By Karu F. Daniels
With 330,000 copies sold in the first week, Mary J. Blige‘s newest album, ‘Stronger With Each Tear,’ may have missed the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart – thanks to Susan Boyle‘s dominant debut – but she’s setting records of her own on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album charts, where her album has reached No. 1.
This is the Queen of Hip Hop Soul’s third consecutive studio album to sell more than 300,000 copies during its first week. In 2007, ‘Growing Pains’ sold 629,000 copies its first week out, while 2005’s ‘The Breakthrough’ debuted at No. 1 with 727,000 copies sold. Both sets were released in December.
According to Billboard, the nine-time Grammy Award winner is the ninth woman in SoundScan’s 18-year history to see at least three albums all debut with opening sales of 300,000 or more.
‘Stronger With Each Tear’ is Blige’s 10th top 10 album to land on the Billboard 200 and her seventh set to reach the top two slots.
On the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, it is her ninth No. 1 opus. Not a bad way to cap off the year – and the decade.
According to Billboard, she trails only Aretha Franklin (who has 10 No. 1 albums) for most chart toppers among women.
Blige has been keeping busy promoting the new album, which has yielded the empowering anthem ‘I Am.’ (See video below.)
She has already appeared or performed on the ‘American Music Awards,’ ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ ‘Extreme Home Makeover,’ ‘Lopez Tonight,’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ ‘Leno,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live,’ ‘A&E Private Sessions,’ ‘Tavis Smiley,’ ‘Home for the Holidays,’ ‘Christmas in Washington,’ the ‘Today’ show and ‘The View.’
According to Blige’s publicist, Tresa Sanders, the legendary songstress will perform at the ‘People’s Choice Awards,’ which will broadcast live from Los Angeles on CBS on Jan. 6. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the ceremony celebrates fan favorites in music, movies and television. Mariah Carey, Taylor Lautner, LL Cool J, Sandra Bullock, George Lopez and Carrie Underwood are among those scheduled to appear.
Mary J. B she will perform on the ‘People’s Choice Awards,’ broadcast live from Los Angeles on CBS Jan. 6. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the ceremony celebrates fan favorites in music, movies and television. Mariah Carey, Taylor Lautner, LL Cool J, Sandra Bullock, George Lopez and Carrie Underwood are among those scheduled to appear.
