American Idol Carrie Underwood Debuts at the Top  6/23/05

American Idol star Carrie Underwood has debuted at number one in the US singles chart just a month after becoming the fourth winner of the TV talent contest.

The singer becomes only the third artist to debut at number one since chart policy changed in 1998 to allow airplay-only tracks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart - a move which made it much harder for any song to debut at the top.

Her single Inside Your Heaven keeps women on top of the charts - Gwen Stefani and Mariah Carey have shared the top spot for four weeks apiece.

Meanwhile, it's good news for another American Idol winner - Kelly Clarkson has notched up a 17th week at the top of Billboard's Adult Contemporary list with Breakaway.