JT becomes just the sixth artist to have tallied at least two Billboard 200 No. 1s each in a group and as a soloist. And, half the list consists of Beatles. As previously reported, Justin Timberlake's third solo album, "The 20/20 Experience," debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 968,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The sum is the largest for any album this year and the best of the former 'N Sync member's solo career. Another way to frame Timberlake's success? He's just the sixth artist in the Billboard 200's 57-year history to notch multiple No. 1 albums both with a group and as a soloist. And, half of those six are Beatles, meaning Timberlake is in some truly Fab company.
Here's a look at the select six superstar artists to top the Billboard 200 more than once both as group members and on their own:
Paul McCartney
McCartney scored a record 19 No. 1s with the Beatles (between 1964 and 2001) and seven with his group Wings; of those latter seven, two were billed to McCartney, two to Paul and Linda McCartney and three to Paul McCartney & Wings. His 1982 No. 1 "Tug of War" remains the last solo album by a Beatle to rule the chart.
John Lennon
In addition to his astonishing 19 No. 1s with the Fab Four, Lennon logged three leaders on his own, one each credited to himself, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and John Lennon & Yoko Ono (the lattermost set serving as his swan song, 1980's eight-week No. 1 "Double Fantasy.")
George Harrison
Harrison likewise augmented his 19 Billboard 200 toppers with multiple solo No. 1s: 1970's "All Things Must Pass" and 1973's "Living in the Material World."
Eminem
Since the No. 2-peaking "The Slim Shady LP" introduced the rapper in 1999, he's yet to miss the Billboard 200 summit with a solo album, notching six No. 1s from 2000's "The Marshall Mathers LP" through 2010's "Recovery." Perhaps overshadowed are his two No. 1s as part of D12: the rap collective reigned in 2001 with "Devil's Night" and in 2004 with "D12 World." (His one entry as half of Bad Meets Evil, 2011's "Hell: The Sequel (EP)," also hit No. 1.)
Beyonce
Destiny's Child crowned the Billboard 200 with 2001's "Survivor" and 2005's best-of "#1's." Beyonce's four studio solo albums, meanwhile, have all topped the chart: "Dangerously in Love" (2003), "B'Day" (2006) "I Am…Sasha Fierce" (2008) and "4" (2011).
Justin Timberlake
JT joins the list upon the arrival of "The 20/20 Experience," as his previous solo set, "FutureSex/LoveSounds," led for two weeks in 2006. (His first solo album, 2002's "Justified," debuted and peaked at No. 2.) As a member of mega boy band 'N Sync, he led with "No Strings Attached" in 2000 and "Celebrity" in 2001.
Didn't know about this. Kinda cool
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