Fred Jerkins crowns Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, as “Patiently Praising,” featuring Lowell Pye, hops 4-1 on the list dated Jan. 2, 2021. Jerkins’ second leader and Pye’s first increased by 30% in plays in the week ending Dec. 27, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
“Patiently” also jumps 14-9 on the multi-metric Hot Gospel Songs chart, which blends airplay, sales and streaming data. The track, likewise Jerkins’ second top 10 and Pye’s first on the survey, drew 27,000 U.S. streams in the week ending Dec. 24.
The song, which Jerkins wrote with Alvin Jerome Garrett, is the fourth single from Jerkins’ album, Fred Jerkins Presents… A Project of Healing, which debuted and peaked at No. 4 on Top Gospel Albums in October 2018. The set’s “Victory” spent two frames at the Gospel Airplay summit in April 2019.
“I am amazed that two years after the release of my cancer awareness [LP] A Project of Healing, I am blessed to have a second No. 1 from it,” Jerkins tells Billboard. “With COVID-19 affecting so many people, ‘Patiently Praising’ reminds us to never give up our praise no matter how long it takes to get our breakthrough.”
In addition to the album’s two Gospel Airplay No. 1s, “We Won,” featuring Jonathan Nelson, reached No. 27 in October 2017; “Go,” featuring Trin-I-Tee 5:7, hit No. 16 this August; and “Reason to Praise,” featuring SEMAJE, enters this week’s chart at No. 29.
The set’s five songs mark the entirety of Jerkins’ Gospel Airplay history, while Pye has made three additional appearances, dating to 2009. His most recent, and lone charted solo single, “Alright,” brought his prior best, reaching No. 15 in September 2012.
