Hot Christian Songs Explained

Hot Christian Songs is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It ranks the popularity of Christian songs using the same methodology developed for the Billboard Hot 100, the magazine's flagship songs chart, by incorporating data from the sales of downloads, streaming data, and airplay across all monitored radio stations.

From its inception in June 2003 through November 2013, the Hot Christian Songs chart ranked the top songs only by overall audience impressions of songs played on contemporary Christian music radio stations. Beginning with the chart dated December 7, 2013, the chart follows the same methodology used for the Hot 100 to compile its rankings.^[1] The Christian Airplay chart was created in unison with the change to continue to monitor airplay of songs on Christian radio.

The current number-one song on the chart as of Issue November 30 is "Hard Fought Hallelujah" by Brandon Lake.^[2]

Song milestones

Most weeks at number one

• 19 songs have spent fifteen weeks or longer at number one. These are:

scope=col	Weeks	scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Song	scope=col	Year(s)	scope=col class="unsortable"
132	Lauren Daigle	"You Say"	2018–21
61	Hillsong United	"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"	2013–16
37	Hillsong Worship	"What a Beautiful Name"	2017–18
31	Elevation Worship featuring Brandon Lake, Chris Brown and Chandler Moore.	"Praise"	2024
28	Brandon Lake	"Gratitude"	2023–24
26	Carrie Underwood	"Something in the Water"	2014–15
24	Katy Nichole	"In Jesus Name (God of Possible)"	2022
23	MercyMe	"Word of God Speak"	2003
19	Needtobreathe	"Brother"	2015
	Casting Crowns	"East to West"	2007
	Brandon Heath	"Give Me Your Eyes"	2008
	Lauren Daigle	"Thank God I Do"	2023
18	Chris Tomlin	"Made to Worship"	2006
	Lauren Daigle	"Trust in You"	2015
	Cory Asbury	"Reckless Love"	2018
17	Matthew West	"Hello, My Name Is"	2013
15	Jeremy Camp	"Take You Back"	2005
	Building 429	"Where I Belong"	2012
	Chris Tomlin	"Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)"	2013
	Hillary Scott & The Scott Family	"Thy Will"	2016

Source:^{[3] [4]}

Most total weeks on chart

• As of Issue date November 9 2024 38 songs have spent 52 weeks or longer on the charts. These are:

"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" – Hillsong UNITED (191 weeks)

"You Say" – Lauren Daigle (160 weeks)

"Gratitude" – Brandon Lake (88 weeks)

"What a Beautiful Name" – Hillsong Worship (81 weeks)

"Praise" – Elevation Worship featuring Brandon Lake, Chris Brown and Chandler Moore (79 Weeks)

"Holy Forever" – Chris Tomlin (78 weeks)

"O Come to the Altar" – Elevation Worship (74 weeks)

"Word of God Speak" – MercyMe (72 weeks)

"Blessed Be Your Name" – tree63 (68 weeks)

"Reckless Love" – Cory Asbury (68 weeks)

"Where I Belong" – Building 429 (63 weeks)

"You Are My King (Amazing Love)" – Newsboys (63 weeks)

"God Only Knows" - for King & Country (62 weeks)

"More" – Matthew West (60 weeks)

"10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" – Matt Redman (59 weeks)

"By Your Side" – Tenth Avenue North (58 weeks)

"Who You Say I Am" – Hillsong Worship (58 weeks)

"Trust in You" – Lauren Daigle (57 weeks)

"Graves into Gardens" – Elevation Worship featuring Brandon Lake (57 weeks)

"Who Am I" – Casting Crowns (56 weeks)

"There Will Be a Day" – Jeremy Camp (55 weeks)

"(There's Gotta Be) More to Life" – Stacie Orrico (55 weeks)

"Same God" – Elevation Worship featuring Jonsal Barrientes (55 weeks)

"Redeemed" – Big Daddy Weave (54 weeks)

"Rescue" – Lauren Daigle (54 weeks)

"Lord, I Need You" – Matt Maher featuring Audrey Assad (52 weeks)

