Kirk Franklin's New Single "Wanna Be Happy" Breaks Record for Gospel Music

Gospel music producer, singer, songwriter and veteran Kirk Franklin is breaking records with his first song in four years "Wanna Be Happy" which is the best first-week digital single in the history of gospel sales. His latest single, "Wanna Be Happy" has moved 11,882 digital units which is a record for gospel music.

"This is great news for both Kirk Franklin and the entire gospel genre," Mark Michel, vice president of sales for RCA Inspiration, said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "We haven't seen first week numbers like this in gospel since his last record four years ago. We're all very excited about this single and his forthcoming album."

Franklin's "Wanna Be Happy" from his upcoming 11th studio album, which is scheduled for a November release, is currently No. 1 on the Gospel Digital Songs and Hot Gospel Songs charts. Although his last chart topping single "I Smile" had first week sales of 11,008 units, Franklin managed to beat his own record with "Wanna Be Happy."

"Love u family. I pray God has loaned me music that will speak to where you are in your life right now," Franklin tweeted. "Let Him drive, if you wanna be happy."

Franklin is also the host and co-executive producer of the BET original series Sunday Best and the musical co-host of GSN's The American Bible Challenge with Jeff Foxworthy.  Franklin's eleventh studio album called Hello Fear was released on March 22, 2011. The album features Marvin Sapp, Mali Music, Marvin Winans, John P. Kee and Rance Allen. The first single off the album is "I Smile", which peaked at No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first appearance on that chart in six years.

In 2013, Franklin started his own record label imprint, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, which is in association with RCA Records, and he has signed acts such as The Walls Group and artists like Tasha Page-Lockhart. These two artists received ten Stellar Award nominations at the 30th Stellar Awards. The Walls Group won seven awards, while Page-Lockhart won three of her own, and Franklin won two more for his label. 

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