Kirk Franklin Just Made History Again — His 15th No. 1 Gospel Album Extends His Own Record
Kirk Franklin just added another line to a résumé no one else in gospel music can touch. The 20-time Grammy winner’s new double album, “I Am What I Am,” has hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart — his 15th career No. 1 on the chart, extending Billboard’s record for the most No. 1 albums in the chart’s history. The Music Universe
The album is doing damage across the digital charts too: No. 1 on Apple Music’s Christian Albums chart, No. 5 on iTunes’ Christian Albums chart and No. 8 on Luminate’s Top Digital Album Sales chart. Released October 30 via Uptown Records, “I Am What I Am” is a double-disc project — one side recorded in the studio, the other captured live in church with a choir, a band and a live audience. She Is Sincerely B
It’s Franklin’s first double album in a 33-year career, and the guest list tells you why it’s crossing over: Jelly Roll, GloRilla and Davido all appear on the studio side. The rollout already made history before the album even dropped — “This Time,” his single with GloRilla, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart in October, giving Franklin a record 10th No. 1 on that chart, the first artist ever to reach double digits.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons — Kirk Franklin at JoyFest 2017.