FERGIE - HITS COMPILATION BEATS ALL COMERS TO NUMBER ONE IN THE US

HITS COMPILATION BEATS ALL COMERS TO NUMBER ONE IN THE US

America's 23rd instalment of hits compilation NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC has stormed to the top of the Billboard charts in its first week on release. The album, which features hits by FERGIE and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, is the Now franchise's 10th charttopper in the US. The compilation sold 337,000 copies Operatic singer JOSH GROBAN crashes in at number two, selling 270,000 copies of his new album AWAKE, and country star KEITH URBAN has been given a boost as he battles alcoholism in a California rehab facility - his new album LOVE, PAIN + THE WHOLE CRAZY THING debuts at three with his highest ever sales week (267,000). Another country act, SUGARLAND, debut at number four on the Billboard 200 with ENJOY THE RIDE, while rapper JIM JONES' HUSTLER'S P.O.M.E (PRODUCT OF MY ENVIRONMENT) enters the new chart at number six. The soundtrack to Disney's HANNAH MONTANA drops to number five after two weeks at the top. The only other new entry in the top 10 is THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND's hits compilation BEST OF WHAT'S AROUND: VOL 01, which debuts at number 10. Meanwhile, ELTON JOHN's THE CAPTAIN + THE KID album has received a welcome boost after the rocker appeared on homeshopping channel QVC to promote the flagging album. After dropping off the chart earlier this month (NOV06), the album sequel to CAPTAIN FANTASTIC + THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY reenters the countdown at number 69 with 16,000 sales.