"You Are I Am" – MercyMe (52 weeks)

"God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)" – Newsboys (52 weeks)

"One Thing Remains" – Passion featuring Kristian Stanfill (52 weeks)

"Need You Now (How Many Times)" – Plumb (52 weeks)

"Lead Me" – Sanctus Real (52 weeks)

"My Hope Is in You" – Aaron Shust (52 weeks)

"Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)" – Chris Tomlin (52 weeks)

"The Motions" – Matthew West (52 weeks)

"Chain Breaker - Zach Williams (52 weeks)

"Even If" – MercyMe (52 weeks)

"So Will I (100 Billion X)" – Hillsong UNITED (52 weeks)

"Resurrecting" – Elevation Worship (52 weeks)

"Trust in God" – Elevation Worship featuring Chris Brown (52 weeks)

Number-one debuts

Seventeen songs have debuted at number one without having previously entered the chart. These are:

• Matthew West – "More" (March 27, 2004)^[5]
• Carrie Underwood – "Something in the Water" (October 18, 2014)^[6]
• Meghan Linsey – "Amazing Grace" (May 23, 2015)^[7]
• Jordan Smith – "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (December 5, 2015)^[8]
• Jordan Smith – "Hallelujah" (December 19, 2015)^[9]
• Braiden Sunshine – "Amazing Grace" (December 26, 2015)^[10]
• Jordan Smith – "Mary, Did You Know?" (December 19, 2015)^[9]
• Sundance Head – "Me and Jesus" (December 17, 2016)^[11]
• Christian Cuevas - "To Worship You I Live (Away)" (December 24, 2016)^[12]
• Lecrae - "I'll Find You" (July 1, 2017)^[13]
• NF – "Let You Down" (October 7, 2017)^[14]
• Brooke Simpson – "Amazing Grace" (December 23, 2017)^[15]
• Brooke Simpson – "O Holy Night" (January 3, 2018)^[16]
• TobyMac – "I Just Need U." (January 20, 2018)^[17]
• Kanye West – "Follow God" (November 9, 2019)^[18]
• Kanye West - "Wash Us in the Blood" (July 11, 2020)^[19]
• Kanye West – "Hurricane" (September 11, 2021)^[20]
• DJ Khaled and Kanye West featuring Eminem – "Use This Gospel" remix (September 10, 2022)^[21]

Biggest jump to number one

• 33–1 – Lauren Daigle - "You Say" (July 28, 2018)^[22]
• 21–1 – Hillsong UNITED - "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" (December 7, 2013)^[23]
• 17–1 – Reba McEntire & Lauren Daigle - "Back To God" (February 18, 2017)^[24]
• 13–1 – Third Day - "Cry Out To Jesus" (January 14, 2006)^[25]
• 12–1 – Steven Curtis Chapman - "Christmas Time Again" (December 29, 2012)^[26]
• 12–1 – Big Daddy Weave - "Redeemed" (January 12, 2013)^[27]
• 10–1 – Chris Tomlin - "Made To Worship" (January 13, 2007)^[28]
• 10–1 – Josh Wilson - "Jesus Is Alive" (January 7, 2012)^[29]
• 8–1 – Sundance Head - "Me And Jesus" (December 31, 2016)^[30]
• 7–1 – Aaron Shust - "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" (January 6, 2007)^[31]

Longest climb to number one

• 46th week – Elevation Worship featuring Brandon Lake – "Graves into Gardens" (2020–21)^[32]
• 45th week – Elevation Worship featuring Jonsal Barrientes – "Same God" (2022–23)^[33]
• 42nd week – Phil Wickham – "House of the Lord" (2021–22)^[34]
• 35th week – Maverick City Music featuring Joe L. Barnes and Naomi Raine – "Promises" (2021–22)^[35]
• 34th week – Jeremy Camp – "Let It Fade" (2007–08)^[36]

