Top Christian Albums

Number one album in Christian music in the United States

Top Christian Albums is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that ranks the best-performing Christian albums in the United States. Like the Billboard 200, the data is compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales, as well as on-demand streaming and digital sales of its individual tracks.[1] The chart was introduced on the magazine issue dated March 29, 1980, under the title "Best Selling Inspirational LPs".[2] The current name was adopted on August 16, 2003, in an effort to "streamline" chart titles.[3] The first number-one album was Candle's Music Machine.[2] Amy Grant's Age to Age, released in 1982, topped the chart for 85 consecutive weeks, the longest for any album on the chart.[4]

The current number-one album on the chart is Child of God by Forrest Frank.[5]

## Artist milestones

[edit]

### Most number-one albums

[edit]

| Artist  | No. | Ref.

|
|

Amy Grant | 17  | [6]
Michael W. Smith | 16  | [7]
MercyMe | 12  | [8]
Steven Curtis Chapman | 9  | [9]
Passion | [10]
Lecrae | [11]
Hillsong United | 8  | [12]
Chris Tomlin | [13]
Casting Crowns | [14]
Elevation Worship | [15]
Third Day | 7  | [16]
Newsboys | [17]
Jeremy Camp | [18]
Hillsong Worship | [19]

### Most cumulative weeks at number one

[edit]

| Artist  | Wks. | Ref.

|
|

Amy Grant | 333  | [6]
Lauren Daigle | 121  | [20]
Sandi Patti | 112  | [21]
Kanye West | 106  | [22]
Michael W. Smith | 86  | [7]
Kirk Franklin | 79  | [23]
Carman | 64  | [24]
Steven Curtis Chapman | 62  | [9]
Casting Crowns | 61  | [14]
MercyMe | 60  | [8]
P.O.D. | 54  | [25]
dc Talk | 53  | [26]
Switchfoot | 48  | [27]
Petra | 44  | [28]

## Album milestones

[edit]

### Most cumulative weeks at number one

[edit]

The following albums have spent at least 30 cumulative weeks atop the chart:

| Artist  | Wks. | Years  | Album  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Lauren Daigle

| 102  | 2018–23  | Look Up Child | [29]
Kanye West | 98  | 2021–24  | Donda | [30]

Amy Grant

| 85  | 1982–84  | Age to Age | [31]
Sandi Patty | 68  | 1986–88  | Morning Like This | [32]
Amy Grant | 61  | 1984–85  | Straight Ahead | [33]
dc Talk | 38  | 1993–94  | Free at Last | [34]
Switchfoot | 38  | 2004–05  | The Beautiful Letdown | [35]
Amy Grant | 36  | 1985–86  | Unguarded | [36]
Amy Grant | 36  | 1985–86  | Lead Me On | [37]
LeAnn Rimes | 35  | 1997–98  | You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs | [38]
P.O.D. | 35  | 2001–02  | Satellite | [39]
Carman | 34  | 1989–90  | Revival In the Land | [40]

### Most consecutive weeks at number one

[edit]

The following albums have spent at least 25 consecutive weeks atop the chart:

| Artist  | Wks. | Years  | Album  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Amy Grant | 85  | 1982–84  | Age to Age | [41]
Amy Grant | 61  | 1984–85  | Straight Ahead |
Sandi Patty | 40  | 1986–87  | Morning Like This |
Lauren Daigle | 37  | 2018–19  | Look Up Child |
Amy Grant | 36  | 1985–86  | Unguarded |
LeAnn Rimes | 35  | 1997–98  | You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs |
Amy Grant | 28  | 1988–89  | Lead Me On |
Amy Grant | 25  | 1987–88  | The Collection |

### Most weeks on the chart

[edit]

The following albums have spent at least 200 weeks on the chart:

Key  Album currently charting, as of Issue November 9, 2024[5] | No. | Artist  | Wks. | Album  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

