Tony Hale has had a mighty successful acting career. In fact, the actor stars in Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2, which is currently showing in theaters. However, none of this has quite impressed Hale’s daughter.
Yesterday (June 14), during an appearance on The Talk, Hale confessed that he found a way to earn some cool points with the help of Beyoncé.
When asked by host Sheryl Underwood about keeping the secret from his certified Beyhive member daughter, Hale shared how hard it was. “So [when] I got this gig, I was like, ‘This is so cool,’” he said. “But I had to sign [some paperwork] so I couldn’t say anything. But my daughter had just been to Beyoncé’s [Renaissance] concert. Usually is super bored by what I do. She doesn’t care, and I had that [one thing] and I couldn’t say it. So she had to wait to see it on the Super Bowl.”
He then went on to reveal the exchange they had after the commercial aired. “I was out of town, unfortunately,” he said. “But she texted me and was like, ‘Dad?’ So I texted her an emoji of a bee. And I was like, ‘Yeah. I got it.’”
Usher and his wife, Jennifer Goicoechea Raymond, enjoyed a date night on June 11 at the Apollo Spring Benefit 2024, where the R&B legend, 45, was honored with the Icon Award. It’s good to see Usher out and about, celebrating his better half! The couple, who married in February, arrived hand-in-hand and posed for photos on the red carpet. Usher wore a stylish burgundy suit with flared pants, while Jennifer, 40, donned a black mini dress with a black and white patterned shirt and carried a sparkling black and silver purse.
Get this: Usher and Jennifer have two children together: daughter Sovereign Bo, 3, and son Sire Castrello, 2. Usher also has two sons, Usher “Cinco” Raymond V, 16, and Naviyd Ely, 15, with his ex-wife Tameka Foster.
He stood on business when it came to celebrating Jennifer. During his acceptance speech, Usher thanked his supporters and gave a heartfelt shoutout to his wife. “Last and most certainly not least, without your love, passion, support to my best friend, Jennifer Raymond. I love you baby,” he said. “My wife, who is in the audience tonight. Thank you for your support and I’m so happy that we could do this together. Mother’s Days are so awesome. I’m hoping that y’all going to hook me up for Father’s Day.”
Okay, Usher was announced as one of the honorees in April, stating, “It’s an honor to be receiving this award from such an iconic and historic cultural institution in New York City – one that has hosted and paved the way for so many prominent people. I’m humbled to be this year’s recipient and look forward to seeing everyone soon.”
What’s cool is the Apollo celebration featured performances from Jordin Sparks, Johnny Gill, and others. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, a 12-time Grammy winner, was honored with the inaugural Legacy Award and inducted into The Apollo’s Walk of Fame the day before.
Usher’s Icon Award precedes another significant accolade: he is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 BET Awards on June 30. This honor has previously been awarded to legends like Prince, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, and Lionel Richie, celebrating Usher’s “ever-growing musical legacy” in an already action-packed year.
BET has announced that Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actor, author, director, producer, and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson will return to host the “BET Awards” 2024. The event will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 8 PM ET/PT.
“I am thrilled to be returning as the host of the ‘BET Awards’ for the third time. I am also looking forward to celebrating my peers and the impact of our culture on entertainment,” said Taraji P. Henson.
“Taraji is a phenom, known for her vibrant personality and charisma, and we are excited to welcome her back to host Culture’s Biggest Night, ‘BET Awards,’ the ultimate celebration of Black creativity,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “We are equally as thrilled to have so many incredibly talented performers join us, standing on culture’s biggest stage to deliver an unforgettable night.”
Previously, BET announced that GRAMMY® award-winning global icon Usher will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement BET Award at the 2024 BET Awards. Usher, a four-time nominee this year, will be recognized for his significant impact on culture and the entertainment industry. The award celebrates industry pioneers’ exceptional achievements and public service, with past honorees including Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, and Mary J. Blige.
“The relationship between BET and USHER spans decades, from his multiple appearances on 106 & Park, to most recently winning the Entertainer of the Year trophy at the 55th NAACP Image Awards,” said Connie Orlando, BET EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy. From his chart-topping hits, electrifying performances, and unforgettable vocals to his signature moves and sound, USHER continues to stand on culture, setting new standards for the music industry and Black Excellence. We look forward to creating an amazing lineup to pay tribute to our global icon.”
