Brandi Carlile has set a new record for the most No. 1 albums by a woman on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, after her latest release, Returning to Myself, debuted at No. 1 on the November 8 chart, earning 35,000 equivalent album units in its first week, including 32,000 in sales. This marks her fifth consecutive No. 1 on the tally, following the chart-topping success of 2015’s The Firewatcher’s Daughter, 2018’s By the Way, I Forgive You, 2021’s In These Silent Days, and 2025’s Elton John collaboration, Who Believes in Angels?. Returning to Myself also rules the Top Rock and Americana/Folk Albums charts, becoming her sixth No. 1 in the latter list, second only to Bob Dylan’s record total of eight chart-toppers. The album debuted at No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200, her fifth Top 10 entry of her career, and saw strong vinyl sales of 15,000, which pushed the album to No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart. (Billboard)
