Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave Crown Christian Airplay With ‘God Is in This Story’

Katy Nichole and Big Daddy Weave‘s “God Is in This Story” ascends to No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart dated Oct. 29.

In the tracking week ending Oct. 23, the collaboration gained by 1% to 7.2 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.

The song, which the 22-year-old Nichole, from Mesa, Ariz., co-wrote with Ethan Hulse and Jeff Pardo, is from her forthcoming first full-length.

It marks the second straight career-opening leader on the list for Nichole and the seventh No. 1 for Big Daddy Weave.

Nichole follows her rookie hit “In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” which dominated Christian Airplay for nine weeks beginning in April. She becomes the second solo woman to lead with her first two entries, after Anne Wilson led for six weeks beginning in August 2021 with her debut hit “My Jesus” and followed with “I Still Believe in Christmas,” which led for a week in the 2021-22 holiday season.

Big Daddy Weave tops Christian Airplay for the first time since “I Know” reigned for three weeks in April-May 2020. Its latest leader is also its milestone 20th top 10, and first since “All Things New” peaked at No. 9 in September 2021.

With seven No. 1s, Big Daddy Weave ties Third Day for eighth place among all acts for the most since Christian Airplay began in 2003. MercyMe leads with 17.

“God Is in This Story” concurrently leads the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart for a third week, after it first topped the Oct. 15-dated ranking.

Franklin Ties Record as ‘Kingdom’ Reigns

Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin’s “Kingdom,” featuring Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore, reaches the Gospel Airplay summit. The song increased by 3% in plays in the tracking week.

Maverick City Music, Raine and Moore each earn their second leader on the list, after the triumvirate led with “Jireh” for two weeks beginning in March.

Meanwhile, Franklin achieves his record-tying ninth Gospel Airplay No. 1, and first since “Strong God” ruled for two weeks in December 2020. He matches Tamela Mann for the most leaders since the chart launched in March 2005. (James Fortune & FIYA follow with eight No. 1s.)

Franklin began his run of leaders with “Looking for You,” which dominated for 18 weeks starting in November 2005.