After a remarkable two-year journey, Brandon Lake‘s powerful worship anthem “Gratitude” has finally claimed the top position on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart on February 4, 2023, marking Lake’s first No. 1 as a lead artist on this prestigious ranking.
The song’s ascent to the summit culminates a patient climb that began with its debut at No. 45 in February 2021, demonstrating unusual longevity in an industry often defined by rapid rises and falls.
Music industry analysts point to a vital moment in the song’s trajectory: Lake’s memorable performance of “Gratitude” during “The Chosen” Christmas Special in 2021. This emotionally charged rendition, set against the intimate backdrop of the hit series’ production, sparked renewed interest in the track and triggered significant streaming spikes.
Lake’s performance on “The Chosen” Christmas Special created a turning point, catapulting the song to new audiences and streaming heights.
The performance, subsequently shared widely across YouTube and social platforms, created a viral moment that connected deeply with viewers beyond Lake’s established audience.
The song’s sustained momentum was carefully nurtured through a strategic release of multiple video formats. Beginning with the official audio on Bethel Music’s YouTube channel in August 2020, Lake’s team followed with an acoustic performance video in September 2020, a live worship version in February 2021, and a sing-along lyric video for the radio edit in June 2022.
This approach kept the song fresh across various platforms while appealing to different listener preferences.
“Gratitude” further benefited from Lake’s growing prominence in the Christian music community, including his nomination for Song of the Year at the 2023 GMA Dove Awards. The song eventually won the Worship Recorded Song of the Year award, cementing its impact on the Christian music landscape.
The track’s rise on the Christian Airplay chart, where it debuted at No. 37 in July 2022, complemented its digital performance with significant airplay gains.
Grassroots support also proved essential, as the song became a staple in church worship services nationwide, with numerous cover versions further extending its reach and reinforcing its message of thankfulness amidst life’s challenges.
Lake’s success exemplifies how independent artists can achieve remarkable milestones when they focus on personal branding while consistently releasing quality music that resonates with their audience.
The success of “Gratitude” also demonstrates how artists can leverage sync deals to increase visibility and generate substantial revenue by having their music featured in popular visual media.
Lake continued his success streak with “Gratitude” as part of his impressive run of worship song accolades, which would later include his third consecutive Worship Song of the Year win at the 2025 K-LOVE Fan Awards.
