'Idol' alums Mandisa and Jasmine Murray shine in Christian Airplay Chart's Top 10


With American Idol set to return to primetime TV on ABC (reportedly in 2018), after 15 seasons on Fox between 2002 and 2016, two alums scale the top 10 on Billboard's Christian Airplay chart (dated May 27).

Mandisa reaches the region for the first time since 2014, as "Unfinished," the lead single from her fifth studio full-length Out of the Dark (May 19), jumps 12-8. The song increases 13 percent to 7 million audience impressions in the week ending May 14, according to Nielsen Music.

Mandisa, who placed ninth on Idol's 2006 season, banks her 11th Christian Airplay top 10, passing Francesca Battistelli for the most among women. Among all artists, Chris Tomlin leads with 26 top 10s.

Also on Christian Airplay, Jasmine Murray's debut single "Fearless" returns to the top 10 at a new peak (11-9; 7 million, up 10 percent). Murray reached the top 13 on Idol in 2009 and is working on her first album.

On the multi-metric Hot Christian Songs chart, Tauren Wells' "Hills and Valleys" rolls 11-8, becoming his first top 10. The track bullets at No. 3 on Christian Digital Songs (4,000 sold, up 20 percent) and No. 13 on Christian Airplay (5 million in audience, up 10 percent).

Meanwhile, Gospel Airplay welcomes two new top 10s. Troy Sneed snares his fifth top 10 as "Kept by His Grace" rises 12-8 (up 14 percent in plays) and Bryan Popin earns his first as "I Got Out" bumps 11-10 (up 7 percent).

RELATED: Where are the Season 4 "American Idol" finalists now?


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