NEEDTOBREATHE, PJ Morton & Jekalyn Carr Rule Religious Charts

NEEDTOBREATHE notches its fourth No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Christian Albums chart, as Out of Body blasts in atop the Sept. 12-dated survey.

In its first week, ending Sept. 3, the set earned 23,000 equivalent album units, with 17,000 in album sales, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.

The LP also opens at No. 2 on Top Rock Albums, where it’s the band’s sixth top 10.

NEEDTOBREATHE previously ruled Top Christian Albums with Hard Love (2016), Rivers in the Wasteland (2014) and The Reckoning (2011). All four of the group’s leaders have debuted at No. 1.

Top ‘Gospel’ Album: PJ Morton, a keyboardist and vocalist in Maroon 5, scores his first Top Gospel Albums No. 1, as Gospel According to PJ enters at the pinnacle with 3,000 units.

The set is the first entry on the chart for Morton, who became a member of Maroon 5 in 2012. It sports collaborations with format stalwarts including Yolanda Adams, The Clark Sisters, Tasha Cobbs, Mary Mary and J Moss.

Lead single “All in His Plan,” featuring Le’Andria Johnson and Mary Mary, flew 6-1 on the Gospel Airplay chart dated Sept. 5, becoming Morton’s first leader.

Carr Ride: Morton’s “Plan” gives way to Jekalyn Carr’s “Changing Your Story” atop Gospel Airplay, as the latter lifts 2-1.

Carr achieves her fourth Gospel Airplay No. 1, after “It’s Yours,” which reigned for nine weeks beginning in February 2019; “You Will Win” (six, 2018); and “You’re Bigger” (four, 2016).

With four Gospel Airplay leaders, Carr boasts the second-most among women, after Tamela Mann with six. Kirk Franklin leads all acts with seven No. 1s since the chart launched in 2005.