Kenny Chesney Beats Drake To No. 1, Claiming His Ninth Chart-Topping Album In The Process

Throughout much of the past week, it looked like Drake was headed toward yet another No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, but now that the tracking frame has closed and all the streams and sales have been counted, a champion has been named…and it’s not the name most were expecting to lead the charge.

Kenny Chesney debuts his new album Here and Now atop the Billboard 200, beating the biggest name in hip-hop to the throne. The just-released set launches in the driver’s seat thanks to 233,000 equivalent units, a number which is comprised almost entirely of pure sales, as 222,000 fans chose to purchase the title (which benefits from a bundling program that allowed fans to opt in to pay extra when buying a ticket to his upcoming tour in order to also own the album).

Here and Now is Chesney’s ninth No. 1 on the Billboard 200, which stands as one of the most impressive career counts among all acts. The country superstar first reached the summit on the all-genre tally of the most-consumed full-lengths in 2002 with No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems, and since then, he’s landed in first place more often than not.

Chesney has also sent all of the following albums to the Billboard 200’s penthouse: When the Sun Goes Down (2004), Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair) (2005), The Road and the Radio (2005), Lucky Old Sun (2008), Hemingway’s Whiskey (2010), Life on a Rock (2013) and most recently Live in No Shoes Nation (2017). 

In addition to his nine No. 1s, Chesney has pushed seven other titles into the Billboard 200’s top 10, including proper albums, a greatest hits compilation and more than one live release.

Before dropping Here and Now, Chesney previewed the full-length with two singles, both of which became true hits on the country-only charts and minor wins on the general list. Both “Tip of My Tongue” and “Here and Now” peaked at No. 73 on the Hot 100, inside the top 20 on the Hot Country Songs ranking, and the two cuts broke into the highest tier on the Country Airplay list, where the musician has now landed 57 top 10 smashes.

Chesney’s sizable debut ends a historic winning streak for Drake, who seemed unbeatable until now. The rapper’s surprise mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes settles for second place instead of becoming his tenth leader on the Billboard 200, though it only trails Here and Now by 10,000 equivalent units.