Scotty McCreery Makes Billboard History

Scotty McCreery has made the history books once again ... and again! After winning Season 10 of 'American Idol' in what was the show's highest number of votes ever, the North Carolina teen has broken two more records. His debut album, 'Clear as Day,' bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart this week, making him the first country artist to debut at No. 1 in all genres with their first studio album. The 18-year-old is also the youngest male singer ever to top the all-genre chart on the first week of his solo debut.

'Clear as Day' sold 197,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. The album is being widely praised for its merger of classic country influences with a modern sound. "I wanted to make sure I had the oldies ... the Conways and the Merles [Haggard] and the guys I grew up listening to, but still have that modern edge," Scotty tells The Boot.

The CD's first radio release, 'I Love You This Big,' was the highest-charting debut single by a new artist since 1984. Its follow-up single is the catchy, heartwarming 'The Trouble With Girls.'

Also new on the charts this week is Rodney Atkins' 'Take a Back Road,' which lands at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the country albums chart, following Scotty's 'Clear as Day' and Lady Antebellum's latest, 'Own the Night.'