Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” blew onto the U.S. album chart at No. 1 this week, easily doubling the numbers of No. 2 debutante, Norah Jones.
“American Idol” alum Underwood’s Sony Nashville album, which led six new titles into the top 10, arrived at the top with a 267,000-copy debut week, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ending May 6.
It was the third of the country singer’s four studio albums to reach the chart pinnacle; only her 2005 debut, “Some Hearts,” failed to turn the trick, peaking at No. 2.
Jones’ “Little Broken Hearts” took the “place” position with out-of-the-box sales of 110,000. Singer’s debut position bests the No. 3 bow of her 2009 collection “The Fall,” but failed to reach the apex, a feat performed by her first three studio albums in 2002-07.
The reliable “Now That’s What I Call Music” hits franchise sailed in at No. 3 with a 95,000-unit tally. Distributed by Capitol, latest package contains bestselling singles by Madonna, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Chris Brown and others.
Only familiar title in the week’s top five is Adele’s “21” (Columbia). Finally showing some signs of flagging, the long-running hit sold 77,000 in its 63rd chart week, good for No. 4. It should top the domestic 9 million mark next week.
Rapper B.o.B.’s sophomore collection “Strange Clouds” (Atlantic) entered at No. 5, shifting 76,000. Performance is a far cry from his previous personal best: His 2010 debut set “B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray” entered at No. 1.
Lionel Richie’s country set “Tuskegee” (Mercury Nashville) slid three rungs to No. 6 with 64,000 sold (off 18%). Last week’s No. 1 album, rocker Jack White’s “Blunderbuss” (Third Man/Columbia), dropped six posts to No. 7, losing 60% to sell 56,000. Boy band One Direction’s “Up All Night” (Columbia) also gave up ground, falling four positions to No. 8 behind sales of 45,000 (down 10%).
NBC’s musical drama “Smash” has spawned a chart hit: The Columbia set “The Music of Smash,” featuring performances by series stars Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty, entered at No. 9 with 39,000 sold.
Wrapping the top 10, dependable ghoul Marilyn Manson’s “Born Villain” (Downtown), which took No. 10 with a 28,000-unit week. Hard rocker’s last release, 2009’s “The High End of Low,” peaked at No. 4.
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