Christian Songs Hit Billboard Hot 100 For First Time In A Decade

NASHVILLE, TN. Christian Songs Hit Billboard Hot 100 For First Time In A Decade. Hope is trending—and not just in hearts, but on the charts. For the first time in more than a decade, two Christian songs have surged into the Billboard Hot 100, shattering expectations and bringing a powerful message of faith into the mainstream spotlight.

Brandon Lake’s gut-wrenching yet triumphant “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and Forrest Frank’s sunlit anthem “Your Way’s Better” are more than just hits—they’re spiritual touchstones breaking through the noise of pop culture.

These tracks are the first duo of faith-based entries to grace the Hot 100 together since Carrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water” and Craig Wayne Boyd’s rendition of “The Old Rugged Cross” crossed paths in late 2014. This time, however, the presence feels less like a fluke and more like the start of a revival.

“It’s like a revival on the charts,” says Billboard analyst Sarah Mitchell. “This isn’t just niche success—it’s crossover appeal rooted in authenticity and amplified by social media.”

Brandon Lake’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” holding strong at No. 50 in its 11th week, is as raw as it is rousing. With a weathered voice and an open heart, the Grammy-nominated artist has poured his spiritual wrestling into a track that now echoes far beyond church walls. “I didn’t write it for radio—I wrote it in a battle,” Lake shared. “But God had other plans.”

TikTok helped. The song’s chorus, soundtracking emotional videos and testimonials, has become something of a digital altar, drawing millions of listens and sparking tears, worship, and connection.

Meanwhile, Forrest Frank’s “Your Way’s Better” is catching wind like a kite on a summer day. Jumping from No. 72 to No. 62 in just one week, the song is as joyful as it is infectious, marrying pop polish with lyrics steeped in surrender. “I wanted it to sound like freedom,” Frank said. “Like laying down your burdens and dancing anyway.”

Frank, once one-half of Surfaces, is proving himself a solo force in Christian music. His upbeat hooks, paired with TikTok dance challenges and lip-sync trends, have transformed “Your Way’s Better” into a cross-platform sensation.

But the surge is bigger than just two songs. It’s a signal. According to Luminate’s 2024 year-end report, Christian and gospel genres are gaining serious ground with Gen Z and Millennials, boasting a 19% increase in listening time since 2022. On platforms where virality is currency, these songs are hitting a nerve—and a need.

“Young listeners are hungry for something real,” says Dr. Emily Carter, pop culture professor at Vanderbilt. “Christian music is now speaking a language they understand—honest, hopeful, and emotionally resonant.”

The ripple effect is already underway. Elevation Worship’s “Praise” (featuring Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, and Chandler Moore) sits at No. 20 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, while Frank’s other single, “Good Day,” follows closely at No. 23. Both have already ruled the Hot Christian Songs chart and are poised to leap into the mainstream any day now.

For Christian artists, the doors are opening wider. Historically, only 11 non-holiday, non-rap-affiliated Christian tracks have cracked the Hot 100 since 2013’s chart methodology shift. While artists like Lauren Daigle and Hillsong UNITED laid the foundation, Lake and Frank’s simultaneous success is unprecedented.