(November 12, 2026 - New York, NY) — Twenty time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer and music icon Kirk Franklin has reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart with his latest double album, I Am What I Am. The achievement marks Franklin’s 15th career No. 1 on the chart, extending Billboard’s record for the most No. 1 albums in the chart’s history.
The album is also performing across digital charts, reaching No. 1 on Apple Music’s Christian Albums chart, No. 5 on iTunes’ Christian Albums chart and No. 8 on Luminate’s Top Digital Album Sales chart.
Released October 30 via Uptown Records, I Am What I Am is a double-disc project featuring a studio side and a live side. Across 14 tracks, Franklin brings together the choir-driven gospel sound that first captivated audiences with a boundary-pushing mix of gospel, hip-hop, R&B and Afrobeats. The album features Jelly Roll, GloRilla, Davido, Tobe Nwigwe, Karen Clark Sheard and Tim Rogers. The Associated Press described I Am What I Am as “among the most introspective works from Franklin,” noting that he “is not a traditional lead vocalist, but mainly a songwriter, producer and musician.” Newsweek also wrote, “the artist has chosen an unwavering posture of self-acceptance.”
Kirk Franklin recently released the expanded version of I Am What I Am, featuring “This Time (We Gone Be)” and “This Time (Remix)” featuring Belly Gang Kushington. The remix adds a verse from the rising hip-hop star, continuing Franklin’s mission to bridge generations and genres through messages of hope and faith. On the track, Belly Gang raps, “Every last time I pick up the phone and call on the Lord, he fall through.” The remix builds on the original “This Time,” featuring GloRilla, which pairs Franklin’s high-energy gospel sound with a chantable chorus and GloRilla’s distinctive bars.
Elsewhere on the album, the focus track, “Hope In You,” features Afrobeats superstar Davido. Kirk initially preceded, I Am What I Am with “Thank You For Everything,” featuring gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters, which has since become the fastest growing record at Gospel radio. Kirk also performed the song at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards for its live television debut, while the accompanying video made its broadcast debut on BET Her. Watch the “Thank You For Everything” music video HERE. Listen HERE.
Earlier this year, Variety broke the news that Kirk locked down a partnership with Uptown Records in conjunction with his own Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and TRIBL Music Group.
Visit KirkFranklin.com, follow Kirk Franklin on Instagram using the handle @KirkFranklin; Tik Tok @TheKirkFranklin; Facebook at KirkFranklin; and YouTube.
I Am What I Am - Tracklisting
01. Free Me Tonight (feat. Jelly Roll)
02. This Time (feat. Glorilla)
03. Hope In You (with Davido)
04. It Gets Better (with Tobe Nwigwe)
05. Able
06. Do It Again
07. Stay
08. Someday (Live)
09. It Is Well (Live)
10. Welcome In (Live)
11. Thank You For Everything (Live) (with Karen Clark Sheard)
12. Holy (Live)
13. Beautiful Thorns (Live)
14. Time (Live) (with Tim Rogers)