Shontelle Norman-Beatty Lands at No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart

Shontelle Norman-Beatty’s debut single “Jesus Will Fix It (Trouble in My Way)” reaches the summit of Billboard’s opens in a new windowGospel Airplay chart dated Sept. 4. In the tracking week ending Aug. 29, the song — which was written by Don Robey and Ira Tucker — increased by 10% in plays, according to MRC Data.

The Houston-based Norman-Beatty is working on her first full length, expected in early 2022.

“Having a No. 1 record is an amazing feeling,” Norman-Beatty, who began singing at age 2, tells Billboard. “The past few years have been challenging. From battling and overcoming the coronavirus to losing my mom and my brother, both to COVID-19, life has been difficult. Despite all the things that I have been through, God has been good to me.”

Norman-Beatty scores the second rookie No. 1 on Gospel Airplay within three weeks. On the chart dated Aug. 21, opens in a new windowMelvin Crispell, III reigned with “Wonderful Is Your Name.”

Until this week, the last time a woman and no accompanying artists topped Gospel Airplay in a first visit to the chart was in May 2020 when opens in a new windowNia Allen’s “Wait (2020)” led for a week.

SOURCE: opens in a new windowBillboard 

We are excited for Shontelle and her first number one Billboard single,” says Michael-Anthony Taylor, Chairman and CEO of DARE Records. “It has been a long time coming. The Norman legacy continues, and the best is yet to come.”

After a string of appearances during the Stellar Gospel Awards Weekend in Nashville, Norman-Beatty’s recently performed in her native hometown of Memphis at the iHeart WHAL-FM Hallelujah Summer Jam at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. In September, during the upcoming annual celebration of Gospel Heritage Month, Norman-Beatty will headline at Amber Shaw Entertainment Group’s Praise in the Parking Lot at The Silverlake Church, 1865 Cullen Blvd., Pearland, TX at 1:00 p.m., with more dates to announce in the coming weeks.

ABOUT SHONTELLE NORMAN-BEATTY
Born to a musical family, Shontelle Norman-Beatty has been singing since the age of 2. She sang gospel harmonies with her family including her siblings Shallen, Sharisse, and the late Shea Norman as The Normans, under the direction of her father, James Alen Norman. The family sang at their home church and other places of worship, astonishing churchgoers with their gorgeous harmonies.

Her résumé also includes performing as part of the world-renowned New Edwin Hawkins Singers, under the leadership of the late Edwin Hawkins. Before COVID, she occasionally toured with NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater, also a native of Memphis. She, along with her sister, Sharisse are featured background vocalists in Martin Shore’s documentary Take Me To The River, featuring multiple award-winning Blues recording artists William Bell, Otis Clay, and Bobby Rush. The film is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard.

Now living in Houston with her husband, Bishop Andre T. Beatty, and their blended family of five children, Shontelle Norman-Beatty is the First Lady of Kingdom Culture Center, where Bishop Beatty presides as senior pastor.