Christian
Bruh: Social Media Influencer Gets “Christian BBL”
A Nigerian social media influencer caused a commotion with a video detailing a recent surgical procedure she called a "Christian BBL."
Chris Tomlin & Erica Campbell to Co-Host 2022 GMA Dove Awards
Erica Campbell and Chris Tomlin are set to host the 53rd annual GMA Dove Awards, Billboard has learned. The GMA Dove Awards ceremony will be held in person on Oct. 18 in Nashville and will be broadcast Oct. 21 on TBN. Among this year’s top nominees are for King & Country, Maverick City Music, CeCe Winans, Anne Wilson and more. Tomlin, a 27-time GMA Dove Award winner, has earned 10 No. 1 Billboard Christian Airplay hits and has had eight albums lift to the pinnacle of Billboard‘s Top Christian Albums chart. On Sept. 9, he will release his latest album, Always. In addition to the radio-single title track, the album also features “I See You” with Brandon Lake and “Yahweh” with Elevation Worship. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Campbell is know...
TobyMac on Creating an Unflinching Album About His Son’s Death: ‘This Is a Really Honest Look at My Journey’
After experiencing the unimaginable death of his 21-year old son — who died in October 2019 from an accidental drug overdose — contemporary Christian music superstar TobyMac turned to songwriting to try to make sense of the tragedy. Wrestling with the grief that followed Truett Foster McKeehan’s death in a brutally honest way fills TobyMac’s seventh studio album, Life After Death, out Friday (Aug. 19) via Forefront/Capitol Christian Music Group. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I immediately went to write, because that’s what I know to do when I’m in so much pain,” the seven-time Grammy winner tells Billboard. “You go to [write] what you know, what you love and what brings you peace. I immediately started writing — and I wrote ‘21 Years...
Katy Nichole’s Debut Hit ‘In Jesus Name’ Hits 20 Weeks Atop Hot Christian Songs Chart: ‘I’m Humbled’
Singer-songwriter Katy Nichole‘s launch single “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)” stretches its domination atop Billboard‘s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart to a 20th week (on the list dated Aug. 20). “When we wrote and recorded ‘In Jesus Name,’ my prayer was that the Lord would use this song to bring peace and hope to others,” Nichole tells Billboard. The song rebounds to the chart’s top spot, after it spent 19 consecutive weeks at No. 1 beginning on the March 26-dated tally. Nichole co-wrote it with Ethan Hulse, David Spencer and Jeff Pardo, the latter of whom also produced it solo. “When we wrote and recorded ‘In Jesus Name,’ my prayer was that the Lord would use this song to bring peace and hope to others,” Nichole tells Billboard. “I never could have imagi...
For King & Country Takes Top Honors at 2022 K-Love Fan Awards (Full Winners List)
For King & Country won three awards at the 2022 K-LOVE Fan Awards, which aired on TBN on Friday (June 3). The show, co-hosted by Matthew West and Tauren Wells, was taped live at the Opry House in Nashville on May 29. In addition to co-hosting, West was also a big winner on the night, taking the award for male artist of the year. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The K-LOVE Fan Awards’ stated mission is to celebrate and promote artists, athletes, authors and entertainers “who engage and impact popular culture for Jesus Christ.” The awards are in their ninth year. For King & Country won artist of the year, song of the year (“For God Is With Us”) and group/duo of the year. The brother duo, consisting of Joel and Luke Smallbone, has reco...
Jay Weaver, Bassist for Big Daddy Weave, Dies at 42 from COVID-19
Jay Weaver, the bass player and a vocalist for Big Daddy Weave, has died from complications of COVID-19. He was 42. His brother, Mike Weaver, frontman of veteran Christian band, announced the sad news on Sunday (Jan. 2) through social media. “My brother Jay went to be with Jesus just a couple hours ago,” Mike Weaver said in the emotional video clip on Instagram, adding that Jay died from “complications with COVID-19 on top of everything else that he already had going on.” He continued, “You’ve seen him walk the uphill battle and you guys helped carry him through so much. The Lord used him in such a mighty way out on the road for so many years. Anybody who’s come in contact with him knows how real his faith in Jesus was. Even though COVID took his last breath, Jesus was right there to catch...