Biggest drop from number one

• 1–46 – Matthew West featuring Amy Grant - "Give This Christmas Away" (January 16, 2010)^[37]
• 1–45 – Sundance Head - "Me And Jesus" (January 7, 2017)^[38]
• 1–44 – Josh Wilson - "Jesus Is Alive" (January 14, 2012)^[39]
• 1–37 – Braiden Sunshine - "Amazing Grace" (January 2, 2016)^[40]
• 1–33 – MercyMe - "Joseph's Lullaby" (January 14, 2006)^[25]
• 1–30 – Brooke Simpson - "O Holy Night" (January 6, 2018)^[41]
• 1–24 – Anne Wilson - "My Jesus" (September 11, 2021)^[42]
• 1–20 – Meghan Linsey - "Amazing Grace" (May 30, 2015)^[43]
• 1–14 – Brooke Simpson - "Amazing Grace" (December 30, 2017)^[44]
• 1–13 – Steven Curtis Chapman - "Christmas Time Again" (January 12, 2013)^[27]

Artist achievements

Most number-one singles

Number of singles	Artist
13	MercyMe[45]
9	Casting Crowns[46]
7	TobyMac[47]
Chris Tomlin[48]
6	Jeremy Camp[49]
	Third Day[50]
	Matthew West[51]
	Lauren Daigle[52]
	Brandon Lake
5	Kanye West[53]
3	Aaron Shust[54]
	Brandon Heath[55]
	Carrie Underwood[56]
	Jordan Smith[57]
	Elevation Worship[58]
2	Crowder[59]
2	For King & Country[60]
2	Mandisa[61] -->

Source:^[62]

Most cumulative weeks at number one

• 15 artists have spent thirty weeks or longer at number one. These are:

Weeks at number one	Artist	Ref
173	Lauren Daigle
88	MercyMe
78	Casting Crowns
74	Brandon Lake
61	Hillsong United
52	Chris Tomlin
47	Matthew West
37	Hillsong Worship
37	Third Day
36	tobyMac
35	Jeremy Camp
34	Brandon Heath
33	Elevation Worship
31	Carrie Underwood
30	Kanye West
28	Katy Nichole	-->

Most top ten hits

Number of singles	Artist
30	Chris Tomlin
29	Casting Crowns
28	MercyMe
26	tobyMac
25	Jeremy Camp
23	Kanye West
21	Matthew West
18	For King & Country[63]
18	Big Daddy Weave[64]
15	Lauren Daigle
14	Steven Curtis Chapman[65]
Third Day
Elevation Worship
13	Newsboys[66]
12	Mandisa[67]
11	Francesca Battistelli[68]

-->|}Source:^{[69] [70] [71]}

Most charted hits

Songs	Artist
83	Elevation Worship
74	Lecrae
57	Needtobreathe
56	Chris Tomlin
49	tobyMac
46	MercyMe
	Hillsong Worship
45	Lauren Daigle
44	Skillet
43	Hillsong United
42	Matthew West
41	Andy Mineo
40	Casting Crowns
39	Jeremy Camp
38	Kanye West
38	Brandon Lake
36	Switchfoot
	For King & Country
33	Newsboys
	Bethel Music
Francesca Battistelli
Brandon Lake
31	Big Daddy Weave
27	NF---->

Artists who reached No. 1 in at least two decades

Three

tobyMac (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)

Matthew West (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)

Big Daddy Weave (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)

Chris Tomlin (2000s, 2010s, 2020s)Two

Aaron Shust (2000s, 2010s)

Brandon Heath (2000s, 2010s)

Building 429 (2000s, 2010s)

Casting Crowns (2000s, 2010s)

Jeremy Camp (2000s, 2010s)

MercyMe (2000s, 2010s)

Needtobreathe (2000s, 2010s)

Third Day (2000s, 2010s)

Lauren Daigle (2010s, 2020s)

Kanye West (2010s, 2020s)

Carrie Underwood (2010s, 2020s)

Elevation Worship (2010s, 2020s)

