Country music artist Carrie Underwood and worship group Hillsong United topped the Christian music charts in 2014 with songs that affirmed the power of God, faith, and prayer.
According to national music chart Billboard, Hillsong's "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" opened the chart year at No. 1 and spent 45 straight weeks there. The song, which has won several Dove awards, also propelled Hillsong to the top of Billboard's Top Christian Artists category.
Written by Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm, "Oceans" has been dubbed "Worship Song of the Year" due to its beautiful melody and honest message of human frailty and reliance on God.
In October, Carrie Underwood's "Something in the Water" topped the chart--and is still there. The catchy country tune refers to the water of baptism and the life-changing power of conversion.
"It's really kind of a joyous uplifting song about changing your life for the better," Underwood told NBC's Today.
"And kind of having that 'ah-ha' moment, to waking up and your life being different from that moment forward."
Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae is number two on the charts, followed closely by the Newsboys, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, and NeedToBreathe.
Lecrae also scored the spot of the year's top male artist due to four top five hits on Hot Christian Songs from his fifth No. 1 album on the weekly Christian Albums chart, Anomaly.
"God has raised up lowly, kind of insignificant individuals to do miraculous and incredible things, the 34 year old artist told the Washington Post regarding his--and other Christian musician's--success.
"We're the Gideons, we're the Davids. Even Jesus Himself made Himself of no reputation. It's when you can link it back to God doing it, I think that's what He loves. He's not a megalomaniac, he's deserving of glory and honor, and to use individuals that demonstrate that it was him, and him alone, it accomplishes his mission, and that's success."
The No. 1 Christian Album of 2014 is Casting Crowns' Thrive, followed by the various artists compilation Wow Hits 2014 and Lecrae's Anomaly.
The year's top Christian Airplay hit is Phil Wickham's "This Is Amazing Grace," which had an impressive ten weeks atop the weekly Christian Airplay tally. Once again due to "Oceans," Hillsong is the No. 1 act on the Christian Airplay Artists chart,.
In the overall Christian Artists category, Unspoken is the top new artist. The band's breakthrough hit, "Start a Fire," peaked at No. 5 during a 34-week run on Hot Christian Songs.
