Sexy British singing sensation Leona Lewis has the biggest selling album in the country and will be Number One on this week's Billboard Albums chart, released Friday.
With her J Records/SyCo Music debut, 'Spirit,' Lewis continued her record-breaking success. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the Clive Davis-helmed project sold 204,841 during its first week of U.S. sales.
It's the first time in music history that a British female artist debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and it's the first time ever that a British artist overall has debuted on the chart at #1 with a first album.
It is also the biggest female artist first album debut since 'American Idol' winner Carrie Underwood in 2005, and had the biggest digital album sales week ever for a new artist.
Recently, Lewis broke the Hot 100 Chart record, becoming the first British female solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in over 21 years with her single 'Bleeding Love,' (video below) which to date, has sold over 1 million tracks stateside and returns to the #1 spot this week on the Billboard Digital Songs Chart.
"Leona Lewis will not be an overnight sensation," Davis, who helped craft the careers of Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox and Alicia Keys, said "She is the real deal and this is just the beginning of a long and illustrious career."
Simon Cowell, the infamous 'American Idol' judge who can share in the Lewis's success abroad (she is the winner of 'X-Factor' – the European version of 'Idol,' which he produces) said, "What Leona has achieved is simply incredible. This is the hardest market to crack and for her debut album to go in at number one is unbelievable."
While many may not know her name, her music is inescapable.
The multiracial beauty has graced a flurry of major TV shows, including 'Good Morning America,' 'Live with Regis and Kelly,' 'CBS Early Show,' 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show,' 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' MTV's 'TRL' and has upcoming appearances on 'The Tyra Banks Show' (April 17) and 'American Idol' (April 23).
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Comments: (60)
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By: Not Feelin It on 4/16/2008 1:46PM
I am not feelin this video and song! Her looks, kind of reminds of "Marihah" hugh? She could never be on her level of course. Her voice is just out there and doesn't stand out from the rest of music that you hear today. Maybe, she needs to go back to Europe because, U.S. will not show her LOVE!
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By: MrMellow on 4/16/2008 5:06PM
Very impressive US debut!
Leona Lewis news and video clips:
http://netpressions.com/celebrities_gn/leonalewis.cfm
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By: "DimePiece" on 4/16/2008 6:48PM
My opinion of the poll test above, She'll fade into oblivion like other British acts. I don't like her style and don't think she will make it here.
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By: Valois on 4/16/2008 9:08PM
WOW ! ANOTHER BEA-U-TI -FUL B-L-A-C-K WOMAN, GREEN EYES AND WHAT A WONDERFUL VOICE!
SHE IS SIMPLY LOVELY!
SHE REMINDS ME OF MARIAH CAREY JUST AS SSEASONED YET, BUT GIVE HER A LITTLE TIME AND SHE'LL SHOW THE WORLD HER INNER DIVA TOO!
OH YES! SHE'S A VEGITARIAN TOO, NO WONDER HER COCO MOCA SKIN IS SO SILKY AND SMOOTH AS SATIN. HOW FORTUNATE FOR HER TO BE BORN WITH THOSE GOLDEN BROWN LOCKS TOO.
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By: shawn on 4/17/2008 5:56PM
she has an ok voice but there isn't anything original about her music or style.
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By: Cecil Jones on 4/17/2008 10:43PM
I see a beautiful woman being pimped seeking an identity. She'll take off her clothes and sell a million records or she'll team up with Prince and be a star.
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By: PG on 4/18/2008 1:39AM
I like Leona. When Whitney Houston (another Clive project) started out -- her songs weren't that great -- but with some grooming -- she turned out lovely and dynamic. What I HATE about this whole thing -- is that I would bet 100 to nothing that she had to sleep with Clive Davis to get a deal -- (just like Whitney, and Alicia Keys -- if you don't believe that, you are very naive about the "business") -- I wish the business wasn't so filthy so that you could see more talent "make it" without "making it" -- it gets tiring. She will do fine as long as she "runs the gauntlet" (sleeps with every man that has his hands in her career - they all do, or they stop working -- have you noticed?). I wish her luck - because if she did that (and it's likely) she sold her soul -- I hope she gets a grammy for it.
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By: JN on 4/18/2008 2:38AM
She's pretty and she can sing. In my opinion Whitney Houston's songs need to be left ALONE. I know we all yearn to have Whitney herself bring that magic back but anyone else attempting just won't cut it, no way. I do think she needs a nose job deperately. On the 1st pic from that angle she's ok but the video made it stand out, far out there. Just speaking on it. She'll do just fine, here we have someone who may not have A TAN to look black and her hair doesn't look to weaved in so we just may have ourselves an original.
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By: JN on 4/18/2008 2:38AM
Hey she's a J. Lo looking alike, Mariah Carey sounding somewhat alike, and a what Beyonce' wanna look like, HUH? Just putting it out there. Oh, and I take back that weave part, it's heavy in there.
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By: SHE DOESN"T NEED NO NOSE JOB, LEAVE HER ALONE! on 4/18/2008 8:03AM
This comment is for JN #8. You said,
"I do think she needs a nose job desperately. On the 1st pic from that angle she's ok but the video made it stand out, far out there. Just speaking on it".
Why should she get a nose job? "God" gave her that nose and shouldn't change it for you or the music industry! That's what's wrong with people they want other people to have this "PERFECT IMAGE" in their own EYES! People are so worried about how a person looks on the outside not the "INSIDE"! That's MY OPINION!
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