Kirk Franklin Debuts at #1 with "Love Theory"

By Timothy Yap Feb 07, 2019 01:11 AM EST

Twelve-time GRAMMY® winning artist, songwriter and producer, Kirk Franklin's new single, "Love Theory" debuts at Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart at #1 this week. "Love Theory" is also Franklin's seventh No. 1 single and the second song of his to debut at #1. Franklin first entered at the top spot in September 2015 with "Wanna Be Happy?," which ruled for 45 weeks, the second-longest-leading hit in the chart's history (after Marvin Sapp's "Never Would Have Made It"; 46 weeks, 2007-08).

For more than twenty-five years Kirk Franklin has been a trailblazer, writing, producing and performing uplifting music which is loved by Christian and secular audiences alike. His body of work has garnered twelve GRAMMY® Awards, 43 Stellar Awards, nine NAACP Image Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three BET Awards, and an American Music Award, among other honors.

Since the release of his last album, the GRAMMY® Award-winning Losing My Religion, in 2015, Franklin has been busy touring, cultivating talent through his record label, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, and collaborating with a diverse array of other artists including, Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, Ledisi, Mandisa, Marvin Sapp, Tamela Mann and Tori Kelly. In 2018, he produced Kelly's entire Hiding Place album, for which he recently received his 23rd GRAMMY® nomination. Franklin also launched the Exodus Music & Arts Festival in partnership with Live Nation Urban last year. And he will host and headline the 2nd annual Exodus Fest on May 26, 2019 in Irving, TX.

In addition to releasing "Love Theory" and finishing up his forthcoming, thirteenth studio album, Franklin will perform on the 20th Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, airing on BET on February 2, 2019, and host the 34thAnnual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on March 29, 2019.