Not only did seven-time Grammy-winning country superstar, Carrie Underwood, hit #2 on the Billboard 200 chart this week, with her latest Storyteller album, she also broke a record, becoming the only artist in the 51 year history of Billboard’s Top Country Album chart to have each of her first six albums debut at #1. Storyteller sold 177,000 equivalent album units (traditional album sales, track equivalent sales and streaming equivalent albums combined), with pure sales in excess of 164,000, according to Nielsen Music.
Carrie joins Reba, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton as the female entertainers with the most albums to debut at #1 on the Billboard Country Album chart. Storyteller also reached #1 on Apple Music’s Top Albums chart.
The 13-song 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville album Storyteller released October 23, and features producers Jay Joyce, Mark Bright and Zach Crowell. This release marks the highest-selling debut by a female country artist in the past 12 months; in fact, the next highest-selling debut during this period was Carrie’s Greatest Hits: Decade #1 which released on December 9, 2014. The hits package sold 94,000 in its first week, and remains Billboard’s best-selling hits collection of this year.
In addition to Greatest Hits: Decade #1 and Storyteller, Carrie’s six-album discography includes Some Hearts (November 15, 2005), Carnival Ride (October 23, 2007), Play On (November 2, 2009) and Blown Away (May 1, 2012).
Underwood recently announced the launch of The Storyteller Tour – Stories in the Round, which will hit the road this January, her first tour “in the round.” With the stage in the middle of the arena floor, the 360-degree setting will allow fans on all sides of the arena to get a very intimate and unique concert experience. Tickets go on-sale this Friday, November 6, at 10 AM local time at www.aeglive.com. However, fans who buy Carrie’s new album, Storyteller, through her online store, www.carrieunderwood.fm, will receive a code to access the tour pre-sale that’s going on now.
Rising to #4 on Billboard and Country Aircheck’s airplay charts today, “Smoke Break” is the lead single from Storyteller. The song was co-written by Carrie, Hillary Lindsey, and Chris DeStefano, and produced by Jay Joyce.
The music video of “Smoke Break,” #1 for a sixth week on GAC’s fan-voted Top Twenty Countdown, can be purchased here.
This Wednesday, November 4, Underwood will perform “Smoke Break” on The 49th Annual CMA Awards as she co-hosts Country Music’s Biggest Night™ with Brad Paisley for an eighth consecutive year. The 49th Annual CMA Awards airs live 8-11 PM/ET, November 4, on ABC Television.
