Donnie McClurkin tops Billboard’s gospel chart first time in 12 years

Donnie McClurkin (March 16, 2013 in Los Angeles.) Courtesy Photo. Internationally acclaimed gospel singer Donnie McClurkin has achieved his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart in...

Donnie McClurkin (March 16, 2013 in Los Angeles.) Courtesy Photo.

Internationally acclaimed gospel singer Donnie McClurkin has achieved his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart in 12 years, as his latest single “I Need You” ascends 2-1 in its 46th week on the chart (dated April 1).

It’s McClurkin’s second No. 1 overall. “I Call You Faithful” led for seven weeks starting on April 2, 2005; Since then, he had not topped the chart again.

According to BillBoard, “I Need You” additionally completes the longest trip to No. 1 since Gospel Airplay began on March 19, 2005.

It just passes Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago’s “# War,” which reached No. 1 in its 45th frame (Aug. 15, 2015).

On the multi-metric Hot Gospel Songs chart, “I Need You” jumps 6-2, marking McClurkin’s highest rank since “Wait on the Lord” (also No. 2) in 2009.

“I Need You” is the lead single from McClurkin’s ‘The Journey (Live)’ album released last year.

“The Journey is the appropriate title for this project,” McClurkin tells Billboard. “Along this journey, God has never ceased to amaze me, and the song ‘I Need You’ was a cry from my heart. I’m overjoyed that it’s reached this success.”

Listen to ‘I Need You’ Here.

Additional Reporting by BillBoard.

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