Shania Twain is “Now” back on top. Billboard announced that her new album — her first since “Up!” way back in 2002 — has topped the Billboard 200 album chart in a historic bow. “Now” is only the second country album of 2017 to claim the top spot, following Thomas Rhett‘s “Life Changes.” Even more impressive, this makes Twain the first female country artist to top the album chart since Miranda Lambert (“Platinum”) in 2014. Not bad for an artist who took 15 years between albums as she dealt with personal and health woes.
“Now” moved 137,000 equivalent album units, which are calculated by combining traditional album sales with individual track sales and online streams. That held off a slew of other high-profile album debuts this week, including Demi Lovato (“Tell Me You Love Me,” number-three) and Miley Cyrus (“Younger Now,” number-five). But even though Twain is one of the biggest hit-makers in country music history, this is only her second number-one, following “Up!” Her blockbuster 1997 album “Come on Over” became one of the best-selling albums every released — plus the best-selling country album and best-selling album by a female artist — but managed all that without rising any higher than number-two on the chart.
Also making a big move on this week’s Billboard 200 is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers‘ “Greatest Hits” at number-two. The album is 24 years old but re-entered the chart after Petty’s sudden death on October 2 at age 66 sparked renewed interest in his music.
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