Kirk Franklin notches his record-breaking eighth No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, as “Strong God” strides from No. 4 to the top of the tally dated Dec. 12.

In the tracking week ending Dec. 6, the single increased by 17% in plays, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

 

Franklin takes sole lead for the most No. 1s in the history of the chart, which launched in March 2005, as he passes James Fortune and Tamela Mann, each with seven leaders. (Fortune notched six of his No. 1s with his longtime backing choir FIYA, while his seventh and most recent, “Nobody Like Jesus,” features Lisa Knowles Smith; it led for two weeks in November.)

“Thank you to everyone who helped make ‘Strong God,’ ” says Franklin. “Mind-blowing, but I give God all the glory. I’m just the pen, He is the writer.”

“Strong God,” which Franklin solely wrote, is the third single from his LP Long Live Love, which debuted as his 13th No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums in June 2019 and reigned for 13 weeks. Lead single “Love Theory” ruled Gospel Airplay for 15 frames starting in April 2019 and “Just for Me” led the list for a week this June.

Franklin first topped Gospel Airplay leader with his third chart entry, “Looking for You,” which dominated for 18 weeks beginning in November 2005.