Album achievements

Most number-one singles from one album

Artist!!width=300

Album!	width=50	Year
3	Casting Crowns	Lifesong
	MercyMe	The Generous Mr. Lovewell
2	Third Day		2003
	Casting Crowns	Casting Crowns
	MercyMe	Undone	2004
	Jeremy Camp	Restored
	Third Day	Wherever You Are
	MercyMe	Coming Up to Breathe
	Matthew West	Something to Say
	Casting Crowns	Until the Whole World Hears
	tobyMac	Tonight	2010
	Chris Tomlin	And If Our God Is for Us...
	Tenth Avenue North	The Light Meets the Dark
	Zach Williams	Chain Breaker
	Carrie Underwood	My Gift
	Kanye West	Donda[72] [73]
	Crowder	Milk & Honey
	For King & Country	What Are We Waiting For?
		Katy Nichole

Other achievements

• The longest gap between No. 1 hits on Hot Christian Songs for an artist is 7 years, 10 months, 2 days by Building 429. Their single "Where I Belong" hit No. 1 on March 10, 2012, their first time on top since "Glory Defined" on May 8, 2004.
• MercyMe holds the record gap between first and most recent No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs over the longest period of time: 14 years, 7 months, and 22 days. The first of twenty-three weeks at No. 1 for "Word of God Speak" by MercyMe was August 16, 2003. The last week at No. 1 for "I Can Only Imagine" was April 7, 2018, after it re-entered the charts to coincide with the release of the film of the same title.
• The record for the longest wait from an artist's Hot Christian Songs debut entry to its first No. 1 belongs to Skillet, with 10 years, 2 months, 10 days between the time they first cracked the Hot Christian Songs chart with "Rebirthing" (October 28, 2006) and the first of one week at No. 1 with "Feel Invincible" (January 7, 2017).
• Kanye West is the only artist to occupy the entire top 10 at once and he has done it twice.^{[74] [75]}
• Reba McEntire (age 60 years) is the oldest artist to top the chart. Her cover of "Back to God" topped the chart on February 18, 2017.
• Anne Wilson (age 19 years) is the youngest artist to top the chart. Her song "My Jesus" topped the chart on August 14, 2021.
• Danny Gokey has the most entries on the chart without achieving a number one hit (21).^[76]
• Jordan Smith became the first male artist to replace himself at number one on the chart; Smith's cover of "Hallelujah" dethroned his cover of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" on December 19, 2015. Carrie Underwood became the first female artist, when her John Legend collaboration of "Hallelujah" replaced her song "Favorite Time of Year" on December 26, 2021.^[77]

