Keith Urban: Tops U.S. pop chart

Keith Urban: Tops U.S. pop chart

Australian country music star Keith Urban reached at No. 1 position on the U.S. Billboard Album Chart on Wednesday with his new album "Defying Gravity".

Urban's newest album, "Defying Gravity", was released on March 31, 2009 through Capitol Records, which sold 172,000 copies in its first six days of release. It's second single, "Kiss a Girl", debuted in March 2009.

Prince was not far behind with 168,000 copies sold of his latest, "Lotus Flow3r". He is in second position on the U.S. Billboard Album Chart.

This is the first time that Urban reached at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Before this, he had gone as high as No. 3 twice, with 2004’s "Be Here" that sold 267,000 copies and 2006’s "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing" that sold 270,000 copies.

In a statement, Keith Urban said, "It's an incredible feeling to have a No. 1 record. But equally moving is knowing that this particular record, that comes from such a joyous, loving and hopeful place, is connecting with so many people".

The 41 year old Keith Urban was born in New Zealand but raised in Australia. Urban got married to Nicole Kidman on Sunday, June 25, 2006, at the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in the grounds of St Patrick's Estate, Manly in Sydney. On 7 January 2008, Nicole Kidman confirmed that she and Urban were expecting their first child together. On July 7, 2008, Kidman gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban.

Billboard collator Christie Eliezer said, "Keith made the commitment many years ago to make the move to the US and it has finally paid off for him".

Grammy Award-winning Canadian jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall also debuts high on this week’s chart, entering at No. 3 with ‘Quiet Nights’ that sold 104,000 copies. She is known for her contralto vocals.


The list of the Billboard Top 10 Albums as of Wednesday, April 8:

1. Defying Gravity, Keith Urban (172,000 copies)

2. LotusFlow3r, Prince (168,000 copies)

3. Quiet Nights, Diana Krall (104,000 copies)

4. Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack, various (87,000 copies)

5. Now That's What I Call Music! 30, various (87,000 copies)

6. UGK 4 Life, UGK (77,000 copies)

7. Twilight soundtrack, various (73,000 copies)

8. R.O.O.T.S., Flo Rida (55,000 copies)

9. The Fame, Lady Gaga (51,000 copies)

10. Fearless, Taylor Swift (42,000 copies)