Josiah Queen leads Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart for the second time, debuting atop the Sept. 6-dated survey with Mt. Zion.
In its first week of release (Aug. 22-28), Mt. Zion earned 15,000 equivalent album units in the United States, according to Luminate. That sum includes 6,000 in album sales.
The 22-year-old Florida native first ruled Top Christian Albums when The Prodigal, his debut album, launched atop the list in June 2024. The set has spent all but four of its 66 weeks on the chart in the top 10, and all in the top 20. Mt. Zion is his first album on an established label (F&L Music Group and Capitol Christian Music Group); The Prodigal was released independently.
Mt. Zion becomes Queen’s first entry on the all-genre Billboard 200, at No. 57. It also starts at No. 4 on Americana/Folk Albums and No. 12 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums.
Concurrently, eight songs from Mt. Zion’s 12-tune tracklist appear on the Hot Christian Songs chart, led by “Dusty Bibles,” which returns to its No. 3 high thanks to 4.2 million official U.S. streams, 1.4 million radio audience impressions and 1,000 sold. It’s followed by the Brandon Lake collaboration “Can’t Steal My Joy,” which reaches a new No. 7 best (4.1 million impressions, 2.2 million streams).
“Can’t Steal My Joy” holds at its No. 9 high on Christian Airplay, having become Queen’s first top 10 on the survey, while “Dusty Bibles” rises to No. 25.
Queen’s top debut on Hot Christian Songs is “Watch Your Mouth,” at No. 17 (1.5 million streams).
It’s free Billboard charts month! Through Sept. 30, subscribers to Billboard’s Chart Beat newsletter, emailed each Friday, can unlock access to Billboard’s weekly and historical charts, artist chart histories and all Chart Beat stories simply by visiting the newly redesigned Billboard.com through any story link in the newsletter. Not a Chart Beat subscriber? Sign up for free here.
