Idol Chartwatch, December 15: Idols Rule the Charts

It’s all about the albums this week! I started doing my tally and was amazed at how many Idol-related CDs I found on this weeks charts. I do believe 14 is the most ever – certainly the most since I took over this column in August 2005.

This week’s new entry is the Dreamgirls soundtrack featuring Jennifer Hudson. The album sold 104,000+ copies, and debuted at #20 on the Billboard 200. It was #3 on the Digital Album Sales chart, and #2 on the Top Soundtracks list. The special collectors’ edition of this album charted at #132 on the Billboard 200.

Daughtry sold another 150,000 or so copies this week and is now well over 600,000 copies sold. The album was #7 on the Billboard 200, #9 on Top Internet Album sales, #5 on Digital Album sales, and #1 on the Top Rock list .

Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts sold another 120,000+ copies and moved to #10 on the Billboard 200. The album was #1 on the Country chart. Kellie Pickler's Small Town Girl moved up to #52 on the Billboard 200 and was #9 on the Country chart. Miranda Lambert’s Kerosene was #71 on the Country chart.

Here’s how the rest of the Idol-related albums charted this week:

• Clay’s A Thousand Different Ways was #119 on the Billboard 200. Merry Christmas with Love was #25 on the Holiday chart.
• Ruben's The Return was #182 on the Billboard 200 and #36 on the R&B/Hip-Hop list.
• Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose with a track featuring Jennifer Hudson (“The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be”) was #122 on the Billboard 200.
• Now That’s What I Call Music #22 (Now 22) featuring Kelly Clarkson’s “Walk Away,” along Nick Lachey’s “What’s Left of Me,” Teddy Geiger’s (from The New Partridge Family) “For You I will (Confidence),” Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day,” and K.T. Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” was #96 on the Billboard 200, and #6 on the Compilation chart.
• Andrea Bocelli’s Under Desert Sky featuring a duet with Katharine McPhee (“Can’t Help Falling in Love”) was #31 on the Billboard 200.
• Wow Gospel 2006, featuring George Huff’s “Brighter Day” was #14 on the Gospel listing.
• The Gospel featuring Tamyra Gray’s “Now Behold the Lamb” was #39 on the Gospel chart.
• Body + Soul Gospel featuring Ruben Studdard’s “I Need an Angel” was #37 on the Gospel chart.

This Week’s Idols’ Singles’ Charts

This week, Jennifer Hudson was nominated for a Golden Globe for best supporting actress for her role in Dreamgirls. She also saw her first single debut on the Hot 100. “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” entered the chart at #93.

Here’s how the rest of the Idols’ singles did this week.

• Kimberley Locke’s “Jingle Bells” shot to the top of the Adult Contemporary chart.
• Chris Daughtry’s “It’s Not Over” was #51 on the Hot 100, #37 on the Pop 100, #44 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, #32 on Hot Digital Tracks, and #35 on Hot Digital Sales.
• Fantasia’s “Hood Boy” was #28 on both the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart and the R&B Airplay Charts.
• Ruben’s single, “Change Me,” was #73 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. It was #22 on both the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Airplay Charts and #1 on the R&B Adult airplay list
• Carrie’s single, “Before He Cheats,” was #4 on the country chart, #24 on the Hot 100, #34 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, #34 on the Pop 100, #19 on Hot Digital Tracks, and #19 on Hot Digital Songs.
• Kellie Pickler’s “Red High Heels” re-entered the Hot 100 at #98, and was #23 on the Country chart. Josh Gracin’s “I Keep Coming Back,” was #38 on the same list.
• Katharine’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” / “My Destiny,” was #3 on the Single Sales chart this week and Taylor’s “Do I Make You Proud” / “Takin’ it to the Streets” was #5. Bo Bice also made a return to the Single Sales charts this week. His version of “Vehicle / Inside Your Heaven” was #42.
• Mario Vazquez’ “Gallery” was #48 on the Pop 100 and #44 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart.

Upcoming Idol Releases

Both Taylor’s and Fantasia’s albums will hit the charts next week. Hits Daily Double is predicting sales for Taylor to come in at around 300,000. I think that’s low, but we’ll see. Fantasia is expected to sell around 150,000 copies. If Carrie’s and Chris’ sales continue to be strong, and Taylor and Fantasia both hit the top 10, we could actually have four Idol-related CDs in the top 20 next week. Another strong week from Dreamgirls could give us five!

Donna Reynolds is a freelance writer based in Syracuse, New York. While entertainment sustains her emotionally, she earns her daily bread by writing and editing web copy. Check out her new website at www.idolthoughts.net. Donna loves mail, so shoot her an email at foxydonna@earthlink.net.

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