Top Christian Albums

Top Christian Albums is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that ranks the best-performing Christian albums in the United States. Like the Billboard 200, the data is compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales, as well as on-demand streaming and digital sales of its individual tracks.^[1] The chart was introduced on the magazine issue dated March 29, 1980, under the title "Best Selling Inspirational LPs".^[2] The current name was adopted on August 16, 2003, in an effort to "streamline" chart titles.^[3] The first number-one album was Candle's Music Machine.^[2] Amy Grant's Age to Age, released in 1982, topped the chart for 85 consecutive weeks, the longest for any album on the chart.^[4]

The current number-one album on the chart is A Drummer Boy Christmas by For King & Country.^[5]

Artist milestones

Most number-one albums Artist No. Ref. Amy Grant 17 [6] Michael W. Smith 16 [7] MercyMe 12 [8] Steven Curtis Chapman 9 [9] Passion [10] Lecrae [11] Hillsong United 8 [12] Chris Tomlin [13] Casting Crowns [14] Elevation Worship [15] Third Day 7 [16] Newsboys [17] Jeremy Camp [18] Hillsong Worship [19]

Most cumulative weeks at number one Artist Wks. Ref. Amy Grant 333 [6] Lauren Daigle 121 [20] Sandi Patti 112 [21] Kanye West 106 [22] Michael W. Smith 86 [7] Kirk Franklin 79 [23] Carman 64 [24] Steven Curtis Chapman 62 [9] Casting Crowns 61 [14] MercyMe 60 [8] P.O.D. 54 [25] dc Talk 53 [26] Switchfoot 48 [27] Petra 44 [28]

Album milestones

Most cumulative weeks at number one The following albums have spent at least 30 cumulative weeks atop the chart: Artist Wks. Years Album Ref. Lauren Daigle 102 2018–23 Look Up Child [29] Kanye West 98 2021–24 Donda [30] Amy Grant 85 1982–84 Age to Age [31] Sandi Patty 68 1986–88 Morning Like This [32] Amy Grant 61 1984–85 Straight Ahead [33] dc Talk 38 1993–94 Free at Last [34] Switchfoot 38 2004–05 The Beautiful Letdown [35] Amy Grant 36 1985–86 Unguarded [36] Amy Grant 36 1985–86 Lead Me On [37] LeAnn Rimes 35 1997–98 You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs [38] P.O.D. 35 2001–02 Satellite [39] Carman 34 1989–90 Revival In the Land [40]

Most consecutive weeks at number one The following albums have spent at least 25 consecutive weeks atop the chart: Artist Wks. Years Album Ref. Amy Grant 85 1982–84 Age to Age [41] Amy Grant 61 1984–85 Straight Ahead Sandi Patty 40 1986–87 Morning Like This Lauren Daigle 37 2018–19 Look Up Child Amy Grant 36 1985–86 Unguarded LeAnn Rimes 35 1997–98 You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs Amy Grant 28 1988–89 Lead Me On Amy Grant 25 1987–88 The Collection

Most weeks on the chart

The following albums have spent at least 200 weeks on the chart:

Key

Album currently charting, as of Issue December 21, 2024[5] No. Artist Wks. Album Ref. 1 Skillet 552 Awake † [42] 2 Hillsong United 514 Zion † [43] 3 Lauren Daigle 506 How Can It Be † [44] 4 NF 478 Mansion † [45] 5 Chris Tomlin 456 How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection † [46] 6 Elevation Worship 441 Here as in Heaven † [47] 7 Skillet 423 Unleashed † [48] 8 NF 422 Therapy Session † [49] 9 Hillsong Worship 404 Let There Be Light † [50] 10 Zach Williams 391 Chain Breaker † [51] 11 Alan Jackson 391 Precious Memories Collection † [52] 12 Amy Grant 381 The Collection [53] 13 MercyMe 355 I Can Only Imagine: The Very Best of MercyMe [54] 14 Flyleaf 340 Flyleaf [55] 15 Lauren Daigle 327 Look Up Child [56] 16 Elvis Presley 314 Elvis: Ultimate Gospel [57] 17 For King & Country 308 Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. [58] 18 Hillsong Worship 300 There Is More [59] 19 Amy Grant 286 Age to Age [60] 20 tobyMac 285 This Is Not a Test [61] 21 For King & Country 268 Burn the Ships [62] 22 Zach Williams 269 Rescue Story [63] 23 Kanye West 268 Jesus Is King [64] 24 Casting Crowns 259 Voice of Truth: The Ultimate Collection [65] 25 Sandi Patty 257 More Than Wonderful [66] 26 Casting Crowns 255 Only Jesus [67] 27 Elevation Worship 241 Graves into Gardens [68] 28 Sandi Patty 237 Hymns Just for You [69] 29 MercyMe 228 Lifer † [70] 30 Tauren Wells 212 Hills and Valleys [71] 31 Skillet 207 Comatose [72]

