Beyoncé has made a triumphant return to the music scene with her latest album, 'Cowboy Carter,' debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album, released on March 29, has achieved the highest sales for any album in 2024 so far, with 407,000 equivalent album units. This marks Beyoncé's eighth chart-topping album, solidifying her status as a powerhouse in the music industry.
'Cowboy Carter' has also set records in terms of streaming, becoming Beyoncé's biggest streaming week ever. Notably, it is her highest-performing debut since Taylor Swift's '1989 (Taylor's Version)' in November. The album's success extends to the country music genre, as Beyoncé becomes the first Black woman to debut at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart.
The album's sales breakdown reveals that streaming equivalent albums accounted for 232,000 units, traditional album sales for 168,000 units, and track equivalent albums for 7,000 units. Additionally, the limited edition vinyl release of 'Cowboy Carter' sold 62,000 copies, marking Beyoncé's biggest week in vinyl sales and the highest for any vinyl album in 2024.
With her eighth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, Beyoncé surpasses Janet Jackson to claim the fourth-most chart-toppers among women. Ahead of her are Madonna, Barbra Streisand, and Taylor Swift. The success of 'Cowboy Carter' is part of Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' trilogy project, following the first installment released in July 2022.
The album features collaborations with a diverse range of artists, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone. Lead singles 'Texas Hold 'Em' and '16 Carriages' have resonated with fans, contributing to the album's widespread acclaim and commercial success.
In other chart news, Future and Metro Boomin's 'We Don't Trust You' slips to No. 2, followed by Morgan Wallen's 'One Thing at a Time' at No. 3. Ariana Grande's 'Eternal Sunshine' and J-Hope's 'Hope on the Streets, Vol. 1' round out the top five, showcasing the diversity of musical talent making waves in the industry.
