Tamela Mann ties Kirk Franklin with her 13th No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart, a record for a female artist with "Live Breathe Fight.
- April 26, 2026
AceShowbiz - Tamela Mann has achieved a significant milestone by securing her 13th No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart with her song "Live Breathe Fight," maintaining the top position for two consecutive weeks on March 28 and April 4. This feat ties her with Kirk Franklin for the most No. 1s on this chart, marking the highest number ever for a female artist and the joint highest overall.
Tamela Mann has now scored seven consecutive No. 1 hits, demonstrating remarkable consistency in gospel music radio airplay. She expressed her amazement at the achievement, saying, "Thirteen No. 1s on Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart - this is amazing. To be tied with my brother Kirk Franklin, both of us from Fort Worth, Texas, it's just incredible. I'm just as grateful now as I was for my first No. 1."
Mann first topped the chart in 2012 with "Take Me to the King," which held the No. 1 spot for 25 weeks. Since then, she has remained a prominent figure on the chart with other No. 1 hits including 2017’s "Change Me," which was number one for 14 weeks, 2016’s "God Provides," and her 2013 cover of MercyMe’s "I Can Only Imagine," both topping the chart for 13 weeks.
Kirk Franklin, who most recently reached No. 1 with "Do It Again" in November, shares this record with Mann. Other notable artists on the Gospel Airplay chart include James Fortune & FIYA and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, each with 10 No. 1s, followed by Jekalyn Carr with nine, and Zacardi Cortez with eight.
Tamela Mann credits the success of her latest No. 1 to the song’s meaningful connection with listeners. She explained, "What makes a gospel song work on radio today is the message. Speaking to what people are going through and encouraging them ... I really believe it's the words that connect and help songs become No. 1s."
Reflecting on her journey, Mann acknowledged the influence of gospel legends who inspired her, saying, "I think about the people who came before me - the Hawkins family, Andraé Crouch, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, the Clark Sisters. Those are the voices I grew up listening to and learning from."