Surprise guests are expected to take the stage to celebrate Usher’s illustrious career and musical legacy. The “BET Awards” 2024 will air live on Sunday, June 30, at 8 pm ET/PT from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
We got a confession.
U-S-H-E-R is this year’s LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE! @Usher
We’ve watched this icon give us LEGENDARY moments on our stage for over 20 years! The legacy continues June 30th at 8/7c! #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/2PiBg0fThS
BET announced that GRAMMY® award-winning global icon Usher will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement BET Award at the 2024 BET Awards. Usher, a four-time nominee this year, will be recognized for his significant impact on culture and the entertainment industry. The award celebrates industry pioneers’ exceptional achievements and public service, with past honorees including Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, and Mary J. Blige.
“The relationship between BET and USHER spans decades, from his multiple appearances on 106 & Park, to most recently winning the Entertainer of the Year trophy at the 55th NAACP Image Awards,” said Connie Orlando, BET EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy. From his chart-topping hits, electrifying performances, and unforgettable vocals to his signature moves and sound, USHER continues to stand on culture, setting new standards for the music industry and Black Excellence. We look forward to creating an amazing lineup to pay tribute to our global icon.”
Surprise guests are expected to take the stage to celebrate Usher’s illustrious career and musical legacy. The “BET Awards” 2024 will air live on Sunday, June 30, at 8 pm ET/PT from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
We got a confession.
U-S-H-E-R is this year’s LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE! @Usher
We’ve watched this icon give us LEGENDARY moments on our stage for over 20 years! The legacy continues June 30th at 8/7c! #BETAwardspic.twitter.com/2PiBg0fThS
Essence Fest 2024 is here, and R&B icon Usher is set to headline the Festival of Culture with a special one-night-only concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of his acclaimed album Confessions. Talk about good timing.
This performance is one to check out. It is part of the festival’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, taking place in New Orleans from July 4-7, 2024, at the Caesar’s Superdome.
Ge this, the festival lineup includes major artists such as Janet Jackson, Birdman and Friends, Charlie Wilson, Ari Lennox, T-Pain, TGT, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, and rising star Victoria Monét. Keke Palmer, Pretty Vee, Big Tigger, Punkie Johnson, and Kenny Burns will handle hosting duties, with DJ sets from Raj Smoove, DJ Clark Kent, and DJ Beverly Bond.
Daytime events are also fun and exciting which will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, featuring activities like the ESSENCE Food & Wine Festival, BEAUTYCON: @ESSENCEFEST Edition, AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA, ESSENCE Film Festival by ESSENCE STUDIOS, ESSENCE Stage, SOKO MRKT by ESSENCE, ESSENCE Authors, ESSENCE GU CREATORS HOUSE, and GBEF HQ. This year’s festival also introduces The Suede: Men’s Experience, focusing on Black men’s interests in money, fatherhood, creativity, health, travel, fashion, and sports.
Here is what Hakeem Holmes, Vice President of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, said about the significance of the festival … “For three decades, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has blossomed into a pillar of our culture. It spans generations and echoes life stages, growing at the vibrant intersection of art, culture, freedom, and justice. As the festival approaches its 30-year milestone, we are excited to welcome and celebrate with all our closest family and friends around the world—whether it’s your 30th, 11th (like me), 2nd, or even first time. It promises to be an enriching four days of daytime and evening experiences.”
The BET Awards is a spectacle that many look forward to annually, and the 2024 ceremony promises to be grand. In a year brimming with extraordinary talent, the awarding body has once again unveiled the nominees for the coveted honors. Without a doubt, one of the most competitive categories this year is the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist category. This year’s lineup is a testament to the evolving landscape of R&B and pop music.
While it features veteran acts like Usher and Chris Brown, it also highlights first-time nominees like Fridayy and October London. All eight artists who have been nominated in this category have an equal claim to the gold and are very deserving of this recognition. On June 30, we’ll find out which of these stars will take home the award. In the meantime, let’s take a look at the male artists who have bagged a nomination in this category for the 2024 BET Awards.
