Lionel Richie Heading for First #1 Album Since 1986
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ABC/SARA KAUSS(NEW YORK) — Lionel Richie’s new album Tuskegee is already his most successful in years, but it’s about to give him a new milestone. After debuting on the Billboard album chart at #2 a couple of weeks ago, Billboard reports that the disc, currently at #4, may rise to #1 this week. If so, Tuskegee would become the legendary entertainer’s first #1 album since 1986’s Dancing on the Ceiling.
While initially it looked as though Adele’s 21 would once again top the charts this week, sales of Richie’s album surged over the weekend thanks to his CBS special, which aired Friday night.
The special, which featured Lionel duetting with Kenny Rogers, as well as a variety of younger country stars, drew 7.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen, and was the most-watched show that night. Billboard reports that in the past week, Tuskegee racked up sales of about 125,000 copies.
Richie’s last #1 album, Dancing on the Ceiling, featured the hit title track, as well as the singles “Ballerina Girl,” “Love Will Conquer All” and the Oscar-winning hit “Say You, Say Me.”
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