Taylor Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets Department, has clinched the number one spot on the UK chart for a 10th non-consecutive week, coinciding with the singer’s 35th birthday. This achievement makes the 14-time Grammy winner the first international solo artist in nearly 25 years to accomplish this feat, since Shania Twain’s Come On Over held the top position for 11 weeks between 1999 and early 2000, as reported by the Official Charts Company.
Swift, who recently became the most decorated artist in the history of the Billboard Music Awards, described the recognition as the “nicest early birthday present”. The US pop sensation from Pennsylvania bagged 10 awards, including the top artist award and top Billboard 200 album for her 11th studio album.
Earlier this month, she concluded her global Eras Tour, which included performances in cities such as Paris, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and London, where she played eight dates at Wembley Stadium across June and August. Swift, named Time Magazine’s person of the year in 2023, also retained her title as Spotify’s most-played artist for a second consecutive year, amassing over 26.6 billion streams.
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Following its release in April, The Tortured Poets Department shattered several records, making Swift the first music artist to secure 12 number one albums in the UK chart in the 21st century.
-Credit:PA Wire/PA Images
-Credit:PA Wire/PA Images
-Credit:PA Wire/PA Images
In less than 12 years, she has managed to secure 12 chart-toppers, a feat that took The Beatles 14 years to achieve with Please Please Me (1963) and The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl (1977). Meanwhile, on the UK albums chart this week, Short N’ Sweet by US pop star Sabrina Carpenter holds steady at number two, while Christmas by Canadian crooner Michael Buble climbs to number three.
Making its debut at number four is Rosie by Blackpink’s Rose, while Carpenter’s first holiday EP Fruitcake lands at number five, following the release of her Netflix special A Nonsense Christmas. Topping the UK singles chart, 40 years after its release, is Last Christmas by Wham!
That’s So True by US sensation Gracie Abrams takes the second spot.
The rest of the top five includes festive favourite All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, Apt by Rose and Bruno Mars, and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee.