Megan Moroney Hits the Top: A New Country Record
A fresh country voice, Megan Moroney, has just broken into the biggest music chart in America. Her newest album, Cloud 9, reached the number‑one spot on the Billboard 200 for the week ending February 26, pulling in about 147,000 equivalent units across sales, streams and track purchases. That tally makes it the biggest first‑week haul for a female country artist in almost two years.
How the Numbers Add Up
- Physical sales: Roughly 78,000 units were full‑album purchases – Moroney’s highest sales week ever.
- Streaming: 69,000 units came from on‑demand streams that totaled over 71 million plays.
- Other Billboard charts: Cloud 9 also appeared in the top ten for Top Album Sales (No. 1) and Top Streaming Albums (No. 2).
A Rapid Rise
Cloud 9 is only Moroney’s third studio project. It follows:
- A 2024 release that peaked at No. 9
- A 2023 album that reached No. 38
The new record marks the first time a woman’s country album has topped the Billboard 200 since Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter held the spot for two weeks in April 2024. In the past decade, only seven female country albums have ever reached No. 1 on that chart.
Physical Editions & Singles
The album launch was supported by multiple physical editions:
- Five vinyl versions
- Three CD sets
- Four deluxe boxed packages (signed items or bonus tracks)
Four songs from the album have already charted on Billboard’s country list, with “6 Months Later” climbing to No. 29 on the all‑genre Hot 100.
Other Highlights of the Week
- Hilary Duff returned to the top ten with a new album that debuted at No. 3.
- Baby Keem entered the top ten for the first time with Ca$ino, landing at No. 4.
- Mumford & Sons added a new entry, Prizefighter, at No. 10.
How the Billboard 200 Works
The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on a combination of sales, track‑equivalent purchases and streaming equivalents. The data is gathered by Luminate, an independent provider that verifies all submissions before the final chart numbers are released.
