3 Amazing Artists Whose Debut Albums Peaked at No. 1

Success in an artistic field is not entirely defined by the audience. Some artists define success as merely getting the confidence to share their music with the world. Success simply varies per artist, but one common definition of success is, of course, commercial success via No. 1 rankings.

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Commercial success is defined by a great deal of factors. However, one factor that is a large indicator is chart rankings. That being so, when artists are chasing international fame and grand fortune, it seems the charts, in part, help them achieve that goal. Achieving chart success can take years and several tries. Though that was not the case for these three artists, as they became commercial successes in one try, given that their debut albums peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Having a No. 1 album is impressive as is, but to do it on one’s first try, now, that is rare air only a few can proudly breathe.

‘Whitney Houston’ by Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston‘s career is primarily remembered by her mega hit song, “I Will Always Love You”. However, Houston was topping charts far before that single was released in 1992. Matter of fact, Houston solidified herself as a major commercial player with the release of her self-titled debut album in 1985.

Following the release of her self-titled debut album, Houston went on to become a household name in just a matter of weeks. Specifically, the album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the top spot for 14 non-consecutive weeks. It was the best-selling album of 1986, and in 2023, it was certified 14x Platinum by the RIAA.

‘Dangerously In Love’ by Beyoncé

Ever since the release of her debut solo album, Dangerously In Love, in 2003, Beyoncé has remained one of the most popular people on the planet. Impressively, she acquired that unofficial title in a short period of time, as her debut album launched her into superstardom rather quickly.

Released in 2003, Dangerously In Love debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. During its first week, Beyoncé’s debut album sold a whopping 317,000 copies. It didn’t just achieve multi-platinum status in the United States, but also in Australia and the United Kingdom. Needless to say, Beyoncé was never a princess. Instead, she has always been a queen.

‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?‘ by Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish is unarguably one of the most popular artists of the 21st century. Impressively, Eilish garnered this colloquial accolade at just 17 years old when she released her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Released in 2019, Eilish rose to the top of the charts and solidified herself as a major commercial force.

Following its release, Eilish’s album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It remained at the top spot for weeks and consequently became the best-performing album of the year. As of July 11, 2025, Eilish’s album has impressively surpassed 12.7 billion streams on Spotify.

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