Los Angeles, CA, United States (CNS) - Susan Boyle leads the Billboard 200 albums chart for a second week with “The Gift,” while eight albums debut inside the top 10 this week, including the debut EP from 10-year-old Jackie Evancho. “The Gift,” which features Boyle covering Christmas classics like “The First Noel” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” actually made a rare second-week increase, selling 335,000 copies this week. Boyle debuted last week with 318,000 copies.
In second place is another holiday album, this time from 10-year-old opera prodigy Jackie Evancho. The “America’s Got Talent” runner-up and Susan Boyle labelmate released her first disc, a 4-track CD/DVD titled “O Holy Night,” which sold 239,000 copies its first week.
Rihanna follows in the #3 spot with the debut of her latest album, “Loud,” selling 207,000 copies. It’s the biggest one-week sales yet for Rihanna. “Loud,” featuring the #1 single “Only Girl (In the World),” is her fifth top 10 album and her first since last year’s “Rated R.”
Josh Groban follows at #4 with “Illuminations,” his latest album and first since the multi-platinum “Noel,” debuting with 191,000 copies. Kid Rock debuts at #5 with his latest album, “Born Free,” selling 189,000 copies with no thanks to iTunes (he has no deal with the #1 digital outlet but does with Amazon MP3).
Rascal Flatts make their debut on Big Machine, home of Taylor Swift, with “Nothing Like This” at #7 this week. Selling 165,000 copies this week, Rascal Flatts earn their seventh top 10 album. Keith Urban follows closely with his latest, “Get Closer,” at #7 with 162,000 copies. It’s his fourth top 10 album and his first since last year’s “Defying Gravity.”
The third holiday album in the top 10 this week, the cast of Glee’s “Glee: The Christmas Album,” featuring their takes on songs like “We Need a Little Christmas” and “Angels We Have Heard on High,” debuts at #8, selling 161,000 copies.
Taylor Swift is at #9 this week with “Speak Now,” which moves down seven spots to #9 this week, selling 146,000 copies. Nelly is the last top 10 debut this week with his latest album, “5.0,” which features the hit single “Just a Dream.” Nelly’s “5.0,” his sixth top 10 album, moves 63,000 copies its first week.
Billboard Top 200 Albums Week Ending December 4th, 2010:
1. The Gift, Susan Boyle
2. O Holy Night, Jackie Evancho
3. Loud, Rihanna
4. Illuminations, Josh Groban
5. Born Free, Kid Rock
6. Nothing Like This, Rascal Flatts
7. Get Closer, Keith Urban
8. Glee: The Christmas Album, Glee Cast
9. Speak Now, Taylor Swift
10. 5.0, Nelly
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