Kelly Clarkson "Wraps Up" the Billboard Album Chart

dk green = Kelly, red = Scotty, lt green = Mandisa, lt  blue = Carrie, maroon = Phillip

Kelly Clarkson lights up the Billboard 200 Album chart with her new Christmas album "Wrapped in Red" landing at #3 with 70,000 in sales. However, that is not her only album in the Top 200, as her greatest hits album had a nice bump as well, jumping from #184 to #72 and ever her platinum two year old studio album "Stronger" jumping back into the Top 200 at #84. Not bad for the first American Idol winner who has now had six straight studio albums all debut among the BillBoard Top 3 (the only exception is her greatest hit compilation, which opened at #11 and still certified gold.) With her own Christmas TV Special showing on NBC on December 11, I am guessing "Wrapped in Red" will also achieve gold certification.

Joining Kelly among the Top 20, is Scotty McCreery in his third week with "See You Tonight", this time at #18 with sales of 12,000 to bring his three week total to 83K (thanks, Roughstock for real numbers!). His total is very close to his three week mark of 80K for "Christmas With Scotty McCreery" which had a strong third week of sales in 2012 due to his QVC promotion where he sold CWSM along with "Clear As Day". I wonder if he will try to do something like that again.

The other American Idols on the charts include Mandisa's "Overcomer" which is steady ar #127, Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" which receives a nice post-CMA increase from #168 to #141 and Phillip Phillips who slides a little from #142 to #177 in his 50th week (two more to make it a year!) In a few weeks Phillip releases his live EP which should give his sales a boost. The other Idols to release in the next few weeks are both "non-winners" who have enjoyed very successful careers, Kellie Pickler next Tuesday, and Chris Daughtry a week after that. More American Idol albums to track!