Madonna's latest release, 'Confessions II,' has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, moving 134,000 equivalent album units and surpassing Olivia Rodrigo's record.
Record-Setting Streaming and Sales
According to Billboard, 'Confessions II' achieved 19,000 SEA units, equivalent to 20.1 million on-demand streams, marking Madonna's best streaming week to date. Additionally, with 114,000 physical or digital copies sold, it represents her strongest sales week since 2012.
Chart Rivals and New Entrants
Ken Carson's 'Xperiment' entered the chart at No. 7 with 42,000 units, while Sienna Spiro's 'The Visitor' debuted at No. 9 with 39,000 units. Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo's 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love' held the No. 2 spot with 103,000 units.
Other notable entries included Ella Langley at No. 3, Morgan Wallen at No. 4, Drake at No. 5, Noah Kahan at No. 6, Michael Jackson at No. 8, and Toby Keith at No. 10, whose '35 Biggest Hits' saw a resurgence thanks to streaming boosts over the Independence Day weekend.
Historic Achievement
Madonna's 'Confessions II' not only outperformed her 2019 album 'Madame X,' which debuted with 95,000 units, but also made her the first artist with a No. 1 album in the 2020s to have previously topped the chart in the '80s, 2000s, and 2010s. This marks her 10th No. 1 album and her 24th to enter the top 10.
Critical Acclaim and Global Success
Despite none of its singles, including the Sabrina Carpenter duet 'Bring Your Love,' making a significant impact, 'Confessions II' has been well-received critically. The album boasts an 84 average score on Metacritic, with positive reviews such as Steven J. Horowitz from Variety calling it "easily the best album Madonna has made in two decades."
In the U.K., the album also debuted at No. 1, making it her 13th chart-topping release there. With this achievement, Madonna joins the Beatles as one of only two artists to have 10 No. 1 albums in both the U.S. and U.K.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/madonna-billboard-album-chart-confessions-debut-top-1236809163/
