Taylor Swift on Top of the Charts Performs at American Music Awards

Swift Set to Go International

The debut album of David Archuleta sold well, but not well enough to grab the top of the album chart this week. Taylor Swift, country music's latest singing phenomenon, sold three times Archuleta's total. The Billboard 200 albums chart records Swift selling over 592,000 units of her new album, "Fearless," to take the top spot, beating out not only Archuleta but two more top five newcomers: T-Pain's "Thr33 Ringz" and "Now 29," part of the popular "Now" various artists compilation series. The "Twilight" Soundtrack, which debuted at No. 1 last week, fell to No. 5 this week (week ending 11/29/2008).

Christmas has come early for the 18-year-old country singer. Not only does she top the Billboard 200 albums chart, she also tops the Top Country Albums chart, the Top Digital Albums chart, the Top Internet Albums chart, the Top Comprehensive Albums chart, and the Hot Country Songs singles chart (for a second week with "Love Story"). Swift is also up for Favorite Female Vocalist (Country) of the Year at the American Music Awards and will be performing at the live event Sunday, November 23. She faces country legend Reba McEntire and last year's winner, Carrie Underwood.

"Fearless" is Taylor Swift's second album. Her first album, 2006's "Taylor Swift," is also currently on the Billboard 200, up to No. 21 from No. 26. Her first album has already sold over 3.5 million copies.

Still, almost all of that success has been in the United States. Universal Music Group International believes that Swift can be the next big international superstar and has inked a contract to promote the young country star outside the U.S. Universal already distributes her albums in the United States.

Max Hole, executive vice president of Universal, believes Taylor Swift is the biggest breakthrough artist in the past year. He also does not worry about the potential problem with a country artist's international appeal. Hole told Reuters, "I don't really see her as a country artist. If you listen to the records and see her play live, she has much more in common with acts like Avril Lavigne and Miley Cyrus."