Tori Kelly & Avril Lavigne Segue From Pop to Gospel, Christian Charts

Kelly’s “Hiding Place” launches at No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums & Lavigne’s “Head Above Water” debuts within the Hot Christian Songs high 5.

Tori Kelly's first faith-based album, Hiding Place, arrives as her first No. 1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart (dated Sept. 29) with 15,000 equal album items earned within the week ending Sept. 20, in line with Nielsen Music.

The LP is Kelly's second, following 2015's pop launch Unbreakable Smile. She co-wrote 4 of the brand new album's tracks with gospel music stalwart Kirk Franklin, who additionally co-produced the set.

"This album is so near my coronary heart and an enormous dream of mine," Kelly tells Billboard. "Hearing the responses to Hiding Place, and the way it's touching individuals's lives, has moved me a lot. My hope is that folks proceed to be inspired and really feel beloved after they hear it."

All eight songs on the set chart on the airplay, streaming and sales-based Hot Gospel Songs survey, led by "Never Alone," that includes Franklin (6-2). As "Psalm 42" debuts at No. three and "Help Us to Love," that includes The Hamiltones, surges 18-Four, Kelly joins Lecrae (in 2014) as the one artists ever to boast three of the chart's high 5 concurrently.

A fellow pop singer-songwriter segues to the non secular charts, as Avril Lavigne's "Head Above Water" launches at No. 5 on Hot Christian Songs, fueled by 10,000 first-week downloads offered, good for a No. 2 begin on Christian Digital Song Sales. Co-written by Lavigne with Travis Clarke and Stephan Moccio, the music recounts Lavigne's battle with Lyme illness.

Lavigne makes her first go to to the Christian charts after banking 19 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 since 2002, together with 5 high 10s, led by 2007's pop-punk No. 1 traditional "Girlfriend."