Christian music as a genre has become more popular than ever, with a plethora of artists performing songs of faith in a rich variety of styles. Naturally, when a genre grows large enough, Billboard will be there to quantify their popularity with their dependable ranking charts.
It’s been a while since Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs has been stirred up, but Easter is a popular time for Christian artists to drop new tunes, so it’s likely we will soon have a whole new lineup of tremendous tracks. Now, before any new releases, we thought it pertinent to take a look at the most popular songs throughout this Lenten season.
Every one of the tracks on the list has enjoyed a long run at the top and been on the board since before Lent began. Some of these songs have been so popular that they have remained on the list for upwards of 20 weeks. Without further ado, lets take a look at Billboard’s Top 10 Hot Christian Songs!
10 – “Resurrecting” – Elevation Worship
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Elevation Worship is a rather large band with quite a few floating members. They originated as the house band of Elevation Church, in North Carolina, but they’ve grown large enough to fill venues all over the world. Their song “Resurrecting” has remained in at #10 for the last 34 weeks.
9 – “Red Letters” – Crowder
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Crowder is a talented multi-instrumentalist who is at home in front of a mic, behind a piano, with a guitar, and even a banjo. The title “Red Letters” refers to the popular practice of highlighting Christ’s words in red when they appear in the Gospels. Crowder’s hit tune has remained at #9 for 27 weeks.
8 – “Maybe It’s OK” – We Are Messengers
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One of the newer bands on the list, We Are Messengers is an Irish worship band from Monaghan, who came together in 2015. The band has had five songs reach Billboard’s chart, the most successful of which is “Maybe It’s OK,” which has held its peak position of #8 for 20 weeks.
7 – “Stand in Your Love” – Josh Baldwin
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Josh Baldwin is a worship leader from Bethel Music. He’s been releasing his songs independently and with smaller labels since 2008, but only reached Billboard’s chart for the fist time with “Stand in Your Love,” the single from his 2019 album, Victory. Baldwin’s catchy tune has held its peak position of #7 for 33 weeks.
6 – “Look Up Child” – Lauren Daigle
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Lauren Daigle is in the middle of a monumental career that will ultimately change the face of Christian music and for the better. Her style produces quite possibly the most introspective and catchy Christian music on the board and it has been recognized as such, leading to multiple songs on the top of the list. Her first album featured three #1 singles and went certified platinum. “Look Up Child,” the title track of her second album, peaked at #5 and now rests comfortably at #6 for 31 weeks.
5 – “Only Jesus” – Casting Crowns
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Casting Crowns was started by youth pastor Mark Hall, who serves as the band’s lead singer. No stranger to the Billboard’s Christian chart, Casting Crowns has had many hits that have found their way to the top 10. They have sold more than 10 million records since 1999 and have even won a Grammy for their 2006 album, Lifesong. “Only Jesus” peaked at #3, but currently sits at #4 and has remained in the top 10 for 33 weeks.
4 – “Best News Ever” – MercyMe
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The immensely successful MercyMe has only become more popular since their hit biopic, I Can Only Imagine. The band has won multiple Dove awards and just about everything they write winds up on the Billboard charts. They are one of the most successful Christian bands of the 21st century and their latest hit, “Best News Ever,” has only just hit its peak position of #4 this week, after 24 weeks in the Top 10.
3 – “Who You Say I Am” – Hillsong Worship
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Hillsong Worship is another group that originated as a church band. From Sydney, Australia, they have become a worldwide Christian music phenomenon, filling stadiums with faithful. They are most adept at writing broad Christian rock anthems and they have to be popular, as every live recording of them has the entire audience singing along with their lyrics. “Who You Say I Am” peaked at #2 and now rests at #3. It has been in the top 10 for a remarkable 56 weeks.
2 – “God Only Knows” – for KING & COUNTRY
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For KING & COUNTRY is a group formed by two brothers, Joel and Luke Smallbone, from Australia. Their music is very hip and they do good work bringing Christian music into the mainstream. “God Only Knows” contains potent commentary on the plight of suicide in today’s youth. The tune still holds its peak position of #2 and has remained in the Top 10 for 31 weeks.
1 – “You Say” – Lauren Daigle
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That’s right, Lauren Daigle is in the Top 10 twice! There’s a very good reason for this. Her music is powerful and her voice is entrancing. “You Say” has spent 38 weeks in its peak position of #1, putting her in 3rd place for most weeks at number one on the Christian music charts. The album, You Say, has garnered her two Grammy Awards and it is the highest-charting Christian album by a woman in over 20 years.
And today we celebrate...