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HOLY TRINITY: A triad of American Idol alums are representing the Christian genre well on the Billboard charts, and all three are enjoying upward movement this week.
Going in chronological order of when they competed on the Fox series, let’s start with season five’s Mandisa, who is experiencing a new surge of success with her single “Overcomer,” which moves up 19 to 17 in its 54th week on the Christian Digital Songs chart. A former No. 1 on this list, “Overcomer” is in week two of its second year on this survey, so it’s remarkable that it is moving up the chart rather than going down or simply disappearing off the list.
The follow-up to “Overcomer” is also doing well. “Back to You” travels 17 to 13 on Christian Soft AC, reaching a new peak position in its fourth week on this chart.
Moving ahead to season eight, third-place finalist Danny Gokey is off to a great start in a new phase of his career, as he switches from country to Christian with the release of his album, Hope in Front of Me. The title song gets a big boost on Christian Airplay, where it breaks into the top 10 by leaping from 11 to 6, making the greatest gain of any song on the chart over the previous week.
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“Hope” is also up 29 to 26 on Christian Hot AC and 12 to 11 on Christian Adult Contemporary. Last week the tune crossed over to the main Adult Contemporary survey and this week “Hope” rises 29 to 28 on that tally. “Hope” is also highly-ranked on Christian Digital Songs, where it holds at No. 7.
As for season 11’s Colton Dixon, he comes on strong this week with his current single and the brand-new follow-up. Both are from his forthcoming sophomore album, Anchor, scheduled for an Aug. 19 release. “More of You,” the set’s first single, climbs 28 to 23 on Christian Adult Contemporary, 29 to 26 on Christian Hot AC, 29 to 23 on Christian Digital Songs and 26 to 25 on Christian Airplay. While the album won’t be out for three weeks, the second single is already available for sale. “Our Time Is Now” debuts at No. 33 on Christian Digital Songs.
There is another Idol who has been on the Christian Digital Songs chart for what seems like an eternity. Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” her first post-Idol single, issued in 2006, takes an eight-point hike this week, from 48 to 40. It is this recording’s 235th week on the list, or to put it another way, “Jesus” has been charting for five years, six months and one week. Underwood has another single on this survey: “How Great Thou Art” holds at No. 42 in its 151st week.
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FINER FEELINGS: Scotty McCreery’s “Feelin’ It” has been out for a number of weeks now. While it continues its chart run on Country Airplay (up 35 to 33) and Hot Country Songs (advancing 34 to 31), it also breaks new ground, debuting at No. 45 on Country Digital Songs. This is the second single from See You Tonight; the album marches 40 to 38 on Top Country Albums.
BITS AND PIECES: “First Love,” the second Jennifer Lopez single from A.K.A., jumps 29 to 22 on Hot Dance Club Play… Daughtry’s “Battleships” sails 34 to 32 on Adult Top 40… The Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood duet “Somethin’ Bad” is up 21 to 19 on Country Airplay, while spending a second week at No. 10 on Hot Country Song and standing pat at No. 3 on Country Streaming Songs… Phillip Phillips‘ “Raging Fire” remains in place at No. 15 on Adult Contemporary.
Twitter: @Idol_Worship
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