Idol Chatter & Voice Views

So, Carrie Underwood’s “Play On” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart this week.

Now the question will be how long her album can stay there.

In coming weeks, the competition will be tough. We’ll get new albums from Janet Jackson (Nov. 17), Leona Lewis (Nov. 17), Alicia Keys (Dec. 1) and Lady Gaga (Nov. 23).

The top three Idols from season eight — Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta — will be releasing albums in consecutive weeks, beginning with Kris on Tuesday.

And Taylor Swift’s CMA triumphs just might provide a boost to the deluxe release of “Fearless.”

But for now, Carrie’s on top of the charts with the top album and the top country single (”Cowboy Casanova”).

Here’s how the other Idols fared on the music charts this week:

Kris Allen: With his debut album due to hit stores Tuesday, Kris’ apparently dead first single — “Live Like You’re Dying” — re-enters the Hot 100 at number 92.

David Archuleta: New Christmas album releases from Sting and Andrea Bocelli bumped David’s “Christmas From the Heart” from number five to number nine on Billboard’s holiday albums chart. But his holiday CD advanced one spot, from 77 to 76, on the Billboard 200.

Kelly Clarkson: “Already Gone” keeps inching up the Hot 100 singles chart, climbing from 21 to 19 this week. The song is also number eight on the pop singles chart, down one spot from a week ago. “All I Ever Wanted,” Kelly’s fourth album, is 113 on the Billboard 200, down from 100.

Daughtry: “No Surprise” stays stuck at number nine on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. Chris and the guys drop from 60 to 78 on the Billboard 200 with their second album. Wonder if the CMA appearance will provide a boost in the charts next week?

Blake Lewis: His first single off album number two, “Sad Song,” loses steam on the dance/club play chart, dropping from 11 to 18 after a steady climb in recent weeks.

Mandisa: She has a second single on the Christian songs chart, “He Is With You.” The song moves from 24 to 23 this week.

Kellie Pickler: Who has one of the week’s biggest gainers on the Billboard 200? The suddenly red-headed Pickler, with an album that jumps from 182 to 169. Her third single, “I Didn’t Know How Much I Loved You,” hits the country singles top 30 for the first time, at number 30.

Jordin Sparks: “S.O.S. (Let the Music Play) just might turn out to be a number one for Jordin, albeit on the dance/club play chart. This week, it climbs from number four to number three.

Phil Stacey: “You’re Not Shaken,” the first single from his first Christian album, checks in at number 22 on the Christian songs chart, down one spot from a week ago.

Carrie Underwood: In addition to having the top album and top country single in the land, Carrie saw “Cowboy Casanova” jump from 28 to 21 on the Hot 100 this week.