsonTobyMacTauren WellsJosh Baldwinfor KING & COUNTRYMercyMeCeCe WinansForrest Frank
Group of the year:
CAINMercyMefor KING & COUNTRYWe Are MessengersElevation WorshipCaleb & JohnBig Daddy WeaveJWLKRS WorshipElevation RhythmWe The Kingdom
Male artist of the year:
Brandon LakeCrowderJeremy CampTauren WellsJosh BaldwinTobyMacForrest FrankPhil WickhamMatthew WestJosiah Queen
Female artist of the year:
Anne WilsonCeCe WinansLauren DaigleTasha LaytonTerrianJamie MacDonaldMegan WoodsLeanna CrawfordKaty NicholeSamantha Ebert
Film Impact:
Unsung HeroThe Best Christmas Pageant EverThe Unbreakable BoyBonhoefferSound of HopeCabriniThe ForgeWhite BirdSomeone Like YouThe Chosen Season 5
TV/Streaming Impact:
The Wingfeather Saga Season 2House of DavidShadrachHomestead: The SeriesThe Riot and the Dance Season 1Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story
Podcast impact:
Jan Harrison – Rooted & Radiant
Jonathan Pokluda’s Becoming Something podcast
John Siebeling and Wayne Francis – Leadership in Black & White
Andy Chrisman – 1 Degree of Andy
Christine Caine – Life & Leadership Podcast
Lisa Harper – Back Porch Theology
Max Lucado – Encouraging Word Podcast
Book Impact:
I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t – Lysa TerKeurstGod Never Gives Up on You – Max LucadoI Surrender All – Priscilla ShirerDevoted to Jesus – Alex & Stephen KendrickFeasting on God’s Word – Kristi McLellandHow Great Is Our God – Chris TomlinMy Story Your Glory – Matthew West
Forrest Frank first hit Billboard’s charts in 2020 as half of the pop duo Surfaces, but he’s since emerged as a leading voice in Christian music. This week (on the chart dated May 3), he scores his first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as “Your Way’s Better” debuts at No. 72.
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Released in October 2024 via River House Records/10K Projects, the song enters with 6.5 million official U.S. streams (up 34% week-over-week), 764,000 radio audience impressions (up 18%) and 4,000 downloads sold (up 49%) April 18-24, according to Luminate.
The track also spends a 26th week on the Hot Christian Songs chart, holding at its No. 2 high.
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As a member of Surfaces (alongside Colin Padalecki), he initially broke through with “Sunday Best,” which climbed to No. 19 on the Hot 100 in June 2020. The song also found success at radio, reaching No. 9 on Pop Airplay and No. 13 on Adult Pop Airplay.
Beginning in 2023, though, Frank had pivoted to solo endeavors. He first reached Billboard’s charts as a solo act that February, when “No Longer Bound,” with Hulvey, debuted at No. 20 on Hot Christian Songs — it peaked at No. 19 the following week.
Frank has since become a force in Christian music, logging 33 entries on Hot Christian Songs, including six top 10s: “Good Day” (No. 2 peak in 2024); “Up!,” with Connor Price (No. 8, 2024); “Never Get Used to This,” with Jvke (No. 6, 2024); “The Present” (No. 9, January); “Nothing Else,” with Thomas Rhett (No. 4, March); and “Your Way’s Better.” No other artist has charted more songs on the ranking since the beginning of 2023. He finished 2024 as Billboard’s No. 1 top new Christian artist.
Frank’s album Child of God has also spent 33 weeks and counting at No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart, making it the fifth longest-leading No. 1 album this century. The set’s follow-up, Child of God II, is slated for release May 9.
Frank has also logged four tracks on Christian Airplay: “Good Day” (No. 5 peak), “Never Get Used To This” (No. 18), “The Present” (No. 10) and “Your Way’s Better” (No. 30 to date).
The recent surge in attention for “Your Way’s Better” can be partly attributed to TikTok, where the song has soundtracked over 400,000 clips. It’s a tried-and-true method for Frank, as “Sunday Best” also utilized the platform to blow up in 2020.
What makes “Your Way’s Better” particularly notable is that it’s a Christian track — a genre has rarely made inroads on the Hot 100 historically. This week, however, two such songs are charting simultaneously: “Your Way’s Better” and Brandon Lake’s viral “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” which jumps to the top 40 (63-40) in its 10th week on the chart, reaching a new high. The latter also spends a 20th week at No. 1 on Hot Christian Songs.
Since 2020 — excluding religious-themed holiday tracks and the 38 entries by Kanye West from his albums Jesus Is King and Donda, and one by DJ Khaled, as both were long-established hip-hop acts — only three Christian songs have charted on both the Hot 100 and Hot Christian Songs charts:
Artist Billing, Title, Peak Year(s)
Lauren Daigle, “You Say,” 2018-2021
Brandon Lake, “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” 2025
Forrest Frank, “Your Way’s Better,” 2025
The rise of Christian music is no fluke, as the genre has been steadily growing in popularity. According to Luminate’s 2024 year-end report, Christian/gospel is one of the fastest growing genres among young audiences in the U.S., with the average listener is spending 19% more time with Christian/gospel music than in 2022.
CeCe Winans banks her fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart as “Come Jesus Come” climbs three spots to No. 1 on the survey dated May 3. The song completes a record 58-week journey to No. 1. It surpasses Ricky Dillard & New G’s “Amazing,” which took 47 frames to reach the summit […]
Brandon Lake dominates Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart for a 20th week, on the list dated May 3, with “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
The song initially hit No. 1 upon its debut in November, becoming Lake’s sixth leader. A remix was released on Feb. 7 adding Jelly Roll. On April 20, the pair performed the song on ABC’s American Idol. It surged by 52% to 9.1 million official U.S. streams April 18-24, according to Luminate. It also bounded by 204% to 9,000 downloads sold.
