Billboard Gospel Charts Billboard initiated regularly published charts dedicated to gospel music in 1973 with what is now known as Top Gospel Albums. Hot Gospel Songs started in 2005 and Billboard also publishes the Gospel Streaming Songs, Gospel Airplay and Gospel Digital Song Sales charts. Top Gospel Albums measures the biggest gospel albums in the United States by equivalent album units, mixing streaming and sales data, and the Hot Gospel Songs chart blends streaming, radio airplay and sales data, with data for all rankings provided to Billboard by Luminate. Genre legends such as Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin and the Winans family, including BeBe & CeCe Winans, continue to make their marks decades after first charting. In addition, R&B acts have contributed to gospel’s rich tapestry, from early greats Aretha Franklin and Al Green to Whitney Houston, Mary Mary and newer artists who have crossed over such as GloRilla. In recent years, gospel has embraced Christian and gospel hybrid collaborations that have brought diversity to chart hits, from the likes of collectives Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music.