‘Leona Lewis‘ has made the history books in the US by becoming the first UK artist to top both the singles and albums charts with a debut release.
On the chart countdown on Wednesday she became only the 2nd ever British female artist to enter the Billboard 200 chart at #1 with her debut album ‘Spirit’, replacing country star George Strait at the top.

In the 63 year history of the Billboard Chart ‘Sade‘ was the only other female artist to hit #1 when ‘The Promise’ spent a three week run at the top in 1986, however this was not a debut entry.
This was topped on Thursday when Leona’s debut single "Bleeding Love" returned to #1 just two weeks after being replaced by ‘Mariah Carey‘. It has been 18 years since a UK artist has topped both charts ‘Phil Collins – But Seriously‘ and ‘Sinead O’Conner‘ with ‘I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got’ (UK signed!) both managed the feat in 1990, not with debuts though!

Lovely Leona joins an elite bunch in the billboard history… only 14 artists have had an album debut at #1 and she is joining the elite ranks of Elton John, U2, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Rod Stewart and Radiohead whose ‘In Rainbows‘ debuted at #1 earlier this year, to name but a few.
With an appearance on American Idol (estimated audience 25 – 30 million) introducing her to a whole new bunch of Americans, and the new single ‘Better In Time’ already in the chart before it’s official release, watch this space.
May the Spirit be with you!