Susan Boyle Still No. 1, Mary J. Blige Has 'Strong' Debut

Susan Boyle will finish out 2009 at No. 1. The British singer’s debut album I Dreamed a Dream tops the Billboard 200 for a fifth consecutive week, selling another 510,000 copies, while Mary J. Blige and Young Money were the only two debuts within the top 40.

Mary J. Blige’s ninth studio album Stronger withEach Tear enters at No. 2 with 330,000 copies sold in its first week. This is Blige’s third studio album in a row to sell more than 300,000 in its opening week. Her last effort, 2007’s Growing Pains, debuted at No. 1 with 629,000, while The Breakthrough opened at No. 1 with 727,000 in 2005.

After an impressive start at No. 2 last week with 417,000 units, Alicia Keys’ The Element of Freedom drops two spots to No. 4 with 280,000.

In addition to Blige’s album, the Young Money compilation We Are Young Money was the only other debut in the top 40, entering at No. 9 with 142,000.