Final data is still being tabulated, and Billboard will not formally announce the #1 album until Sunday.
Enough information is available, however, to call the race in favor of Ariana Grande’s “Sweetener.” The album will be the third Ariana Grande release to earn #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales and Billboard 200 charts.
Early Friday morning, Grande celebrated the achievement with a series of Tweets.
“hello everyone ! sweetener is officially number one n i jus wanted to say thank u so much,” wrote Grande on Twitter. “ik these things don’t really matter but i am over the moon grateful n i just want to thank u for all ur warmth n for receiving this project w such love thank u for all that u do.”
“thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.”
Grande also shared fiance Pete Davidson’s excitement over the news: “‘i’m so happy i could wear a fedora’ – pete davidson!”
As of mid-week, “Sweetener” was expected to sell upwards of 110,000 pure US copies and generate over 200,000 in overall consumption (album sales + units from track sales + units from track streams). Hits Daily Double and BuzzAngle should offer their version of the final numbers later Friday. Billboard, as noted, will share its authoritative data by Sunday night.
Grande previously hit #1 with “Yours Truly” and “My Everything,” her first two albums. Her third album “Dangerous Woman” debuted at #2.
