Matthew West Notches His 13th No. 1 on Christian Airplay Chart With ‘Don’t Stop Praying’

Matthew West banks his 13th leader on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart as “Don’t Stop Praying” rises to the top of the tally dated July 20.

During the July 5-11 tracking frame, the song advanced by 1% to 6.7 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.

With his newest Christian Airplay leader, West ties TobyMac for the most No. 1s among soloists on the 2003-launched ranking. Jeremy Camp follows with 12 chart-toppers. Among all acts, West and TobyMac trail only MercyMe (19) and For King & Country (14).

“Don’t Stop Praying” becomes West’s first Christian Airplay leader since “Me on Your Mind” dominated for five weeks beginning in July 2022. In between, he reached the top 10 with “My Story Your Glory” (No. 6, April 2023); he boasts 26 top 10s, the sixth-most in the chart’s history.

The 47-year-old West, from Downers Grove, Ill., is celebrating his 20th anniversary on Billboard charts this year. He first hit No. 1 on Christian Airplay with “More,” for five weeks beginning in March 2004.

Norful Nets Fourth Leader

Smokie Norful scores his fourth No. 1 on the Gospel Airplay chart with “In My Name.” The single, which he co-authored, increased by 4% in plays during the tracking week.

Norful, who is based in the Chicago area, follows “I Still Have You,” which hit No. 2 on the chart in February. Before that, he led as featured on Todd Dulaney’s “Satisfied” for a week in September 2022, and with “Um Good” for 13 weeks starting in January 2007, and “I Understand” for three frames beginning in March 2005.