Bri Babineaux earns her second No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart as “I Will Wait” rises from No. 3 to the top of the chart dated Feb. 17. In the Feb. 2-8 tracking week, the song advanced by 7% in plays on over 30 reporting stations in the format, according to Luminate.
“I Will Wait” was authored by Makeba R. Woods, who also co-produced it with Kayton Bassier, David “Ali” Parilla and Makeba Riddick-Woods.
“I’m extremely happy and grateful to God to have a second Billboard No. 1,” Babineaux tells Billboard.
As for her R&B-flavored new Gospel Airplay No. 1, she says, “I was very nervous about releasing ‘I Will Wait’ because it was completely different from the worship songs I’ve released in the past. To my surprise, the people loved it and I’m excited for everyone to hear what’s coming next.”
Babineaux logs her second Gospel Airplay leader in succession. “I Will Wait” follows “He’s My Rock,” which led for a week in August 2021. Her first of five entries, “I’ll Be the One,” hit No. 6 in May 2016, becoming her first of three top 10s. “Jacob’s Song” and “Baptize Us Again” followed, reaching No. 20 in December 2016 and No. 25 in March 2020, respectively.
The 29-year-old Babineaux, who was born in Hawaii and raised in Lafayette, La., is currently finishing her next studio album, expected later this year.
Musing about her musical roots growing up, Babineaux says, “I never thought that singing in a living room would open so many doors for me.”