Scotty McCreery Breaks Billboard Top 200 Records With No. 1 Album

It's official! Scotty McCreery's debut 'Clear as Day' is a hit, and a record-breaking one at that! As predicted, the singer's first album cruised into the No. 1 slot on the Billboard Top 200 chart, selling just short of 200,000 copies! 'Clear as Day' moved 197,000 units its first week in stores.

It's a history-making debut, as well, since the 'American Idol' Season 10 winner is the first country artist to debut at No. 1 with their debut studio album. Congrats, Scotty! We're proud of you.

McCreery, who only turned 18 on Sunday, Oct. 9, is also the youngest male artist to top the chart with his debut release.

Aside from all the records he is breaking on the country side of things, McCreery represents an 'Idol' resurgence, chart-wise. He is the first winner to top the charts since 2003, when Season 2 champ Ruben Studdard landed at No. 1 in December of that year, selling 417,000 units. Kelly Clarkson, the OG 'Idol,' debuted at No. 1 with 'Thankful,' selling 297,000 copies in May of that year.

Also, McCreery's debut enjoyed the biggest first week sales of any recent winner. Season 7 winner David Cook was the last 'Idol' to have a big first week, selling 280,000 copies of his self-titled album in 2008. To put it in perspective, Season 9 winner and predecessor Lee DeWyze delivered 'Live It Up,' which sold only 39,000 copies its first week in stores in 2010. He has since been dropped by RCA.