Lauren Daigle’s “Thank God I Do” reaches its 20th week atop Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart (dated Sept. 30). With its latest week at the summit, Daigle becomes the first soloist with two No. 1s to have reigned for at least 20 weeks each; her crossover smash “You Say” dominated for a record 132 frames beginning in July 2018.
Daigle’s current No. 1 becomes one of seven hits to have led Hot Christian Songs for at least 20 weeks since the list launched in June 2003.
Longest-leading Hot Christian Songs No. 1s:
132 weeks, “You Say,” Lauren Daigle, beginning in July 2018
61 weeks, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),” Hillsong United, beginning in June 2013
37 weeks, “What a Beautiful Name,” Hillsong Worship, beginning in February 2017
26 weeks, “Something in the Water,” Carrie Underwood, beginning in October 2014
24 weeks, “In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible),” Katy Nichole, beginning in March 2022)
23 weeks, “Word of God Speak,” MercyMe, beginning in August 2003
20 weeks (to date), “Thank God I Do,” Lauren Daigle, beginning in May 2023
Notably, six of the seven longest-leading Hot Christian Songs No. 1s feature female lead singers. In addition to Daigle, Underwood and Nichole’s titles, Hillsong United’s “Oceans” sports lead vocals by Taya Smith and Brooke Ligertwood is out front on sister act Hillsong Worship’s “What a Beautiful Name.”
“Thank God I Do” awarded Daigle her sixth Hot Christian Songs No. 1, the most among women. (Overall, MercyMe leads with 13 No. 1s.)
The song tallied 5.3 million in all-format airplay audience, 2.2 million official streams and 1,000 downloads sold Sept. 15-21, according to Luminate. It dominated Christian Digital Song Sales for 23 weeks, Christian Streaming Songs for 10 weeks and Christian Airplay for one frame.
Daigle co-authored the piano ballad with Jason Ingram, while Jeff Bhasker, P!nk and Nate Ruess are also credited as writers, as the song contains elements of P!nk’s “Just Give Me a Reason,” featuring Ruess (which the three co-penned), a three-week No. 1 on the all-genre multi-metric Billboard Hot 100 in 2013.
Cortez Crowns Gospel
On Gospel Airplay, Zacardi Cortez rolls up his sixth No. 1 with “Lord Do It for Me (Live in Memphis).” The song, which he co-wrote, increased by 6% in plays during the latest tracking week.
Cortez, based in Houston, last led the chart with “You’ve Been Good to Me” for three weeks starting in November 2022. He first reigned as featured, with Shawn McLemore, on James Fortune & FIYA’s 19-week No. 1 “I Believe” in 2010-11.
Cortez ties for the sixth-most No. 1s on Gospel Airplay, which began in 2005. Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann lead with 10 apiece.