External links

• Current Hot Christian Songs chart

Notes and References

1. Billboard Christian & Gospel Charts to Get a Consumer-Focused Facelift . . November 25, 2013 . November 27, 2013.
2. November 30, 2024 . Top Christian singles . November 30, 2024 . Billboard.
3. Jessen. Wade. The Year in Christian Music: Carrie Underwood & Hillsong Triumph. December 15, 2014. Billboard. December 9, 2014.
4. Lauren Daigle's 'You Say' Sets Record for Longest Run Atop Hot Christian Songs Chart by a Solo Female. March 11, 2019. Billboard. January 31, 2019.
5. Hot Christian Songs 3/27/04. March 27, 2004. Billboard. March 27, 2004.
6. Hot Christian Songs 10/18/14. October 18, 2014. Billboard. March 27, 2004.
7. Hot Christian Songs 05/23/15. May 23, 2015. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
8. Hot Christian Songs 12/05/15. December 5, 2015. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
9. Hot Christian Songs 12/19/15. December 19, 2015. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
10. Hot Christian Songs 12/26/15. December 26, 2015. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
11. Hot Christian Songs 12/17/16. December 17, 2016. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
12. Hot Christian Songs 12/24/16. December 24, 2016. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
13. Hot Christian Songs 07/01/17. July 1, 2017. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
14. Hot Christian Songs 10/07/17. October 7, 2017. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
15. Hot Christian Songs 12/23/17. December 23, 2017. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
16. Hot Christian Songs 01/03/18. January 3, 2018. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
17. Hot Christian Songs 01/20/18. January 20, 2018. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
18. Hot Christian Songs 11/09/19. Billboard. November 6, 2019.
19. Hot Christian Songs 7/11/20. Billboard. July 7, 2020.
20. Hot Christian Songs 9/11/21. Billboard. September 8, 2020.
21. Hot Christian Songs 9/10/22. Billboard. September 8, 2022.
22. Hot Christian Songs 07/28/18. July 23, 2018. Billboard. July 23, 2018.
23. Hot Christian Songs 12/7/13. December 7, 2013. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
24. Hot Christian Songs 02/18/17. February 18, 2017. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
25. Hot Christian Songs 01/14/06. January 14, 2006. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
26. Hot Christian Songs 12/29/12. December 29, 2012. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
27. Hot Christian Songs 01/12/13. January 12, 2013. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
28. Hot Christian Songs 01/13/07. January 13, 2007. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
29. Hot Christian Songs 01/07/12. January 7, 2012. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
30. Hot Christian Songs 12/31/16. December 31, 2016. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
31. Hot Christian Songs 01/06/07. January 6, 2007. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
32. Christian Songs (February 6, 2021). Billboard. February 5, 2021.
33. Christian Songs (January 21, 2023). Billboard. January 18, 2023.
34. Christian Songs (January 29, 2022). Billboard. January 27, 2022.
35. Christian Songs (January 15, 2022). Billboard. January 12, 2022.
36. Christian Songs (May 3, 2008). Billboard. September 11, 2018.
37. Hot Christian Songs 01/16/10. January 16, 2010. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
38. Hot Christian Songs 01/07/17. January 7, 2017. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
39. Hot Christian Songs 01/14/12. January 14, 2012. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
40. Hot Christian Songs 01/02/16. January 2, 2016. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
41. Hot Christian Songs 01/06/18. January 6, 2018. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
42. September 8, 2021. Hot Christian Songs 09/11/21. September 8, 2021. Billboard.
43. Hot Christian Songs 05/30/15. May 30, 2015. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
44. Hot Christian Songs 12/30/17. December 30, 2017. Billboard. March 28, 2018.
45. MercyMe. .
46. Casting Crowns. .
47. TobyMac. .
48. Chris Tomlin. .
49. Jeremy Camp. .
50. Third Day. .
51. Matthew West. .
52. Lauren Daigle. .
53. Kanye West. .
54. Aaron Shust. .
55. Brandon Heath. .
56. Carrie Underwood. December 23, 2020. Billboard.
57. Jordan Smith. .
58. Elevation Worship. March 14, 2024. Billboard.
59. Mandisa. March 9, 2022. Billboard.
60. Mandisa. August 3, 2022. Billboard.
61. Mandisa. December 8, 2020. Billboard.
62. MercyMe Rules Top Christian Albums & Hot Christian Songs Charts. Billboard. March 3, 2018.
63. For King & Country. .
64. Big Daddy Weave. .
65. Steven Curtis Chapman. .
66. Newsboys. .
67. Mandisa. .
68. Francesca Battistelli. .
69. Chris Tomlin & Lauren Daigle Lead Christian Charts. Billboard. October 16, 2015.
70. TobyMac Debuts at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums: 'I'm So Grateful to See My Music Resonating'. Billboard. August 26, 2015.
71. Stryper & Casting Crowns Add Top 10s on Christian Charts . Billboard. May 4, 2018.
72. Hot Christian Songs – Week of September 11, 2021. Billboard. . November 30, 2021.
73. Hot Christian Songs – Week of December 4, 2021. Billboard. . November 30, 2021.
74. Hot Christian Songs Chart November 9, 2019. . November 5, 2019. September 4, 2021.
75. Hot Christian Songs Chart September 11, 2021. . September 8, 2021. September 15, 2021.
76. Danny Gokey Billboard. . September 4, 2021.
77. Web site: December 24, 2020. Carrie Underwood Replaces Herself Atop Hot Christian Songs With John Legend Collab 'Hallelujah'. December 24, 2020. Billboard. en.