Music

While the 'Rolling in the Deep' crooner remains the champion of this week's Billboard Hot 200, the 'I Will Always Love You' hitmaker re-enters the chart at No. 6.

• Feb 16, 2012

AceShowbiz - Hot on the heels of her big win at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Adele scores an unprecedented feat on Billboard Hot 200 this week. The British popstar stays strong at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart, marking her 20th non-consecutive week on the top spot.

This means, she matches the record held by Whitney Houston. The New Jersey singer, who passed away on Saturday, February 11, scored 20-week No. 1 run with "The Bodyguard" soundtrack album where her iconic song "I Will Always Love You" was included.

Adele secures the first position by shifting another 237,000 copies with her groundbreaking album "21" (up 95|percent|). Several steps lower, the "Rumour has It" singer occupies the ninth place with her debut effort "19" which sells 36,000 (up 103|percent|).

She becomes the first act, since Justin Bieber, who has two albums in the top 10. The Canadian teen singer did so a year ago by sitting at No. 4 and No. 8 with his efforts "Never Say Never - The Remixes" and "My World 2.0" respectively.

Whitney herself re-enters the top 10 with her 2000 "Greatest Hits" compilation. In the wake of her sudden death, the CD jumps to No. 6 by selling 64,000 copies (up 10,419|percent| from previous week's sales which shifted just under 1,000). Overall, music from her catalog sells 1 million copies, including nearly 900,000 downloads of her songs.

Adele's rival, Van Halen, have to settle at No. 2 on Hot 200. Their reunion album "A Different Kind of Truth" lands at the runner-up spot with 187,000 sold, and "Now 41" compilation follows at No. 3. The other new entries are The Fray, Paul McCartney and Dierks Bentley. They bow at No. 4, 5 and 6 with "Scars and Stories", "Kisses on the Bottom" and "Home" respectively.

Elsewhere on Digital Songs chart, last week's champion Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" is forced to fall down to No. 2 by Fun.'s "We Are Young". Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain", meanwhile, is pushed from No. 3 to No. 4 by Whitney's "I Will Always Love You".

Despite falling to a lower spot, Adele gains a 14|percent| boost in its digital sales (187,000). Also, she has her two other singles, "Someone Like You" and "Rolling in the Deep" move up to 9 and 10 respectively, thanks to the Grammys buzz over the weekend.

She becomes the first music act who has three songs sitting concurrently in the top 10 since July 25, 2009. Michael Jackson, who passed away a few days back then, sat at No. 2, No. 8 and No. 9 with "Man in the Mirror", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" respectively.

Billboard Hot 200:

1. "21" - Adele (237,000)
2. "A Different Kind of Truth" - Van Halen (187,000)
3. "Now 41" Compilation - Various Artist (142,000)
4. "Scars and Stories" - The Fray (87,000)
5. "Kisses on the Bottom" - Paul McCartney (74,000)
6. "The Greatest Hits" - Whitney Houston (64,000)
7. "Home" - Dierks Bentley (55,000)
8. "2012 Grammy Nominees" - various artists (51,000)
9. "19" - Adele (36,000)
10. "Take Care" - Drake (32,000)