November 29, 2007 18:11

Oprah Winfrey propels Josh Groban to top of US chart

Alicia Keys falls to Number Two

Josh Groban's holiday album 'Noel' soared to the top of the US Billboard chart after he made a surprise appearance on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' last week.

The pop star's album had already spent seven weeks on the chart, but it didn't reach Number One until he appeared on the incredibly popular daytime talk show.

Sales of his album subsequently increased 81 per cent to 405,000 in the past week.

This is the first Christmas-themed album to top the chart since Kenny G's 1994 album 'Miracles', according to Billboard.

Last week's Number One album, 'As I Am' by Alicia Keys, slipped to Number Two with a 53 per cent sales decrease to 349,000.

The hits compilation 'Now 26', Garth Brooks' 'The Ultimate Hits' and The Eagles' 'Long Road Out of Eden' rounded out the Top Five, respectively.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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