Brent Faiyaz
Since he broke into the music scene with his debut album in 2017, Brent Faiyaz has been a force to reckon with. The singer-songwriter is widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in contemporary R&B. Faiyaz released his debut mixtape, Larger Than Life, on October 27, 2023, and it has been well received by fans and critics alike. Additionally, over the past year, he was a featured artist on a handful of tracks. Faiyaz appeared on “Fell in Love” with Marshmello and “Should’ve Worn a Bonnet” with 21 Savage, among others. Altogether, the quality of the music he has put out within the past year has earned him a spot on this list.
Bryson Tiller
Bryson Tiller took the world by storm in 2015 when he released his beloved debut album, TRAPSOUL. Since then, he has won three BET awards, and soon, he might bag another victory. If he wins the award for Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, it would be his second in the category. Further, the singer dropped his eponymous fourth studio album in April 2024. The project is among the best R&B releases of the year so far. With this in mind, it’s no surprise Bryson Tiller has been nominated in this category at the 2024 BET Awards.
Burna Boy
Widely known as the African Giant, Burna Boy is at the forefront of the Afrobeats movement. The artist has been on an unstoppable roll for a while now and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. He has won three BET awards in the past, and in 2024, he might add to his list of wins. Although he was nominated in this category in 2023, he lost to Usher and Chris Brown. This year, he faces both artists again and has a chance of taking the win this time. The work he is being recognized for is I Told Them, his seventh studio album.
Chris Brown
While there may not be any clear favorites this year, Chris Brown is certainly the biggest threat on this list. With seven wins out of 16 nominations in this category alone, he is the most-awarded artist in this category. At the 2024 BET Awards, he might extend his record even further. Over the past year, he released and contributed to several quality records, so there is no question as to why he is being recognized. Alongside Usher, Brown is currently holding this award.
The 6 God has been one of the most relevant artists in the industry for a while. Since his debut, Drake has not let up, dropping undeniable hits year in and year out. In 2024, he released his eighth studio album, For All the Dogs. The project contains several hits, including “Rich Baby Daddy,” “First Person Shooter,” and “Slime You Out,” among others. Drake has received nominations from the BET Awards every year from 2010 till 2024. Altogether, he has won 17 BET awards, but none in this category. As a matter of fact, this is his second nomination in the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist category following 2023’s nomination. Tune in on June 30 to find out if he’ll take home the gold this time.
Fridayy
With his distinct baritone and eclectic blend of R&B and Hip Hop, Fridayy has won the hearts of many. The singer released his eponymous debut album on August 25, 2023. The 14-track project has helped announce him as one of the most exciting new R&B acts. It has also earned him his first BET nomination at the 2024 awards ceremony. Evidently, Fridayy has a bright future, and fans are eager to witness his rise.
October London
The second of two first-time nominees on this list, October London is a very promising R&B act. The 37-year-old singer signed to Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Records has been releasing music since 2022. However, it was his third studio album, The Rebirth of Marvin, that put him under the spotlight. He is nominated in two categories at the 2024 BET Awards and may very well win his first major award this year.
Usher
Another R&B veteran, Usher, has been nominated in this category 11 times and won four of those nods. Behind Chris Brown, he is the second most nominated act in this category and has the second most wins. Following his Super Bowl Halftime performance, Usher released his ninth studio album, Coming Home, on February 9, 2024. The 20-track album reminds listeners why the singer is regarded by many as R&B’s champion. At the 2024 BET Awards ceremony, he has the chance to inch closer to Chris Brown’s record seven wins. Award night promises to be very entertaining indeed.
Mike WiLL Made-It is one of the defining producers of the 2010s. He helped to cultivate the sound of an entire generation of artists, courtesy of his hard-hitting sound and his signature tag. Mike WiLL’s profile has lessened in recent years, as he’s stepped back to focus on the artists signed to his record label. He had something to get off his chest May 16, however. The Atlanta producer got on X (formerly Twitter) to complain about the current state of hit-making. According to him, artists have gotten lazy.
The critique came in two parts. The first saw Mike WiLL Made-It call out artists who simply remake iconic songs. “Sick of hearing remakes,” he tweeted. “Nothing like original shxt.” The second message pointed out the trend of older artists agreeing to hop on the remake of their own song. “Please don’t feature on your classic remake,” he added. “It’s a pet peeve of mine.”
