Lauren Daigle Returns to No. 1 on Top Christian Albums: ‘I’ve Stored Up This Record in My Heart for Quite Some Time’

Singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart (dated Sept. 16) with her self-titled set, now available as a deluxe version that adds 13 tracks to the original 10-song album.

Lauren Daigle arrived atop the survey on the list dated May 27 with 25,000 equivalent album units, becoming her fourth leader. After the deluxe edition was released Sept. 8, the set (with both versions combined into one chart listing) rebounds 5-1 for its second week on top. It earned 13,000 equivalent album units (up 388%), with 8,000 in album sales, Sept. 8-14, according to Luminate. On the all-genre Billboard 200, it re-enters at No. 79, after it opened at its No. 21 high in May.

The full LP, which pairs Daigle with producer Mike Elizondo for the first time, is her first through Atlantic Records, with which her longtime label, Centricity, formed a partnership in January 2022.

“It took every ounce of me not to explode the secret of a second half,” Daigle tells Billboard.  “I’ve treasured and stored up this record in my heart for quite some time. I had the privilege of creating with Mike Elizondo and a host of incredibly talented writers who made these songs come to life. Since May, the team has helped pave a way for this music to be heard and I am deeply grateful that people listened. I always say that moments like this take a village. Hats off to all.  Keep sharing the love and the music … it’s what makes this music world go around!”

Daigle had last released new music with Look Up Child, which opened at the Top Christian Albums apex in September 2018 and proceeded to ring up a record 102 frames at No. 1. It was bolstered by the crossover smash “You Say,” which dominated the streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Christian Songs chart for an also unprecedented 132 weeks starting in July 2018.

The first single from Daigle’s eponymous LP, “Thank God I Do,” rules Hot Christian Songs survey for a 19th week, having become her sixth leader in May. It tallied 6.1 million in all-format airplay, 2.2 million streams and 1,000 downloads sold during the tracking week. It also leads Christian Digital Song Sales for a 23rd week. It topped Christian Airplay for a week in July, giving the Lafayette, La., native her fifth chart-topper (and reached the top 15 on both Adult Contemporary and Adult Pop Airplay).

The LP’s sophomore single, “These Are the Days,” pushes 24-23 for a new high on Christian Airplay (987,000, up 38%). On Hot Christian Songs, it hops 43-29, after hitting No. 21 in May.