Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude” returns to the top spot on Billboard’s Christian Digital Song Sales chart (dated Oct. 4) with a 673% increase to 7,000 sold Sept. 19-25, according to Luminate.
The total follows Lake’s performance of the song at the Sept. 21 funeral of slain political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. It replaces Lake’s own “Hard Fought Hallelujah” atop the ranking.
The chart’s top three consists of songs performed at Kirk’s service, with Chris Tomlin’s “Holy Forever” a reentry at No. 2 with 6,000 sold, up 1,229%, and Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes and Elevation Worship’s “The Blessing: Live” a returnee at No. 3 (5,000, up 1,731%). Plus, Tomlin’s 2011 version of “How Great Is Our God,” likewise sung at the memorial, debuts at No. 10 (1,000 sold).
“Gratitude” also ascends 7-3 on the Christian Streaming Songs chart, up 39% to 5.1 million streams.
On the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart, “Gratitude” reenters at No. 1, becoming Lake’s second leader, after “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
Wickham, Fair Trade Triumph
Elsewhere on Billboard’s faith-based charts , Phil Wickham logs his eighth week at No. 1 on Christian Airplay with “What an Awesome God,” which drew 5.1 million audience impressions Sept. 19-25. The original version of the song, released in 1988, was written and performed by Rich Mullins. Wickham and producer Jonathan Lindsey Smith added new verses that power the current hit.
Wickham’s recording is now the sole longest-leading Christian Airplay hit this decade on Fair Trade, breaking a tie with Colton Dixon’s “Build a Boat,” which linked its seven-week No. 1 run in 2022-23. The label also boasts the longest-ruling song in the chart’s 22-year history: MercyMe’s “Word of God Speak” (23 weeks, 2003).
Wickham’s “What an Awesome God” was released in April and in August became his sixth Christian Airplay No. 1. He is currently on the road headlining the multi-artist Air1 Worship Now Tour.
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