Kelly Clarkson Sets Record And Storms Charts

NEW YORK (Top 40 Charts) - Kelly Clarkson, winner of Fox's American Idol, has set the record for the fastest moving single on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Her debut single on RCA Records - the double A-sided "Before Your Love"/"A Moment Like This"- catapulted from the No. 52 spot on the chart to No. 1 this past week, behind 236,000 in sales.

It's unusual to have a retail single to begin with, and it's even more unusual to have one sell decent numbers. This is the first one to sell more than 200,000 since 1999, so those are pretty big accomplishments.

In 1999, it was Mariah Carey with Jay-Z's "Heartbreaker" that sold 271,000 in one week.

The 20-year-old former cocktail waitress from Burleson, Texas, won a coveted recording contract when she took the "American Idol'' competition this month on Fox. Millions watched the series and called in to cast votes for their favorite singers.

Next up for Clarkson is the American Idol Greatest Moments compilation CD of the 10 finalists, which features four of her performances. The compilation is due on RCA on Oct. 1, while Clarkson's debut album is looking closer to a December release.

American Idol Greatest Moments track listing:

1. "Natural Woman," Kelly Clarkson
2. "Respect," Kelly Clarkson
3. "For Once in My Life," Justin Guarini
4. "Get Here," Justin Guarini
5. "Piece of My Heart," Nikki McKibbin
6. "A House Is Not a Home," Tamyra Gray
7. "Lately," R.J. Helton
8. "Ain't No Sunshine," Cristina Christian
9. "If You Really Love Me," Ryan Starr
10. "My Cherie Amour," A.J. Gill
11. "I'll Be," E.J. Day
12. "Easy," Jim Verraros
13. "California Dreamin'," all
14. "Before Your Love," Kelly Clarkson
15. "A Moment Like This," Kelly Clarkson