Entertainment> Celebrities

Susan Boyle makes UK chart history with debut album

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-30 09:23

British singer Susan Boyle performs on NBC's "Today" show in New York, November 23, 2009.[Agencies]

LONDON - The debut album of Scottish singer Susan Boyle, who shot to fame on TV talent show "Britain's Got Talent," has become the fastest selling album in Britain this year.

Entering the music charts in the top spot on Sunday, Boyle's "I Dreamed a Dream" sold more than 410,000 copies -- the biggest first week sales for a debut album in UK chart history, the Official Charts Company said.

This month, the Sony Music record became the largest global CD pre-order in the 14-year history of Amazon.com.

The dowdy 48-year-old church volunteer, whose audition has been viewed more than 300 million times online since it was broadcast in April, has become a sensation worldwide, appearing on top U.S. chat shows such as Jay Leno and Oprah Winfrey.

"Susan Boyle's achievement is quite phenomenal," said Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company.

"After all of the excitement surrounding her appearance on 'Britain's Got Talent,' everyone expected her to make a big impact when she released her first music -- but to arrive with such a bang is exceptional."

The album has also topped the Australian and Irish charts and is also set to be No. 1 in the United States, Canada and New Zealand, Sony Corp's Sony Music said on Sunday.

Boyle, who was signed by music impresario Simon Cowell, also appeared in the UK singles chart with a cover of The Rolling Stone's hit "Wild Horses," which debuted at No. 9.

Peter Kay's Animated All Stars took pole position, with their single "The Official BBC Children in Need Medley" which climbed to the top spot from last week's No. 1.

The only other new entry in the top 10 singles was Rihanna's "Roulette," which debuted at number six.