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” is the 10th hit to top Hot Christian Songs for 20 weeks or more, dating to the chart’s 2003 start. Lake is the only act with three of those elite leaders:
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132 weeks at No. 1, “You Say,” Lauren Daigle, beginning July 28, 2018
61, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” Hillsong UNITED, Dec. 7, 2013
37, “What a Beautiful Name,” Hillsong Worship, Feb. 25, 2017
31, “Praise,” Elevation Worship feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore, March 16, 2024
28, “Gratitude,” Brandon Lake, Feb. 4, 2023
26, “Something in the Water,” Carrie Underwood, Oct. 18, 2014
24, “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” Katy Nichole, March 26, 2022
23, “Word of God Speak,” MercyMe, Aug. 16, 2003
20, “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” Brandon Lake, Nov. 23, 2024
20, “Thank God I Do,” Lauren Daigle, May 20, 2023
Lake authored “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Chris Brown of Elevation Worship, Steven Furtick, Benjamin Hastings and Rodrick Simmons, with Jelly Roll also now listed among its writers. It was produced by Micah Nichols.
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The song concurrently adds a 20th week at No. 1 on Christian Streaming Songs and a 15th frame atop Christian Digital Song Sales. On Christian Airplay, it rises 4-2 for a new best (3.6 million in audience, up 2%).
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” also becomes Lake’s first top 40 hit on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, jumping 63-40. It marked his first entry on the chart in November.
Crawford’s First No. 1
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Leanna Crawford, originally from Stanwood, Wash., earns her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart with “Still Waters (Psalm 23).” The song ascends a spot via 3.6 million impressions in the tracking week.
Crawford co-penned the single with Jonathan Gamble and Justin Richards. It’s from her same- named LP, which arrived as her first Top Christian Albums entry, at its No. 7 best, last August.
Crawford previously peaked at a No. 14 Christian Airplay high with her Seph Schlueter duet, “We Sing (Joy to the World),” this past holiday season. She has also hit the chart’s top 20 with “Mean Girls” (No. 20, April 2021).
Singer-songwriter Phil Wickham scores his first top 10 debut on Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart as “What an Awesome God” flies in at No. 5 on the list dated April 26.
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The song marks the 14th top 10 for Wickham overall. He topped the chart with “House of the Lord” for two weeks in 2022.
“What an Awesome God,” which has become a popular worship anthem, was originally written and recorded by Rich Mullins. It’s from his album Winds of Heaven, Stuff on Earth, which peaked at No. 8 on Top Christian Albums in April 1989, becoming his first of seven top 10s. For Wickham’s update, released April 11, he and Jonathan Smith wrote new verses, combined with Mullins’ original chorus.
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Wickham’s single drew 2.1 million official U.S. streams in its opening week (April 11-17), according to Luminate. It also sold 4,000 downloads and opens atop Christian Digital Song Sales, giving Wickham his third No. 1 among 16 top 10s.
The track is set to be on Wickham’s upcoming LP.
‘Give’ Gets Pugh His Fifth No. 1
Earnest Pugh’s “Don’t Give Up,” which the Memphis, Tenn., native solely authored, crowns Gospel Airplay (4-1). It increased by 10% in plays during the tracking week.
Pugh adds his fifth leader. In March 2022, “Thank You So Much” reigned for two frames, preceded by “God Wants to Heal You,” which led for a week in July 2020; “I Need Your Glory” (13 weeks, starting in September 2011); and “Rain on Us” (two weeks, March 2010). He boasts one additional top 10, as “Survive” hit No. 9 in May 2018.
Gospel Music Hall of Fame members Amy Grant, CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith will help usher in the holiday season, with their Christmas Together tour launching Nov. 28 in Greensboro, N.C. The tour will make seven more stops in states including Georgia, Illinois, Virginia and Ohio, before wrapping Dec. 8 in St. Louis.
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Last year, Winans released the holiday set Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album, with her rendition of “Joy to the World” rising to No. 6 on Billboard‘s Hot Gospel Songs chart. Grant has released five studio Christmas albums, including 2016’s Tennessee Christmas. Her songs such as “Emmanuel,” “Breath of Heaven,” “My Grown Up Christmas List” and “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” have become holiday classics. Smith has also released a handful of holiday projects, including 2023’s Every Christmas. In 2013, his collaboration with Carrie Underwood on “All Is Well” reached No. 6 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.
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This isn’t the first time the three artists have performed together for a holiday tour; Grant and Smith have held Christmas tours for more than 30 years, with Winans joining them on their 1998 Christmas Tour.
“I’m so excited to be joining Michael and Amy for the Christmas Together tour,” Winans tells Billboard. “There’s nothing like coming together with friends to celebrate the true meaning of the season through music, worship and joy. I can’t wait to share these unforgettable nights with audiences across the country.”
“I look forward to every moment of Christmas Together with Michael and CeCe, the rehearsals, the travel, the concerts! We can’t wait to celebrate Christmas together and with all of you,” Grant tells Billboard.
“We all know, Christmas is hands down my favorite time of year, and getting to tour with Amy always makes it even more special — but this year, we’re taking it to the next level!” Smith adds. “We’re beyond excited to have our dear friend CeCe Winans join us. After so many years of touring together, adding CeCe’s incredible voice and spirit to the mix feels like the ultimate Christmas gift. To say that the three of us are thrilled about this tour is simply an understatement.”
See the full list of dates for the Christmas Together Tour below:
Christmas Together
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