Music

Singer-songwriter Patrick Mayberry notches his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart as “Lead on Good Shepherd” rises to the top of the survey (dated April 6). The single, released on Centricity Music, increased by 7% to 5.9 million airplay audience impressions in the March 22-28 tracking week, according to Luminate.

Mayberry co-authored the song with Paul Duncan and Frankie Orella, and co-produced it with Jacob Arnold. Mayberry, originally from Chicago and now based with his family in Franklin, Tenn., rules Christian Airplay with his sixth charted song.

“I am truly beside myself with the success of ‘Lead on Good Shepherd,’ Mayberry tells Billboard. “To have a song of mine on top of the Billboard chart is a truly a dream come true. I hope that the message of this song keeps going to more and more people, reminding them that they have a good shepherd in Jesus who cares for them and is walking with them through the ups and downs of life.”

The song is from Mayberry’s album Wild Faith, released in September 2023. He is currently working on a new collection.

The new Christian Airplay No. 1, also Mayberry’s first top 10, follows his “Easy to Praise,” which hit No. 25 last April, and “Only Jesus,” with Chris McClarney, which opened at its No. 40 high in November 2022. Mayberry’s rookie entry, “Breakthrough Miracle Power,” reached No. 43 in April 2021, followed by “Holy Spirit Come” (No. 15, January 2022) and “How You Love Me” (No. 35, November 2022).

Jonathan McReynolds collects his sixth total and consecutive No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart (dated April 6) with “Able,” featuring Marvin Winans, who adds his third leader.

During the March 22-28 tracking week, the song drew airplay on 34 stations that report to Gospel Airplay, tying for the most among all titles on the tally, according to Luminate. The 34-year-old McReynolds, from Chicago, co-authored “Able” with Winans, Major Johnson Finley and Dee Wilson.

“At this point I’m surprised when God does not surprise me,” McReynolds tells Billboard. “This is another chapter of my own hard work and His favor giving me something else to thank Him for.”

As McReynolds extends his streak to six straight Gospel Airplay chart-toppers, he ties Todd Dulaney for the longest run of No. 1s since the chart began in 2005. McReynolds’ prior five No. 1s: “Your World,” for five frames beginning in December 2022; “Grace,” for a week in August 2021; “Movin’ On,” with Mali Music, for one frame in October 2020; “Make Room,” for one week in December 2019; and “Not Lucky, I’m Loved,” for a week in September 2018.

Dulaney rang up his sixth uninterrupted Gospel Airplay leader (and seventh overall) last November with his most recent entry, “It’s Working” (with Bishop Hezekiah Walker), which dominated for two weeks.

Recording artist and pastor Winans, originally from Detroit, and a veteran of Billboard’s charts for over 30 years, last led Gospel Airplay as featured on husband-and-wife duo Juan & Lisa Winans’ “It Belongs to Me,” for a week in November 2020. (Marvin Winans is Juan’s uncle.) He first reigned, for four weeks in April-May 2012, as featured on Andraé Crouch’s “Let the Church Say Amen.”