Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Well, Carrie Underwood has plenty of reasons to be pleased with the chart success of her fourth album.

Let’s count the reasons why.

1. “Blown Away” debuted a number one on the Billboard 200, beating the new release from Norah Jones. It’s the third straight Carrie album to land at number one upon its release.

2. Carrie’s only the third female to have three country albums top the Billboard 200, according to Billboard.com. The others: Linda Rondstadt and Faith Hill.

3. Carrie’s album sold 267,000 copies in it’s first week. That’s second so far this year behind Madonna (358,000 in first-week sales for “MDNA.”

4. That sales number is the best first-week number for a country album since Lady Antebellum moved 347,000 copies of “Own the Night” in October.

5. Carrie’s album is one of just three so far in 2012 to have first-week sales of 200,000 or more. Besides Madonna, the other is Nicki Minaj with “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.”

Pretty impressive — but not unexpected — results for the Season 4 winner of Idol.

For those who like to make such comparisons, Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 behind Coldplay’s “Mylo Xyloto” last November. “Stronger” sold 163,000 in its first week.

Carrie’s album success might have helped nudge her lead single, “Good Girl,” up the country singles chart. It’s now number seven, one spot higher than a week ago.

Every country single Carrie has released off an album has reached at least number two on the country chart.