Number ones

• 1980s
• 1990s
• 2000s
• 2010s
• 2020s

See also

• Hot Christian Songs
• Top Holiday Albums
• Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart (UK)

References

1. "Billboard Charts Legend". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
2. "Best Selling Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. March 29, 1980. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via AmericanRadioHistory.
3. "Bad Boys" (PDF). Billboard. August 16, 2003. p. 58. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via AmericanRadioHistory. Note that we have streamlined the name of the latter album list, dropping the word 'Contemporary.'
4. Ruhlmann, William. "Amy Grant | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
5. "Top Christian Albums". Billboard. December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
6. Asker, Jim (February 15, 2018). "Michael W. Smith Returns to Hot Christian Songs Chart: Music Can 'Transform a Life on Every Level'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019.
7. "Michael W. Smith Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
8. "MercyMe Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
9. "Steven Curtis Chapman Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
10. "Passion Conferences Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
11. "LeCrae Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
12. "Hilsong United Chapman Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
13. "Chris Tomlin Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
14. "Casting Crowns Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
15. "Elevation Worship Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
16. "Third Day Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
17. "Newsboys Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
18. "Jeremy Camp Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
19. "Hillsong Worship Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
20. "Lauren Daigle Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
21. "Sandi Patty Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
22. "Kanye West Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
23. "Kirk Franklin Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
24. "Carmen Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
25. "P.O.D. Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
26. "dc Talk Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
27. "Switchfoot Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
28. "Petra Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
29. "Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
30. "Kanye West – Donda". Billboard. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
31. "Amy Grant – Age to Age". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
32. "Sandi Patty – Morning Like This". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
33. "Amy Grant – Straight Ahead". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
34. "dc Talk – Free at Last". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
35. "Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
36. "Amy Grant – Unguarded". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
37. "Amy Grant – Lead Me On". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
38. "LeAnn Rimes – You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
39. "P.O.D. – Satellite". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
40. "Carman – Revival In the Land". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
41. Darden, Bob. "Amy Grant's Phenomenal Success" (PDF). Billboard. p. 37. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via AmericanRadioHistory.
42. "Skillet – Awake". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
43. "Hillsong United Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
44. "Lauren Daigle Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
45. "NF – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
46. "Chris Tomlin – How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
47. "Elevation Worship – Here As in Heaven". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
48. "Skillet – Unleashed". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
49. "NF – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
50. "Hillsong Worship – Let There Be Light". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
51. "Zach Williams – Chain Breaker". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
52. "Alan Jackson – Precious Memories Collection". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
53. "Amy Grant – The Collection". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
54. "MercyMe – I Can Only Imagine: The Very Best of MercyMe". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
55. "Flyleaf – Flyleaf". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
56. "Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
57. "Elvis Presley – Elvis: Ultimate Gospel". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
58. "For King & Country – Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
59. "Hillsong Worship – There Is More". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
60. "Amy Grant – Age to Age". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
61. "tobyMac – This Is Not a Test". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
62. "For King & Country – Burn the Ships". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
63. "Zach Williams – Rescue Story". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
64. "Kanye West Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
65. "Casting Crowns – Voice of Truth: The Ultimate Collection". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
66. "Sandi Patty – More than Wonderful". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
67. "Casting Crowns – Only Jesus". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
68. "Elevation Worship – Graves into Gardens". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
69. "Sandi Patty – Hymns Just For You". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
70. "MercyMe – Lifer". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
71. "Tauren Wells – Hills and Valleys". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
72. "Skillet – Comatose". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.

External links

• Official website