American Songwriter Reads The Charts: Make Way For Reba

Videos by American Songwriter

For the second time in her illustrious career, Reba McEntire has topped the Billboard 200 (dislodging another country icon, last week’s chart champion George Strait.) McEntire last found herself in the top slot in 2007 with the star-studded album Duets. Her latest record, Keep On Loving You, does away with the guest stars, but the songs, including the Top 10 hit “Strange,” were written by some of Nashville’s best and brightest. Keep On Loving You is the highest debut from a female country artist for 2009, and the 6th overall highest country debut of the year.

Reba’s new LP also debuted at No. 1 on the Top Country Album chart, helping her surpass Loretta Lynn as the female artist with the most No. 1 Country Albums.

Hey, the ’90s called and they want their chart positions back. Pop rockers Third Eye Blind come in at No. 3 this week with Ursa Major, the band’s first-ever top 10 album. According to Billboard, digital downloads accounted for 52% of the record’s sales. Third Eye Blind are best known for hits like 1997’s “Semi-Charmed Life.”

And Kings of Leon continue their metamorphosis into pop stars — their fourth album, Only By Night, released all the way back in September 2008, hit #4, selling another 45,000 copies. Kings Of Leon mania continues! According to drummer Nathan Followill, the Nashville band have a live DVD and a remix album, featuring fans like Justin Timberlake, Linkin Park, and Pharrell, in their immediate future.

The skinny:

According to Billboard, overall album sales this chart week (ending August 23) reached 5.70 million units, down 3.1% compared to last week, and down 18.4% compared to the same week last year. Year to date album sales hit 225.3 million, down 14.5% compared to this time last year.

The top ten albums in the country this week:

1. Keep On Loving You – Reba McEntire
2. Twang – George Strait
3. Ursa Major – Third Eye Blind
4. Only By The Night – Kings of Leon
5. The E.N.D. – The Black Eyed Peas
6. Hot August Night/NYC – Neil Diamond
7. Hannah Montana: The Movie
8. Fearless – Taylor Swift
9. Leave This Town – Daughtry
10. Now 31 – Various Artists