Every artist dreams of having a number one album, yet most do not attain this status. All of the albums on this list were released in 2004, and spent time at the top of Billboard's Country Album charts. I'm listing them from the album with the most weeks spent at No. 1 to the album with the least weeks spent at No. 1. All chart information on these artists is based on Billboard Magazine's Hot Country Singles and Country Albums Charts.
Kenny Chesney's "When The Sun Goes Down" tops this list with the most weeks spent at the top of the charts with 14. This solid album contains "I Go Back," (#2) "The Woman With You," (#2) "There Goes My Life" (#1) and "When The Sun Goes Down" (#1), and the album was named CMA Album of the Year for 2004. The album has sold over 3 million copies.
Gretchen Wilson is easily the best-selling new artist of 2004. Her debut single, "Redneck Woman" stuck a chord with listeners all over, leading the sales of her album to over 3 million copies throughout the year, plus it the album topped the charts for 9 weeks, which is rare from a brand new act. Other singles from the album include "Here for the Party," (#3) and "When I Think About Cheatin'" (as of December 18th Billboard Singles chart, #12).
Some people scoffed at Jimmy Buffett releasing a country album, but with sales over 1 million, no one's laughing anymore. The album includes duets with several country stars, and singles with Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, ang George Strait ("Hey Good Lookin'" which peaked at #8), and Martina McBride ("Trip Around the Sun" which peaked at #20) are some of the fare you can expect to find on the album. The album spent 5 weeks at the top of the charts.
Shortly after the album was released the title was obsolete, as the only new cut, "I Hate Everything" became his 51st No. 1 hit. The album debuted at both the Top of the Country Charts and the Top of Billboard's Top 200 Charts. "King George" still knows good music, and we're looking forward to many more No. 1 hits in the future. The album has sold over 4 million copies, and topped the charts for 5 weeks.
Shania's Greatest Hits album debuted at No. 1 with over 529,000 copies sold in the first week, making it the biggest selling Country Greatest Hits package, and second biggest selling Greatest Hits album overall after the Beatles. The first single is the duet with Billy Currington ("Party For Two" as of December 18th Billboard Singles chart, is at #8). The album has sold over 2 million copies and topped the charts for 5 weeks in 2004.
Tim performed the emotional title track of this album on the 2004 ACM Awards. Soon after the performance, the song was shipped to radio, where it flew to the top of the charts in just seven weeks where it remained for another seven weeks. The second single "Back When" also topped the charts, and the album itself topped the charts for 3 weeks, and has sold over 2 million copies.
Debuting No. 1 on both the Country Albums chart & the Top 200, Rascal Flatts became only the second country group to do this (the other being the Dixie Chicks). The title cut went to No. 1 & the second single, "Bless the Broken Road," (currently at #16 on Billboard's December 18th Country Singles Chart) looks to do the same. 2004 was a good year for the group who saw themselves voted ACM and CMA Group of the Year, & another platinum album in the can. The album topped the charts for 1 week.
Following up the multi-platinum "Golden Road," Keith Urban got off to a fantastic start with the first single, "Days Go By" spending 4 weeks at the top of the charts itself. The second single "You're My Better Half" (currently at #13 on Billboard's Country Singles chart of December 18th) seems poised to hit the top as well. With a surprising CMA Male Vocalist award, 2004 was definitely a year to remember for Keith. The album tpped the charts for 1 week, and has passed 1 million copies sold.
Alan Jackson has the No. 1 album thing down pat. With singles like "Too Much of a Good Thing," (#5) and "Monday Morning Church," (currently #9 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles of December 18th) he has the formula for hit singles as well. The album topped the charts for 1 week, and has passed 1 million copies sold.
When Big & Rich first came out, people would say "that's not country. Big & Rich's sound is a genre of it's own with varied influences. The duo really started selling big when they released their second single, "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)." This album holds the distinction of being the only one this list that didn't debut at No. 1. That in itself is quite a feat. The album topped the charts for 1 week, and has sold over 1 million copies.
