Tasha Cobbs Leonard notches her seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart as “Burdens Down” rises to the top of the survey dated June 15. It increased by 5% in plays May 31-June 6, according to Luminate.
“Burdens Down,” which was authored solely by Cobbs Leonard and produced by her husband, Kenneth Leonard, is from her LP Hymns. The set opened at its No. 3 high on Top Gospel Albums in October 2022, becoming the Atlanta native’s seventh of eight top 10s. Itwas recorded live in Chicago earlier that year.
“It is always an honor to write, produce and release musical tools that help to inspire others,” Cobbs Leonard says. “I am committed to spreading the good news by all means.”
“Burdens Down” is Cobbs Leonard’s fifth consecutive Gospel Airplay No. 1, following “The Moment,” which led for two frames starting in May 2023; “Gotta Believe” (one week, March 2022); “In Spite of Me” (one week, June 2021); and “You Know My Name (Live)” (one week, October 2019).
Cobbs Leonard previously topped Gospel Airplay as featured on Kirk Franklin’s “My World Needs You” (also featuring Sarah Reeves and Tamela Mann), a two-week leader in July 2017, and with her debut hit, “Break Every Chain,” for seven weeks beginning in June 2013.
The singer-songwriter ties Jekalyn Carr, Todd Dulaney and Marvin Sapp for the fourth-most No. 1s since Gospel Airplay began in March 2005. Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann lead with 10 each, followed by James Fortune and FIYA (nine).
Cobbs Leonard’s active streak of five Gospel Airplay leaders is the longest among women, followed by Tamela Mann’s four. Among all acts, Dulaney, Jonathan McReynolds and Pastor Mike Jr. have the longest active runs (six each, with Pastor Mike Jr.’s the best from the start of a career in the chart’s history).
‘Exile’ Enters at No. 1
Crowder banks his fourth leader on Top Christian Albums, all of which have opened at the summit, with The Exile. The 12-song set, released May 31, earned 11,000 equivalent album units in the U.S., with 8,000 in album sales, through June 6.
Crowder, from Texarkana, Texas, previously opened at No. 1 on Top Christian Albums with Milk & Honey in June 2021; American Prodigal in October 2016; and Neon Steeple in June 2014.
“Grave Robber,” the new set’s lead single, ruled Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay for two frames each in May, becoming Crowder’s fifth and third No. 1, respectively. On the multimetric Hot Christian Songs chart, the track reached No. 8 in April, marking his 10th top 10.
