‘American Idol’ Winner Scotty McCreery Makes Chart History With No. 1 Debut

2:56 PM PDT 10/12/2011 by Shirley Halperin

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The season 10 victor’s first album, “Clear As Day,” tops the Billboard 200 this week, making the 18-year-old country singer the youngest male artist to do so.

Ken Hall

Scotty McCreery is presented with a gold record for his single, "I Love You This Big."

American Idol winner Scotty McCreery made history today as the youngest male artist to top the Billboard 200 chart with a debut release. Clear As Day, which came out October 4, moved 196,739 in its first week, good for the No. 1 spot. He is the first new country artist so far in 2011 to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The last time a country singer achieved such a feat was in 2005, when Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts was released.

Scotty McCreery Talks 'Clear As Day' Tracks, Family Support and the 'American Idol' 'Pressure Cooker'

“Everybody hopes for the number one, but you never really expect it," says McCreery, who turned 18 on Sunday. “ To see it up there is pretty incredible. It’s a very good birthday present! I can’t think of anything to top it!”

Some 15,000 fans attended his album release party/homecoming concert/birthday celebration at Raleigh’s Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek on October 8, where McCreery was presented with a gold record certifying digital sales of more than 500,000 for the single “I Love You This Big” (see photo).

“It couldn’t have happened to a nicer young man,” says Luke Lewis, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, which includes Mercury Nashville.

McCreery and Idol season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina, whose new album Wildflower is out this week, are both managed by Simon Fuller, CEO and founder of XIX Entertainment, who commented, “Scotty is a true talent; he will stand the test of time and I am honored to be helping guide his career."

Twitter: @Idol_Worship