for King & Country Scores Record-Extending Seventh Straight Christian Airplay No. 1 With ‘Relate’
for King & Country, the duo of siblings Joel and Luke Smallbone, notches its 10th leader on Billboard‘s Christian Airplay chart, as “Relate” ascends to the top of the list dated Dec. 11. The twosome also continues its record streak to seven No. 1s in succession (encompassing songs promoted as proper radio singles). Explore See latest videos, charts and news In the tracking week ending Dec. 5, “Relate” drew 4.7 million audience impressions, according to MRC Data (down 19%, with many non-seasonal songs declining in reach as Christian stations fill playlists with holiday music). The brother tandem wrote “Relate” with Josh Kerr and Tayla Parx. “There’s something beautiful about the fact that, in a time such as this, a song speaking to the idea of relating to one another and showing compass...
Jermaine Dolly’s ‘I’ll Go’ Tops Gospel Airplay Chart
“I’ll Go” marks Dolly’s third total and consecutive Gospel Airplay leader. It follows his featured turn on Titus Showers’ “It’s Gonna Be Alright,” which ruled for a week in October 2020, and Dolly’s “Pull Us Through,” featuring Maranda Curtis, a five-week No. 1 in April-May 2020. Dolly, originally from Philadelphia, boasts three additional Gospel Airplay top 10s. His debut entry “You” hit No. 3 in 2016, followed by “Come and Knock on Our Door” (No. 10, 2017) and “Serve” (No. 3, 2018). You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the p...
Matthew West’s ‘What If’ Tops Christian Airplay Chart: ‘Hope Can Be Found Even When Hope Is Hard to See’
How did West find about his new leader? “I was at my doctor’s office when my team called about ‘What If’ hitting No. 1,” he tells Billboard. “And, like most celebrations in the past 20 months or so, it was virtual … with my doctor awkwardly waiting to resume my eye exam. “I’m so thankful to all of the radio stations around the country and their listeners who continue to let my music be part of their lives. To have my fourth No. 1 in a row during such a hard season in our world means so much to me, because my hope in all of this has always been to write songs that remind people where hope can be found even when hope is hard to see.” “What If” marks West’s fourth consecutive proper single to top Christian Airplay, follow...
Kanye West Recruits Justin Bieber & Roddy Ricch To Power Halloween Sunday Service
They kicked off with a gospel rendition of Donda‘s “No Child Left Behind” before moving into other standout cuts from the project taking on West’s late mother’s namesake such as “Hurricane,” “Moon” and “Pure Souls” with the help of Compton native Roddy Ricch. Ye then led the charge with vocals from the glorious “Come to Life,” which he even apologized for forgetting some of the lyrics mid-performance. A children’s choir made a guest appearance in mini-white cloaks to match the rest of the Choir’s ensemble. The group of talented kids performed Donda‘s “Jesus Lord” and put a religious spin on Kanye’s 2007 hit “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” The Sunday Service Choir too...
Evvie McKinney Scores Her First No. 1 on Gospel Airplay Chart With ‘Just Like God’
“After two years of writing and recording during the pandemic, to finally see my debut gospel radio single reach No. 1 is almost indescribable for me,” McKinney tells Billboard. “I wrote ‘Just Like God’ to express my heart: While I try never to be surprised by what God does, I want to always remain in awe of Him doing it. A huge thank you to all the radio programmers and music directors who allow my music to be heard.” “We are thrilled to have a No. 1 debut gospel radio single from a developing artist on our roster,” says Monica Coates co-executive director, Motown Gospel. Prior to “Just Like God,” McKinney’s debut single “Look No Further” hit No. 2 on the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Gospel Songs cha...
Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ Makes Historic Start on Billboard’s Christian & Gospel Charts
West achieves his second leader on both Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums. In November 2019, his first spiritual LP, Jesus Is King, opened with 264,000 units, then a weekly record sum on both surveys. It led Top Christian Albums for eight weeks and Top Gospel Albums for 67 (the latter an MRC Data-era record). It ranks at Nos. 7 and 2 on the latest respective lists, up 17% to 3,000 units. Donda was surprise-released, following a prominent promotional campaign, on an off-cycle Sunday (Aug. 29, instead of the usual Friday for most new albums), and, thus, launches with just five days of activity in its first chart week, instead of seven. The 27-track album was released only via streamers and digital retailers, while a release date for a physical album has not yet been a...
