CMT News

The blindingly sunny Julianne Hough, of Dancing With the Stars fame, takes the blue ribbon this week as her self-titled debut CD leaps directly to the top of Billboard's country albums chart. In so doing, it tumbles the previous champ, Toby Keith's 35 Biggest Hits, back to No. 3.

In the song rankings, Brad Paisley's "I'm Still a Guy" continues to occupy the penthouse for the second consecutive week.

By Nielsen SoundScan's tally, Hough sold 67,000 albums her first week out, which is surely something to brag about. Even more impressive, perhaps, is the fact that Taylor Swift's eponymous first album, holder of the No. 2 spot this week, sold almost 33,000 copies during the same period -- and it's been on the market for 83 weeks.

The only other new album hitting the country chart this week is Cory Morrow's Vagrants & Kings, which logs in at No. 45. Jake Owens' Startin' With Me returns at No. 67, and Ronnie Milsap's 16 Biggest Hits at No. 75.

Songs making their first chart appearance are Sugarland's "All I Want to Do" (No. 27), Kellie Pickler's "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" (No. 56) and Chris Young's "Voices" (No. 60).

Rounding out the Top 5 albums are Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride (No. 4) and Sugarland's Enjoy the Ride (No. 5).

Trooping in descending order behind Paisley on the Top 5 songs list are Phil Vassar's "Love Is a Beautiful Thing," James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You," Rascal Flatts' "Every Day" and Lady Antebellum's "Love Don't Live Here."

See you at the CMA Music Festival next week. I'll be the one wiping my forehead and carrying a plastic bag.