Christian Music Makes Historic Comeback as Two Songs Crack Billboard Hot 100 After 11-Year Drought

For the first time in over a decade, two Christian songs have simultaneously charted on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a significant moment for the genre as of the chart dated May 10, 2025. Brandon Lake’s worship anthem HARD FOUGHT HALLELUJAH sits at No. 44 in its 11th week, having peaked at No. 40, while Forrest Frank’s upbeat track YOUR WAY’S BETTER climbs from No. 72 to No. 62 in its second week. 

This rare occurrence, the first since 2014, highlights the growing mainstream appeal of Christian music, driven by artistes like Lake, who has 42 entries on the Hot Christian Songs chart since 2019, and Frank, a former pop artiste with Surfaces turned Christian music force with 34 chart entries since 2022. The surge aligns with a broader trend noted in Luminate’s 2024 year-end report, which found Christian/Gospel music consumption among young U.S. audiences up 19% since 2022, fueled by platforms like TikTok where both artistes have gained traction.

The historical significance of this moment cannot be overstated, since Billboard revamped its Hot Christian Songs methodology in 2013 to include streaming, sales, and airplay, only 11 non-holiday Christian songs had crossed over to the Hot 100 before 2025, including hits like Lauren Daigle’s YOU SAY in 2019 and Hillsong United’s OCEAN in 2014. Lake’s HARD FOUGHT HALLELUJAH,  a 20-week chart-topper on Hot Christian Songs, and Frank’s YOUR WAY’S BETTER, from his album Child of God II released May 9, 2025, reflect a shift in listener habits, with streaming and social media amplifying their reach.

 Frank’s prior success with Surfaces’ SUNDAY BEST a 2019 Hot 100 hit, likely aided his transition, while Lake’s consistent output, six No. 1s on Hot Christian Songs has built a loyal fanbase.  Fans celebrate this milestone, with some users noting the genre’s growing cultural relevance, though others question if mainstream success risks diluting its spiritual core.

Yet, this breakthrough raises broader questions about the intersection of faith and commercial success. The Christian music industry has long grappled with balancing evangelical roots against the pressures of mainstream appeal, and artistes like Lake and Frank now face scrutiny over whether their Hot 100 presence signals genuine cultural acceptance or a fleeting trend driven by algorithmic platforms like TikTok. 

Moreover, the genre’s historical exclusion from mainstream charts, partly due to Billboard’s past airplay-only methodology suggests systemic barriers that may still linger, even as streaming democratizes access. As two more Christian tracks, including Elevation Worship’s PRAISE, climb the Bubbling Under Hot 100, the genre’s resurgence seems poised to continue, but its long-term impact on the Hot 100 remains uncertain, especially in a chart dominated by pop and hip-hop heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and SZA.