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]

As of the issue dated August 15, 2020, the current number-one album is Chris Tomlin & Friends by Chris Tomlin.[5]

Artist milestones

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

Most cumulative weeks at number one Artist Wks. Ref. Amy Grant 333 [6] Sandi Patti 112 [19] Lauren Daigle 97 [20] Michael W. Smith 86 [7] Kirk Franklin 79 [21] Carman 64 [22] Steven Curtis Chapman 62 [9] Casting Crowns 60 [14] MercyMe 59 [8] P.O.D. 54 [23] dc Talk 53 [24] Switchfoot 48 [25] Petra 44 [26]

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. Amy Grant 85 1982–84 Age to Age [27] Lauren Daigle 80 2018–20 Look Up Child [28] Sandi Patty 68 1986–88 Morning Like This [29] Amy Grant 61 1984–85 Straight Ahead [30] dc Talk 38 1993–94 Free at Last [31] Switchfoot 38 2004–05 The Beautiful Letdown [32] Amy Grant 36 1985–86 Unguarded [33] Amy Grant 36 1985–86 Lead Me On [34] LeAnn Rimes 35 1997–98 You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs [35] P.O.D. 35 2001–02 Satellite [36] Carmen 34 1989–90 Revival In the Land [37]

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 [38] 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:

No.	Artist	Wks.	Album	Ref.
1	Amy Grant	381	The Collection	[39]
2	Hillsong UNITED	351	Zion	[40]
3	Skillet	325	Awake	[41]
4	for KING & COUNTRY	296	Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.	[42]
5	Amy Grant	286	Age to Age	[43]
6	Lauren Daigle	279	How Can It Be	[44]
7	NF	263	Mansion	[45]
8	Elvis Presley	259	Elvis: Ulimate Gospel	[46]
9	Sandi Patty	257	More than Wonderful	[47]
10	Chris Tomlin	254	How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection	[48]
11	tobyMac	246	This Is Not a Test	[49]
12	Sandi Patty	237	Hymns Just For You	[50]
13	Elevation Worship	235	Here as in Heaven	[51]
14	NF	224	Therapy Session	[52]
15	Skillet	209	Unleashed	[53]
16	Skillet	207	Comatose	[54]

Key

	Album currently charting, as of August 15, 2020[5]

Number ones

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

See also

• Christian Songs
• Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart

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. August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
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 12, 2019.
9. "Steven Curtis Chapman Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
10. "Passion Conferences Chapman Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
11. "LeCrae Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
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 November 12, 2019.
15. "Third Day Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
16. "Newsboys Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
17. "Jeremy Camp Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
18. "Hillsong Worship Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
19. "Sandi Patty Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
20. "Lauren Daigle Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
21. "Kirk Franklin Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
22. "Carmen Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
23. "P.O.D. Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
24. "dc Talk Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
25. "Switchfoot Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
26. "Petra Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
27. "Amy Grant – Age to Age". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
28. "Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
29. "Sandi Patty – Morning Like This". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
30. "Amy Grant – Straight Ahead". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
31. "dc Talk – Free at Last". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
32. "Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
33. "Amy Grant – Unguarded". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
34. "Amy Grant – Lead Me On". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
35. "LeAnn Rimes – You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
36. "P.O.D. – Satellite". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
37. "Carmen – Revival In the Land". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
38. Darden, Bob. "Amy Grant's Phenomenal Success" (PDF). Billboard. p. 37. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via AmericanRadioHistory.
39. "Amy Grant – The Collection". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
40. "Hillsong United – Zion". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
41. "Skillet – Awake". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
42. "For King & Country – Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
43. "Amy Grant – Age to Age". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
44. "Lauren Daigle – How Can It Be". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
45. "NF – Mansion". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
46. "Elvis Presley – Elvis: Ulimate Gospel". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
47. "Sandi Patty – More than Wonderful". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
48. "Chris Tomlin – How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
49. "tobyMac – This Is Not A Test". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
50. "Sandi Patty – Hymns Just For You". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
51. "Elevation Worship – Here As in Heaven". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
52. "NF – Therapy Session". Retrieved December 19, 2019.
53. "Skillet – Unleashed". Retrieved April 2, 2020.
54. "Skillet – Comatose". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2019.

External links

• Official website