Carrie Underwood Claims Second No. 1 On Billboard 200

Carrie Underwood's "Play On" bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart this week, shifting 318,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

It's the country star and former "American Idol" champ's second album to top the Billboard 200, after her sophomore set "Carnival Ride" bowed in the penthouse with 527,000 in 2007. Underwood's debut effort, "Some Hearts," started at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2005 and at No. 1 on Top Country Albums with 315,000.

"Play On's" 318,000 sum is also the largest sales week for an album by a woman in 2009 and the second-best sales week for a country release. Among country efforts this year, only Rascal Flatts' "Unstoppable" netted a bigger week, when it started at No. 1 with 351,000.

Source: Billboard

CN says: Congrats, Carrie, on another job well done!!!

Breaking News: “Cowboy Casanova” Becomes Carrie Underwood’s 11th #1 Single!

The Fastest #1 of Her Career, “Cowboy Casanova” Is the First Blockbuster from Carrie’s New Album, Play On

Nashville, TN – Superstar Carrie Underwood earns the fastest #1 country single of her career - and 2009’s fastest chart-topper by a country female - as “Cowboy Casanova” sprints to the airplay chart summit in a mere 10 weeks. Written by Carrie, together with Mike Elizondo and Brett James, “Cowboy Casanova” becomes Carrie’s 11th #1 single and the first smash from her just-released Play On album.

The only American Idol winner ever to achieve 11 #1 hits, Underwood’s collection of chart-toppers began with the instant success of her post-American Idol single, “Inside Your Heaven,” which debuted atop Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in the summer of 2005. It was the first of five #1s to top the BDS or Mediabase charts from her 7x-Platinum debut, Some Hearts, with the others including the GRAMMY-winning “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats,” as well as “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” and “Wasted.”

Earlier this year, the four-time GRAMMY winner, ACM Entertainer of the Year, and three-time, reigning CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner became the first country artist in history ever to achieve 10 #1 singles on the strength of their first two albums when “I Told You So” became the fifth consecutive chart-topper from Carrie’s Carnival Ride. The album’s other #1s included “Just a Dream” and three hits Carrie co-wrote: “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” and “Last Name.”

In addition to its status as the #1 country airplay single in the nation, “Cowboy Casanova” is also the top country video, now #1 on CMT’s Top Twenty Countdown for the fifth consecutive week and scoring its third week atop GAC’s fan-voted countdown.

This evening, Carrie will be the subject of an interview and feature on the ABC special, In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville, airing at 10 PM ET. Tomorrow, she’ll perform and join Brad Paisley for the second year to co-host The 43rd Annual CMA Awards, airing live from Nashville (8-11 PM ET) on ABC.

Source: Sony Music Nashville

CN: WTG, Carrie!!!

Carrie Underwood On Track To Top Billboard 200

Carrie Underwood is on track to achieve her second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as her just-released "Play On" should debut atop the chart next week. Music industry prognosticators suggest the 19/Arista Nashville set could sell over 300,000 copies by week's end on Sunday (Nov. 8) night.

Underwood's last effort, 2007's "Carnival Ride," opened in the penthouse with 527,000 and has gone on to sell 2.98 million in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan. The new album's lead single, "Cowboy Casanova," moves up two slots to No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs tally and has so far peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

CN: Way to go, Carrie!!!