The producer didn’t mention any names, but there are plenty of recent examples. Usher hopped on Summer Walker’s “Come Thru,” which sampled his 1997 single “You Make Me Wanna…”. Then there’s Fergie, who performed alongside Jack Harlow at the VMA’s when he sampled “Glamorous” on his radio hit, “First Class.”
Mike WiLL Made-It is tired of this trend. He doesn’t blame the record labels, either, he blames the artists. In his estimation, the labels don’t care about the music so long as they are moving units. “They just put the shxt on the shelf,” he wrote in a separate tweet. “Its on the production company or the independent artist…” Mike WiLL wasn’t the only producer who voiced their frustration.
Sonny Digital, another 2010s stalwart, backed up the claim. He quote tweeted Mike WiLL and added: “I swear I don’t respect anybody remaking a song that’s already a hit and then ACT like they made a hit from a song that was ALREADY a hit.” Here’s hoping more high-profile artists take not of what these producers are saying, and attempt more original music.
All roads were supposed to lead to Sin City. However, if you were ready to shuffle between performance sets at Lovers & Friends Festival 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, you just crapped out.
Yesterday (May 3), while practically the entire world was focused on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s diss exchanges, the budding live R&B event announced that it was being forced to pull the plug. On X (formerly Twitter), organizers revealed that due to inclement weather and warnings from weather experts, they decided to cancel the jam-packed day out of safety concerns.
“The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning, including dangerous 30-35 mph sustained winds with gusts potentially more than 60 mph,” read the statement. “Following advice from the National Weather Service and in consultation with local public officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists, and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Lovers & Friends Festival. This was an incredibly heartbreaking decision to make as we are aware that fans have traveled from all over the world to enjoy this incredible lineup of superstars and have been looking forward to this event for several months.”
Lovers & Friends Festival has unfortunately been canceled due to dangerous weather predicted for Saturday. Fans who purchased tickets directly through Front Gate Tickets will receive a refund within 30 days. For more info: https://t.co/ip1MLPJL0mpic.twitter.com/Koo5ZirzmG
— Lovers & Friends Festival (@lvrsnfrndsfest) May 4, 2024
With acts such as Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Brandy, and of course Usher on the lineup, festivalgoers were livid and didn’t mind airing out their grievances online. Following the news, Usher took to his personal X page to express his frustration.
“Mannn…I’m just as disappointed as you are,” he wrote. “We were getting ready to turn up and celebrate today. I have to follow the orders of city officials and the National Weather Service for everyone’s protection and stand strong in my belief that everything happens for a reason.”
Without providing specifics, Usher went on to tease that he would make it up to ticket holders very soon. “I’m sorry we won’t get to see each other today,” he wrote. “But know that I am always working on something to express my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you who continue to support me. I’ll see you soon.”
Mannn…I’m just as disappointed as you are. We were getting ready to turn up and celebrate today. I have to follow the orders of city officials and the National Weather Service for everyone’s protection and stand strong in my belief that everything happens for a reason. I’m sorry…
Whatever he has up his sleeve fans surely hope it is an even larger 20th anniversary performance of his critically acclaimed album, Confessions. Online Usher shared behind-the-scenes footage of what would’ve been his headlining set at Lovers And Friends 2024, but unfortunately the public won’t have the chance to see it.
In the note issued by the festival, refunds for those who paid via Front Gate Tickets will be processed within the next 30 days. Find more information here.
Usher, the multi-platinum GRAMMY Award-winning artist, will grace the Lovers & Friends festival on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Las Vegas Festival Grounds. In an exclusive performance, he will deliver his seminal album Confessions.
Confessions, certified 14x platinum by the RIAA, remains the highest-rated album by a male soloist that has been released this century. Boasting hits like “Yeah,” “Burn,” “Confessions Pt. II,” and “My Boo,” the album sold 1.1 million copies in its debut week, dominating the charts for weeks on end.
This unique showcase at Lovers & Friends marks the first time Usher will perform the album from start to finish, promising an unforgettable experience for fans. Joining Usher on the festival’s star-studded lineup are Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Nas, Alicia Keys, and more, along with Lil Wayne presenting Tha Carter III.
Produced by Live Nation and Redrock Entertainment, Lovers & Friends promises to celebrate iconic music and unforgettable performances, making it a must-attend event for music lovers everywhere.
