Tamela Mann Notches Record-Breaking 11th Gospel Airplay No. 1 With ‘Working for Me’
Tamela Mann earns her record 11th No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart as “Working for Me” ascends to the top of the tally dated Sept. 21. It increased by 6% in plays Sept. 6-12, according to Luminate.
With the song, which Mann co-authored with Phillip Bryant and Tameka Mintze, she breaks out of a tie with fellow format cornerstone Kirk Franklin for the most No. 1s on the chart, which began in March 2005. James Fortune & FIYA follow with nine leaders, while Jekalyn Carr, Todd Dulaney, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Marvin Sapp are next with seven apiece.
“My greatest joy is to be able to encourage people and uplift them. I never dreamed that I could reach people on this level, but I am so thankful,” Mann tells Billboard. “I’m grateful that God has given me the opportunity and platform to share my music and His message with the world and impact lives in a positive way. I have tears of joy, and I want to thank everyone for your love and support on this journey together.”
With “Working For Me,” Mann also earns her fifth Gospel Airplay No. 1 in a row. The song follows “Finished,” which dominated for three weeks starting last March; “He Did It” (two, May 2022); “Help Me” (four, beginning in September 2021); and “Touch Me” (five, starting in December 2020).
Mann matches Cobbs Leonard, also on an active run, for the most consecutive Gospel Airplay chart-toppers among women. Overall, Dulaney and Jonathan McReynolds are tied for the most back-to-back No. 1s with six consecutive chart-toppers each.
Winans’ ‘King’ Rules for 20th Week
On Billboard’s multimetric Hot Gospel Songs survey, CeCe Winans’ “That’s My King” rolls up its 20th week at No. 1.
The hit becomes the 15th to lead Hot Gospel Songs for 20 weeks or longer since the chart began in 2003. Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music’s “Jireh,” featuring Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine, boasts the longest reign (86 weeks starting in April 2021), followed by Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It” (46 weeks, beginning in August 2007); and Kirk Franklin’s “Wanna Be Happy?” (45 weeks, starting in September 2015).
“That’s My King” became Winans’ third Hot Gospel Songs chart No. 1 in May and has logged an uninterrupted run in charge. Concurrently, it rises 6-5 on Hot Christian Songs, returning to its best rank. During the tracking week, it collected 6.3 million all-format radio impressions, 1.3 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 sold.
