Trending Now - Megan Moroney's 'cloud 9' Tops Billboard 200 as First Female Country No. 1 in Two Years

WHO:

Megan Moroney, country artist

Beyoncé, artist of the album "Cowboy Carter"

Hilary Duff, artist of the album "luck… or something"

Baby Keem, artist of the album "Ca$ino"

Mumford & Sons, artist of the album "Prizefighter"

Ella Langley, country artist

WHAT:

Moroney's album "Cloud 9" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

"Cloud 9" earned 147,000 equivalent album units in the week ending February 26, 2026.

This marks the biggest week for a country album by a woman in nearly two years.

"Cloud 9" is Moroney's third studio album and her first No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

The album's sales included 78,000 in album sales, 69,000 in streaming equivalent albums (SEA), and a negligible amount in track equivalent albums (TEA).

"Cloud 9" is the first country album by a woman to top the Billboard 200 since Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" in April 2024.

Only seven albums by five women have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the past decade.

Other notable debuts on the Billboard 200 include Hilary Duff's "luck… or something" at No. 3, Baby Keem's "Ca$ino" at No. 4, and Mumford & Sons' "Prizefighter" at No. 10.

WHERE:

Billboard 200 chart, United States

WHEN:

"Cloud 9" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the chart dated March 7, 2026.

Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" topped the chart on April 13 and 20, 2024.

Moroney's previous album "Am I Okay?" peaked at No. 9 in 2024.

Moroney's debut album "Lucky" peaked at No. 38 in 2023.

WHY:

The album's first-week sales were boosted by its availability across multiple vinyl and CD variants, including signed editions and exclusive versions.

HOW:

The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on multi-metric consumption, including album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

Each equivalent album unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold, or a specific number of streams.

Megan Moroney's album "Cloud 9" has made a remarkable debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking the biggest week for a country album by a woman in nearly two years, with 147,000 equivalent album units sold. This achievement makes "Cloud 9" Moroney's first No. 1 on the chart and the first country album by a woman to top the Billboard 200 since Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" in April 2024. Other notable debuts this week include Hilary Duff's "luck… or something" at No. 3, Baby Keem's "Ca$ino" at No. 4, and Mumford & Sons' "Prizefighter" at No. 10.