Musicians put in the work to perfect their craft and churn out great music that their teeming fans will love and appreciate. It takes so much to put out a music album, and one of the ways musicians track how much their work is appreciated is through album sales. Music data relating to album sales began in 1991, thanks to SoundScan, now known as Luminate. Since such data came into existence, only 26 albums have sold a million copies in the first week.
Selling a million album copies in the first week is no mean feat. However, some artists have managed to do it, with a few of them even going ahead to do it more than once. Some of the artists that sold a million album copies in the first week include Norah Jones (Feels Like Home), Limp Bizkit (Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water), and Garth Books (Double Live). Others on the prestigious list include Lady Gaga (Born This Way), The Beatles (1), Backstreet Boys (Black & Blue), and Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard). There are more artists on the list, with Taylor Swift and Adele among the most dominant musicians, releasing albums that sold over one million copies in the first week. Here are 11 albums that sold one million copies in their first week.
11. Drake – Views (2016)
Canadian rapper Drake released his fourth studio album, Views, on April 29, 2016. The album was released under three record labels: Cash Money Records, Republic Records, and Young Money Entertainment. In Views, Drake showed his musical diversity by taking influence from West African and West Indian music. He also made his first full foray into Jamaican dancehall music. Other music genres featured in Views include R&B, Afrobeat, pop, and UK funky. Views did remarkably well thanks to its diversified sound as it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Views sold 1.04 million equivalent album units in its first week. Equivalent album units combine streaming and song downloads in addition to traditional album sales. The measurement was introduced in the mid-2010s as a solution to the drop in album sales in the 21st century. Drake’s actual album sales for Views in the first week was 852,000 copies. Besides hitting high equivalent album unit sales, Drake also smashed streaming records with his Views album as it hit a staggering 245 million streams.
Magna Carta Holy Grail was Jay-Z’s 12th studio album. Days before the album’s release, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) changed its rules for gold and platinum certification. Before releasing the album on July 4, 2013, Jay-Z sold one million digital copies to Samsung, which then offered the copies to its users for free. Due to that action, the RIAA ruled that artists no longer had to wait 30 days to get certification for digital sales. Hence, Jay-Z’s one million album sales to Samsung began counting immediately after Magna Carta Holy Grail‘s release, meaning the album went platinum soon after its release.
Jay-Z featured artists like Nas, Rick Ross, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean, and his wife, Beyoncé, on the album. Some of the hit songs on the album include “Holy Grail,” “Oceans,” and “Tom Ford.” Besides the one million digital album copies sold to Samsung, Magna Carta Holy Grail sold 528,000 physical copies in its first week and topped the US Billboard 200 chart upon its release. Jay-Z earned six Grammy Award nominations for the album, with “Holy Grail” winning the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
9. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III (2008)
Tha Carter III was Lil Wayne’s sixth studio album. It was released on June 10, 2008, and sold 1,006,000 copies in its first week. Lil Wayne featured several big names in the album, including Jay-Z, Fabolous, Robin Thicke, Kanye West, the late Static Major, and Busta Rhymes. The album had several hit songs, including “A Milli,” “Lollipop,” and “Got Money,” and cemented Lil Wayne’s status as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Tha Carter III received several award nominations, including Album of the Year at the 2009 Grammys. That year’s award season was successful for Lil Wayne, as Tha Carter III earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Meanwhile, “Lollipop” won Best Rap Song, while “A Milli” won Best Rap Solo Performance.
Usher released his fourth studio album, Confessions, on Mar. 23, 2004. The R&B album had instant hits like “Yeah!,” “Burn,” “My Boo,” and “Confessions Part II.” Confessions sold 1,096,000 copies in its first week, solidifying itself as one of the greatest R&B albums. Confessions also came with some controversy due to its theme. There were wide beliefs that the album was themed around Usher’s personal relationships. However, Jermaine Dupri, who mainly produced Confessions, claimed the album was more reflective of his personal story. Besides incredible album sales, Confessions also earned Usher a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.
7. 50 Cent – The Massacre (2005)
After announcing himself to the world with his Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ album in 2003, 50 Cent followed it up with The Massacretwo years later. The album debuted at no. 1 on the US Billboard 200 thanks to hits like “Candy Shop,” “Just A Lil Bit,” and “Hate It Or Love It.” The Massacre sold 1,141,000 copies after its first week and solidified 50 Cent’s impact in the rap game. Hip-hop bigwigs like Dr. Dre, Eminem, Sha Money XL, and Scott Storch helped produce The Massacre. 50 Cent also featured Eminem, Olivia, Jamie Foxx, and Tony Yayo in the epic album, which was widely positively received and considered as one of his best albums.