1  | Skillet | 546  | Awake †  | [42]
2  | Hillsong United | 510  | Zion †  | [43]
3  | Lauren Daigle | 500  | How Can It Be †  | [44]
4  | NF | 478  | Mansion †  | [45]
5  | Chris Tomlin | 453  | How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection †  | [46]
6  | Elevation Worship | 440  | Here as in Heaven †  | [47]
7  | Skillet | 428  | Unleashed †  | [48]
8  | NF | 422  | Therapy Session †  | [49]
9  | Hillsong Worship | 404  | Let There Be Light †  | [50]
10  | Zach Williams | 400  | Chain Breaker †  | [51]
11  | Alan Jackson | 385  | Precious Memories Collection †  | [52]
12  | Amy Grant | 381  | The Collection | [53]
13  | MercyMe | 349  | I Can Only Imagine: The Very Best of MercyMe | [54]
14  | Flyleaf | 334  | Flyleaf | [55]| Flyleaf
15  | Lauren Daigle | 321  | Look Up Child | [56]
16  | Elvis Presley | 314  | Elvis: Ultimate Gospel | [57]
17  | Hillsong Worship | 311  | There Is More | [58]
18  | For King & Country | 308  | Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. | [59]
19  | Amy Grant | 286  | Age to Age | [60]
20  | tobyMac | 285  | This Is Not a Test | [61]
21  | For King & Country | 268  | Burn the Ships | [62]
22  | Zach Williams | 265  | Rescue Story | [63]
23  | Casting Crowns | 264  | Only Jesus | [64]
24  | Kanye West | 262  | Jesus Is King | [65]
25  | Sandi Patty | 257  | More Than Wonderful | [66]
26  | Casting Crowns | 254  | Voice of Truth: The Ultimate Collection | [67]
27  | Sandi Patty | 237  | Hymns Just for You | [68]
28  | Elevation Worship | 235  | Graves into Gardens | [69]
29  | MercyMe | 228  | Lifer †  | [70]
30  | Tauren Wells | 212  | Hills and Valleys | [71]
31  | Skillet | 207  | Comatose | [72]

## Number ones

[edit]

* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

## See also

[edit]

* Hot Christian Songs
* Top Holiday Albums
* Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart (UK)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Billboard Charts Legend". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
2. ^ a b "Best Selling Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. March 29, 1980. Retrieved November 11, 2019 - via AmericanRadioHistory.
3. ^ "Bad Boys" (PDF). Billboard. August 16, 2003. p. 58. Retrieved November 11, 2019 - via AmericanRadioHistory. "Note that we have streamlined the name of the latter album list, dropping the word 'Contemporary.'"
4. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Amy Grant | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
5. ^ a b "Top Christian Albums". Billboard. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
6. ^ a b Asker, Jim (February 15, 2018). "Michael W. Smith Returns to Hot Christian Songs Chart: Music Can 'Transform a Life on Every Level'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019.
7. ^ a b "Michael W. Smith Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
8. ^ a b "MercyMe Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
9. ^ a b "Steven Curtis Chapman Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
10. ^ "Passion Conferences Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
11. ^ "LeCrae Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
12. ^ "Hilsong United Chapman Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
13. ^ "Chris Tomlin Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
14. ^ a b "Casting Crowns Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
15. ^ "Elevation Worship Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
16. ^ "Third Day Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
17. ^ "Newsboys Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
18. ^ "Jeremy Camp Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
19. ^ "Hillsong Worship Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
20. ^ "Lauren Daigle Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
21. ^ "Sandi Patty Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
22. ^ "Kanye West Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
23. ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
24. ^ "Carmen Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
25. ^ "P.O.D. Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
26. ^ "dc Talk Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
27. ^ "Switchfoot Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
28. ^ "Petra Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
29. ^ "Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
30. ^ "Kanye West – Donda". Billboard. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
31. ^ "Amy Grant – Age to Age". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
32. ^ "Sandi Patty – Morning Like This". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
33. ^ "Amy Grant – Straight Ahead". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
34. ^ "dc Talk – Free at Last". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
35. ^ "Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
36. ^ "Amy Grant – Unguarded". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
37. ^ "Amy Grant – Lead Me On". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
38. ^ "LeAnn Rimes – You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
39. ^ "P.O.D. – Satellite". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
40. ^ "Carman – Revival In the Land". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
41. ^ Darden, Bob. "Amy Grant's Phenomenal Success" (PDF). Billboard. p. 37. Retrieved November 11, 2019 - via AmericanRadioHistory.
42. ^ "Skillet – Awake". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
43. ^ "Hillsong United Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
44. ^ "Lauren Daigle Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
45. ^ "NF – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
46. ^ "Chris Tomlin – How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
47. ^ "Elevation Worship – Here As in Heaven". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
48. ^ "Skillet – Unleashed". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
49. ^ "NF – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
50. ^ "Hillsong Worship – Let There Be Light". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
51. ^ "Zach Williams – Chain Breaker". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
52. ^ "Alan Jackson – Precious Memories Collection". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
53. ^ "Amy Grant – The Collection". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
54. ^ "MercyMe – I Can Only Imagine: The Very Best of MercyMe". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
55. ^ "Flyleaf – Flyleaf". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
56. ^ "Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
57. ^ "Elvis Presley – Elvis: Ultimate Gospel". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
58. ^ "Hillsong Worship – There Is More". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
59. ^ "For King & Country – Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
60. ^ "Amy Grant – Age to Age". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
61. ^ "tobyMac – This Is Not a Test". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
62. ^ "For King & Country – Burn the Ships". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
63. ^ "Zach Williams – Rescue Story". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
64. ^ "Casting Crowns – Only Jesus". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
65. ^ "Kanye West Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
66. ^ "Sandi Patty – More than Wonderful". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
67. ^ "Casting Crowns – Voice of Truth: The Ultimate Collection". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
68. ^ "Sandi Patty – Hymns Just For You". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
69. ^ "Elevation Worship – Graves into Gardens". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
70. ^ "MercyMe – Lifer". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
71. ^ "Tauren Wells – Hills and Valleys". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
72. ^ "Skillet – Comatose". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Lists of number ones on the Billboard Christian charts

