Christian/Gospel
Tamela Mann earns her 12th No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, breaking out of a tie with fellow gospel music icon Kirk Franklin for the most leaders in the list’s 20-year history. Mann achieves the honor as “Deserve To Win” ascends a spot to the top of the chart dated March 29. Explore See […]
Chandler Moore earns third No. 1 overall, and his first without any billed collaborators, on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, as the Maverick City Music member’s “Lead Me On” ascends a spot to the top of the tally dated March 15. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news During the […]
BeBe Winans’ “Father in Heaven (Right Now),” featuring Gerald Albright, ascends a spot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated March 8). During the Feb. 21-27 tracking week, the song increased by 12% in plays among reporting radio stations, according to Luminate. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, […]
Gospel music pioneer and pastor John P. Kee will be honored as a Trailblazer of Gospel at the 2025 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, to be held at Flourish Atlanta on Thursday, April 3.
Throughout the ceremony, BMI will also recognize the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year’s 25 most performed gospel songs in the United States. The private event will be hosted by Mike O’Neill, BMI president & CEO, and Catherine Brewton, BMI vp, creative, Atlanta.
“John P. Kee is a true visionary in the genre, and his music continues to have an impact in gospel music for over 40 years and counting,” Brewton said in a statement. “It’s an honor to recognize his dedication and the unwavering commitment he’s made through his artistry and evangelism.”
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Kee, known as the Prince of Gospel Music, is widely recognized for his contributions to contemporary gospel music. In the mid 1980s, he started a community choir in Charlotte, N.C., that eventually became known as the New Life Community Choir (NLCC). Over the course of his professional career spanning almost four decades, he has written music for Hallmark, Inc., The Hawkins Family, Daryl Coley, Billy Preston, Dorinda Clark Cole, Rev. James Cleveland, Bishop Rance Allen, Florida Mass Choir, Mississippi Mass Choir, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and for the legendary Dr. James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America, among others.
His music has been featured in film, television, commercials and on Saturday Night Live. Throughout his solo career and his work with NLCC, he has amassed 37 GMWA Excellence Awards, 27 Stellar Awards, three BMI Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, a Trailblazer Award from former President Bill Clinton and received eight Grammy nominations. Adding to his list of accolades, Kee was inducted into the International Gospel Hall of Fame in 2005 and was previously honored at the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards in 2001 and 2005.
In addition, Kee has been the full-time pastor of the New Life Fellowship Center in Charlotte since its inception in 1995.
Maverick City Music lands its fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart, and its eighth top 10 on Top Christian Albums (No. 2), with the debut of Live at Maverick City (on lists dated Feb. 22). The 36-song set from the Atlanta-based Christian and gospel music collective earned 5,000 equivalent album units in […]
Brandon Lake’s “That’s Who I Praise” continues its domination on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart (dated Feb. 15) as it reigns for a 10th week. It drew 5.2 million in audience Jan. 31-Feb. 6, according to Luminate.
The song ties for the longest rule of the decade. Housefires and JWLKRS’ “I Thank God,” featuring Blake Wiggins and Ryan Ellis, began its 10-week stay at No. 1 in December 2023.
Meanwhile, Lake has a stake in one of the songs tied for second place. Elevation Worship’s “Praise” —— featuring Lake, Chris Brown and Chandler Moore — ruled for nine frames beginning last May; Katy Nichole’s “In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible)” started its own nine-week No. 1 run in April 2022.
Since the Christian Airplay survey launched in June 2003, the longest-leading No. 1 overall is MercyMe’s “Word of God Speak,” which dominated for 23 weeks starting that August.
The 34-year-old Lake, from Charleston, S.C., co-authored “That’s Who I Praise” with Steven Furtick, Benjamin William Hastings, Zac Lawson and Micah Nichols, the lattermost of whom also produced it. It became Lake’s fourth Christian Airplay chart-topper.
“I’m completely blown away,” Lake beamed to Billboard when the single hit No. 1 on the multimetric Hot Christian Songs chart in October. “To hear that this song is connecting with so many hearts out there is humbling and just unreal.”
Dewand’s First No. 1
On Gospel Airplay, Jevon Dewand’s rookie single, “Without You,” featuring Zacardi Cortez, Gasner the Artist and Jazze Pha, climbs 3-1 (up 12% in plays).
The Atlanta-based Dewand co-wrote and co-produced the song. It’s is the lead single from his same-named album, released last June.
“Without You” becomes the first Gospel Airplay leader for Dewand, Gasner the Artist and Jazze Pha, while veteran Cortez banks his seventh No. 1.
The song marks the first freshman entry to lead Gospel Airplay since Will Smith’s turn toward the genre with “You Can Make It,” featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service, led for a week in December. It became the first No. 1 for all three acts.
Singer-songwriter Crowder ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian AC Airplay chart (dated Feb. 8) with “Somebody Prayed.” During the Jan. 24-30 tracking week, the single advanced by 3% in plays among the ranking’s reporting panel of stations, according to Luminate. Meanwhile, on the genre’s overall Christian Airplay chart, “Somebody Prayed” holds at its No. […]
Singer-songwriter Jason Nelson earns his fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated Jan. 25) as “Yahweh,” featuring Melvin Crispell III, rises a spot to the top of the Jan. 25-dated survey. During the Jan. 10-16 tracking week, the song increased by 8% in plays, according to Luminate. Nelson, who hails from Baltimore, co-authored […]
Clark Sisters member Karen Clark Sheard scores her second solo No. 1, and first in a lead role, on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart as “Send It Down” rises two spots to the top of the list dated Jan. 4. During the Dec. 20-26 tracking week, the single increased by 1% in plays, according to Luminate.
Clark-Sheard co-authored the song with Kierra Sheard, her daughter; J. Drew Sheard II, her son; and Marcus Johnson, who also produced it.
Apart from the Clark Sisters, Clark-Sheard previously topped Gospel Airplay as featured on Kierra Sheard’s “Something Has to Break,” which dominated for two weeks in October 2021. (It became Kierra’s fourth of five No. 1s.) She next reigned with “Miracles,” featuring Pastor Mike Jr., for a week in July 2023.
“Send It Down” is from Clark-Sheard’s LP Still Karen, which arrived at its No. 9 best in September, marking her seventh top 10.
Clark-Sheard boasts three additional solo Gospel Airplay top 10s: as featured on Donnie McClurkin’s “Wait on the Lord,” a No. 2 hit in August 2009; “Prayed Up” (No. 9, June 2010); and “My Words Have Power,” featuring Donald Lawrence & The Co. (No. 5, July 2015).
The Clark Sisters have rolled up three Gospel Airplay leaders: “Blessed and Highly” (seven weeks, starting in June 2007), “Victory” (two, June-July 2020) and “His Love,” featuring Snoop Dogg (one week, May 2021).
Launched in their hometown of Detroit in 1980, the Clark Sisters are comprised of siblings Dorinda Clark-Cole, Jacky Clark Chisholm, Karen Clark-Sheard and Twinkie Clark. (The act was first a quintet; Denise Clark Bradford left in 1986.)
Oscar winner and R&B/hip-hop cornerstone Will Smith jumps four spots to No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated Dec. 21) with “You Can Make It” featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service. The song marks each act’s first leader on the list. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news […]