6. Britney Spears – Oops!… I Did It Again (2000)
Oops!.. I Did It Again was a befitting name for Britney Spears’ second studio album. A year before its release, Britney debuted with a highly successful album, …Baby One More Time. Hence, she was under pressure to replicate the success of her first album. Britney welcomed the challenge and worked with several highly sought-after producers. Eventually, she put out a pop album that incorporated funk and R&B, earning her high praise and critical acclaim. Oops!.. I Did It Again enjoyed massive commercial success. It sold 1,319,000 copies in its first week and held the record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist and the largest first-week sales for a female album for 15 years.
Eminem’s fourth studio album, The Eminem Show, sold 1,322,000 in its first week. The album featured songs like “Without Me,” “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” and “White America.” Eventually, it sold 27 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Eminem incorporated more rap rock in The Eminem Show than he did with his previous albums. The Eminem Show was themed around The Real Slim Shady’s hip-hop prominence and his mixed feelings about fame. Eminem also took a step back from his Slim Shady alter ego in the album, as he deviated from being satirical.
4. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
The Eminem Show was not the first album with which Eminem sold over a million copies within the first week. On May 23, 2000, the rapper released his third studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Dr. Dre mainly produced the highly successful album, which went on to sell 1,760,000 copies in its first week. The album’s success helped to propel Eminem to the forefront of America’s hip-hop culture. Some of the album’s most popular songs include “Stan,” “The Real Slim Shady,” and “Bitch Please.”
3. NSYNC – No Strings Attached (2000)
NSYNC is a famous boy band consisting of Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and JC Chasez. Although the band is not as popular as before following a long hiatus, it remains one of the top-selling bands of all time. After making waves with their first two albums, NSYNC took it a notch higher with their third studio album, No Strings Attached. After its release on Mar. 21, 2000, No Strings Attached sold a mindblowing 2,416,000 copies in its first week. NSYNC repeated the feat with their next album, Celebrity, which sold 1,878,000 copies a week after its release on July 24, 2001.
2. Taylor Swift (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024)
Taylor Swift’s knack for singing about her romantic travails in her albums means her teeming fans would always anticipate her next album release. Hence, when she announced an album was on the way during the 2024 Grammy Awards, Swifties readied their earbuds in anticipation, as the album was Taylor’s first since her split from Joe Alwyn. Taylor released The Tortured Poets Department, her 11th studio album, on April 19, 2024. Unsurprisingly, her latest work sold 2,610,000 copies in its first week.
However, TTPD isn’t Taylor’s first album to sell over a million copies in its first week. The beloved songstress achieved that feat six other times with her previous albums. These include: 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which sold 1,359,000 copies in its first week; 1989, which sold 1,287,000 copies in its first week; Reputation, which sold 1,216,000 copies in its first week; Red, which sold 1,208,000 copies in its first week; Midnights, which sold 1,140,000 copies in its first week; and Speak Now, which sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week.
1. Adele (25, 2015)
While Taylor Swift has sold over a million album copies with seven albums, Adele needed just one album to achieve the feat three times. On Nov. 20, 2015, Adele released 25, her third studio album. The album’s title reflected the singer’s life and mind frame when she was 25 years old and featured classics like “Hello,” “Water Under the Bridge,” and “Love in the Dark.” Adele’s 25 enjoyed so much commercial success. It racked in a massive 3,378,000 album sales in its first week, breaking the record for first-week sales. The album sold over a million copies in a week for the second time in December 2015, selling 1,112,000 copies. It repeated the feat for a third time in January 2016, selling 1,158,000 copies in a week.
has blossomed into a pillar of our culture. It spans generations and echoes life stages, growing at the vibrant intersection of art, culture, freedom, and justice. As the festival approaches its 30-year milestone, we are excited to welcome and celebrate with all our closest family and friends around the world—whether it’s your 30th, 11th (like me), 2nd, or even first time. It promises to be an enriching four days of daytime and evening experiences.”
