For the first time in its nearly nine-year history, Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart welcomes a No. 1 by a solo female. Lacey Sturm, best known as the former lead singer of rock band Flyleaf, debuts at No. 1 on Hard Rock Albums with Life Screams, her first solo set.
Sturm becomes the first solo female to top the chart, which began with the June 28, 2007 ranking. Life Screams is also the seventh chart-topper from a female-led act, the first being (guess who?) Flyleaf's Memento Mori, in 2009.
Sturm is also the 10th solo artist (joining nine males) to top the chart and the first since Slash led with World on Fire in October 2014.
On other Billboard charts, Life Screams opens at Nos. 7 and 8 on Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums, respectively. It starts at No. 74 on the Billboard 200.
Life Screams is the first record Sturm has released since her departure from Flyleaf in 2012; the act has since continued with a new lead singer, Kristen May (formerly of the band Vedera).
"Impossible," Sturm's lead solo single, is currently rising at rock radio, ranking at No. 29 on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
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