Kirk Franklin Ties Tamela Mann for the Most Gospel Airplay No. 1s With ‘Try Love’

Gospel music icon Kirk Franklin banks his record-tying 11th No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart as “Try Love” rises to the top of the list dated Dec. 28. The song increased by 8% in plays Dec. 13-19, according to Luminate.

Franklin co-authored the track with Ian Owen Devaney and Andy Morris, while Lisa Stansfield also receives a writing credit, thanks to its sample of her No. 3-peaking 1990 Billboard Hot 100 hit “All Around the World.”

“Try Love” is from Franklin’s LP Father’s Day, which arrived at No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart in October 2023, becoming his 14th leader.

Franklin ties Tamela Mann for the most Gospel Airplay No. 1s, dating to the chart’s 2005 launch. James Fortune follows with 10 leaders.

Prior to “Try Love,” Franklin topped Gospel Airplay with “All Things” for two weeks in September 2023. He first led with “Looking for You,” for 18 weeks beginning in November 2005.

Wickham’s ‘Angels’ Ascends

Phil Wickham banks his fifth chart-topper on Christian Airplay with his seasonal song “Angels (Glory to God)” (1.3 million in airplay audience, up 11%).

The carol, which Wickham wrote with Jonathan Smith, completes Wickham’s quickest trip to the summit: four weeks.

Wickham previously led Christian Airplay with “This Is Our God” (2023), “House of the Lord” (2021), “Battle Belongs” (2021) and “This Is Amazing Grace” (2014).

The San Diego native charts a second song on Christian Airplay, the nonholiday single “The Jesus Way,” at No. 11 (770,000) after it hit No. 8 two weeks earlier.