Christian/Gospel
Elevation Worship’s ‘Same God’ Tops Hot Christian Songs & Christian Airplay Charts
Elevation Worship earns its second No. 1 on Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart and its third leader on Christian Airplay as “Same God” ascends to the top of both lists dated Jan. 21. The song increased by 10% to 8 million audience impressions among Christian Airplay reporters in the Jan. 6-12 tracking week, according to Luminate. It also drew 1.5 million U.S. streams and sold 1,000 downloads. The Charlotte, N.C.-based collective previously ruled Christian Airplay with “Rattle!” for a week in September 2021 (as it also hit No. 4 on Hot Christian Songs), and “Graves Into Gardens,” featuring Brandon Lake. The latter also topped both charts at once, on the tallies dated Feb. 6, 2021. It dominated Hot Christian Songs for two frames, while pacing Christian...
Amy Grant Slams Homophobic Backlash Over LGBTQ+ Niece’s Wedding: ‘I Love Those Brides’
An aunt and an ally. Amy Grant shut down trolls criticizing her decision to host her LGBTQ+ niece’s wedding on Monday (Jan. 16). “I never chase any of those rabbits down the rabbit hole,” the Christian pop singer said to People of outcry from homophobic critics on social media. “I love my family, I love those brides. They’re wonderful, our family is better, and you should be able to be who you are with your family, and be loved by them.” Grant also revealed that her niece’s nuptials took place at the very same place she and Vince Gill were married back in 2000. “I own a farm that I bought back in the ’90s and they were just looking for a beautiful place to get married,” she said. “So, she and Sam got married on the same hillside where Vince and I got married.” “Honestly, from a faith persp...
Francesca Battistelli Goes ‘Carolin’’ to No. 1 on Christian Airplay Chart
Francesca Battistelli scores her sixth No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart as her holiday single “Carolin’” jingles to the top of the Dec. 31-dated tally. The song increased by 4% to 1.7 million audience impressions Dec. 16-22, according to Luminate. (As previously reported, this week marks a switch to a Friday-through-Thursday tracking schedule for Billboard’s individual-format airplay charts.) Battistelli, who is based in Columbia, Tenn., co-penned “Carolin’” with Mia Fields and Seth Mosley. “What a fun Christmas present to hear that ‘Carolin’’ is connecting with people like this,” Battistelli told Billboard after hearing the news of her latest coronation. “It’s a special song for me for several reasons. I wrote it with two of my favorite writer friends; singing carols is one of...
CeCe Winans, Anne Wilson & Phil Wickham Among 2022 GMA Dove Awards Winners
This year’s GMA Dove Awards ceremony, which aired Friday night (Oct. 21) on TBN and was held on the campus of Nashville’s Lipscomb University, showcased the power of pairing a great song with the right message and the right vocalist. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news CeCe Winans took home two trophies, including the evening’s top honor, artist of the year, capping a strong year that saw Winans’ inspirational “Believe for It” spend 12 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and reach No. 7 on Christian Airplay. During the GMA Dove Awards, “Believe for It” was named song of the year. In accepting the song of the year honor, Winans said, “It is amazing when we come together, love each other and stand for righteousness what God w...
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...
Matthew West Tops Billboard’s Year-End Christian Songwriters Chart: ‘I Fell in Love With Songwriting as Much as I Did Artistry’
Since first entering Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart with his 2004 chart-topper “More,” Matthew West has earned 11 No. 1 singles as an artist on that chart. But over the past 17 years, he’s also written songs recorded by artists including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Scotty McCreery, Rascal Flatts, Maddie & Tae, Casting Crowns, Mandisa, Billy Ray Cyrus and more. Explore See latest videos, charts and news This year, West earned several hits as both an artist and a writer, co-writing hits for Casting Crowns (“Scars in Heaven”), Anne Wilson (“My Jesus”) and Tasha Layton (“Look What You’ve Done”), while notching a five-week No. 1 Christian Airplay hit with his own single “Truth Be Told” and following it with another No. 1, “What If.” West’s string of songwriting credits landed him at N...