Number-one albums|

* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

Number-one songs|

* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

* v
* t
* e

Billboard charts

Billboard|

| Top charts|

| Songs|

* Hot 100
* Radio Songs
* Digital Song Sales
* Digital Tracks (defunct)
* Streaming Songs
* Bubbling Under Hot 100
* U.S. Afrobeats Songs

|

Albums|

* Billboard 200
* Top Album Sales
* Catalog Albums
* Independent Albums
* Comprehensive Albums (defunct)
* Bubbling Under the Top LPs (defunct)

Artists|

* Artist 100

Global|

* Global 200

Hits of the World|

* Canadian Albums
* Canadian Hot 100
* Hits of the World
* Brazil Songs
* Croatia Songs
* Hong Kong Songs
* India Songs
* Indonesia Songs
* Malaysia Songs
* Philippines Songs
* Romania Songs
* South Korea Songs
* Mexico Songs
* Mexico Airplay (defunct)
* Español
* Ingles

Internet|

* Hot Trending Songs
* TikTok Billboard Top 50

Pop|

* Pop Airplay
* Adult Pop Airplay
* Adult Contemporary
* Pop 100 (defunct)
* Top 40 Tracks (defunct)
* Hot Crossover 30 (defunct)

Country|

* Top Country Albums
* Hot Country Songs
* Country Airplay

Rock|

* Hot Rock & Alternative Songs
* Mainstream Rock
* Alternative Airplay
* Triple A

R&B/Hip-Hop|

* Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
* Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop
* Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (defunct)
* Hot Rap Songs
* Hot R&B Songs
* Adult R&B Songs
* Rhythmic

Dance/Electronic|

* Dance/Electronic Albums
* Dance/Electronic Songs
* Dance/Electronic Digital Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay
* Dance Club Songs (suspended)
* Dance Singles Sales (defunct)

Christian/Gospel|

* Top Christian Albums
* Hot Christian Songs
* Christian Airplay
* Top Gospel Albums
* Hot Gospel Songs

Breaking and Entering|

* Emerging Artists
* Heatseekers Albums
* Heatseekers Songs (defunct)

Holiday|

* Christmas/Holiday charts

Additional charts|

* Comedy Albums
* Kid Albums
* World Digital Song Sales

Billboard Español|

* Top Latin Albums
* Hot Latin Songs
* Latin Airplay
* Latin Pop Albums
* Latin Pop Airplay
* Latin Rhythm Albums
* Latin Rhythm Airplay
* Regional Mexican Albums
* Regional Mexican Airplay
* Tropical Albums
* Tropical Airplay

Billboard Argentina|

* Argentina Hot 100

Billboard Brasil|

* Brasil Hot 100
* Artistas 25

Billboard China|

* China Top 100 (defunct)
* China Airplay/FL (defunct)

Billboard Greece|

* Billboard Greek Airplay (defunct)

Billboard Indonesia|

* Indonesia Top 100

Billboard Japan|

* Japan Hot 100
* Japan Hot Albums

Billboard Korea|

* K-pop 100 (defunct)
* Billboard K-Town
* Timeline
* 2020s

Billboard Philippines|

* Philippines Hot 100
* Top Philippine Songs

Billboard Türkiye|

* Türkiye Top 20 (defunct)

Billboard Việt Nam|

* Vietnam Hot 100
* Vietnam Top Vietnamese Songs

Music & Media|

* European Albums (defunct)
* European Hot 100 (defunct)

Lists of number-one
albums and singles|

* Adult Contemporary
* Alternative Airplay
* Americana/Folk Albums
* Billboard 200
* Dance Club Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay
* Dance/Electronic Albums
* Dance/Electronic Songs
* Hot 100
* Hot Country Songs
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* K-Pop
* Mainstream Rock
* Simultaneous album and single
* Simultaneous UK and US
* Top Country Albums
* Year-End

Lists of artists who
reached number one|

* US
* Canada
* Japan
* Adult Contemporary
* Adult Top 40
* Alternative Songs
* Dance Club Songs
* Dance/Mix Show Airplay
* Hot Country Songs
* Hot Latin Songs
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
* Mainstream Rock
* Pop Airplay
* Rhythmic
* Social 50

See also|

* Billboard Radio Monitor (defunct)
* R&R (defunct)
* Billboard Twitter Real-Time (defunct)
* Decade-End
* Joel Whitburn
* List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
* List of K-pop on the Billboard charts
* Albums
* Songs
* Japan Hot 100
* World Digital Song Sales
* Year-end

*[No.]: Number
*[Ref.]: Reference(s)
*[Wks.]: Weeks on the chart
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template