American Idol Finalist Bucky Covington Debuts at #1  4/27/07

American Idol finalist scores biggest unit debut from a new male country artist in 15 years

NASHVILLE  /PRNewswire/ -- Bucky Covington's self-titled debut CD opens at #1 on Nielsen Soundscan's Country Top 75 chart with 61,000 units sold. Covington's debut CD also enters Nielsen Soundscan's all genre top 200 chart at #4 and is the only new country act to open inside the top five this year. This puts him in good company as only two other country acts, including Tim McGraw and Martina McBride, have debuted inside the top 4 on Nielsen Soundscan's Top 200 chart this year.

With 61,000 units sold in the first week, this gives Covington the distinction of having not only 2007's biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. The strong sales debut comes as no surprise, as Covington's record has already become not only one of the most critically acclaimed CDs to come out of the Idol franchise, but one of this year's best-reviewed country albums. Here's what some of the nation's toughest critics are saying about Bucky Covington:

Miami Herald: "The most cohesive album to come out of the franchise yet."

Dallas Morning News: "Easily the best country album by an American Idol contestant."

Entertainment Weekly: "The North Carolinian with the throaty drawl could sell everything-from the cheeky to the weepy. And he does."

Associated Press: "Covington delivers. His gritty growl comes alive ... [and] he sounds like the star he could evolve into ... "

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Bucky Covington bucks the odds, thanks in large part to strong songs. Covington's vocals are something of a revelation, as well, reflecting the positive influence of blues-based Jeff ("Angel Eyes") Healy and R&B-braced Travis Tritt."

Minneapolis Star-Tribune: "Covington may deserve a second look...he shows personality as a singer... and delivers the best stuff with the gritty know-how of John Mellencamp."

Bucky Covington was released April 17 on Lyric Street Records. Lyric Street Records is a part of Disney's Buena Vista Music Group. The Buena Vista Music Group is the recorded music and music publishing arm of the Walt Disney Studios.

SOURCE Lyric Street Records