Ariana Grande Debut Album 'Yours Truly' Begins at No. 1 on Billboard 200: Tamar Braxton, Nine Inch Nails and John Legend Also Debut Strongly in Big Sales Week [VIDEOS]
It's a big week for "The Way" singer Ariana Grande. Her sparkling, pop-infused R&B album "Yours Truly" has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
According to Billboard, the debut album from the "Sam & Cat" star sold 138,000 copies in its first week, besting new releases from Tamar Braxton, Nine Inch Nails and John Legend.
Grande's impressive sales numbers were not only helped by her dedicated Arianators fanbase (who planned buy-outs for the record at local Best Buys and Walmarts) but also by a clever promotion from Grande and her manager Scooter Bruan. Fans who purchased the album during certain times will have the chance to see a special holiday concert from Grande and may even be able to meet the singer.
"Yours Truly" is the first debut album from a female solo artist to start at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since Ke$ha's first record, "Animal" in 2010.
As for the other records in the Billboard top 10, Toni Braxton's little sister and R&B singer Tamar Braxton's new album "Love & War" sold 114,000 copies, in what was a rather tight race for the No. 1 spot. Braxton still debuted strongly at No. 2.
Industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails' latest album "Hesitation Marks" debuted with 107,000 copies at No. 3, and John Legend rounded out the top four with yet another debut. His album "Love In the Future" sold 68,000 copies.
Two-week Billboard 200 topper Luke Bryan slipped to No. 5 this week with his album "Crash My Party." The top-selling country album moved 68,000 units in its fourth week. "Crash My Party" now totals 842,000 copies sold.
The top 10 albums of the week list is rounded out by: R&B singer Jaheim's "Appreciation Day" at No. 6 (58,000 copies), Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" at No. 7 (57,000 copies), Avenged Sevenfolds "Hail to the King" falling from No. 1 to No. 8 (42,000), Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" at No. 9 (38,000) and Imagine Dragons' "Night Visions" at No. 10 (35,000 copies).
Next week, new releases from Janelle Monae, Keith Urban and 2 Chainz will likely shake up the charts.