Megan Moroney's album 'Cloud 9' debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking the biggest opening week for a female country artist in nearly two years.
- March 7, 2026
AceShowbiz - Megan Moroney has achieved a major milestone as her album Cloud 9 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart this week.
Cloud 9 earned 147,000 equivalent album units in its first week, marking the biggest opening week for a country album by a female artist in nearly two years. The last female country album to reach No. 1 was Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter in April 2024. This is the third studio album from Megan Moroney and her second to enter the top 10; her earlier 2024 release Am I Okay? debuted at No. 9, while her 2023 debut album Lucky peaked at No. 38.
This accomplishment is especially significant given that, in the last decade, only seven country albums by five different women have topped the Billboard 200. Notable previous chart-toppers include Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), and Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty, and Shania Twain’s Now. In comparison, 17 country albums by 11 male artists have reached No. 1 during the same period.
Female country artists have recently been dominating multiple charts. Ella Langley’s single Choosin’ Texas is enjoying its second week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, after initially topping the chart last month. Langley made history as the first woman to simultaneously hold the top positions on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts. With their recent successes, Langley and Megan Moroney have become the first female country artists to simultaneously lead both the singles and albums charts.
Other notable new entries on the Billboard 200 this week include Hilary Duff’s comeback album Luck... or Something debuting at No. 3, Baby Keem’s Ca$ino landing at No. 4, and Mumford & Sons’ Prizefighter entering at No. 10.
