Noah Kahan achieves first number one hit with ‘The Great Divide’ on latest Billboard chart update

Noah Kahan has reached a significant milestone in his music career by claiming the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart with his latest album, “The Great Divide.” This accomplishment marks a record-breaking week in 2026 for Kahan, thanks to a surge in streaming and vinyl sales that propelled him to the number one position.

In the week ending April 30, Kahan’s album amassed an impressive 389,000 equivalent album units in the United States, his most robust performance to date. Notably, this figure represents the most substantial weekly performance for a rock album since Billboard began measuring consumption through equivalent album units in 2014.

Streaming played a significant role in Kahan’s success, with streaming equivalent album units making up 212,000 of the total. The album’s tracks were streamed over 215.37 million times on-demand, contributing to its overall performance. Additionally, album sales accounted for 175,000 units, marking Kahan’s best sales week, while track equivalents made up the remaining 2,000 units. Impressively, “The Great Divide” also saw the largest vinyl sales week for a rock album in recent tracking history, with 118,000 vinyl copies sold.

The album’s success was anticipated following its announcement earlier in the year, and it continued to build momentum with its title track reaching the top spot on Adult Alternative Airplay charts for multiple weeks. The release of a deluxe edition with extra tracks and various physical versions further bolstered its commercial performance.

The Billboard 200 also welcomed Kehlani’s self-titled album at number 4, earning 69,000 equivalent album units, marking the most substantial debut for an R&B album by a female artist in 2026. Kehlani’s project garnered 45,000 streaming equivalent units and 24,000 album sales, supported by a range of vinyl and CD editions, as well as a deluxe digital release featuring bonus content.

In a resurgence, Michael Jackson’s iconic album “Thriller” re-entered the top 10 at number 7, following renewed interest tied to the release of the Michael biopic. The album, originally released in the 1980s, generated 45,000 equivalent album units, showcasing a notable increase in consumption. “Thriller” remains one of the most influential and best-selling albums in music history, having spent 37 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard 200.

The chart also witnessed shifts from established artists in the rest of the top 10, with several albums experiencing slight declines but maintaining strong positions. The week underscored the continued interplay between streaming momentum, physical sales, and revived interest in legacy releases.

The Billboard 200’s multi-metric consumption ranking system, which factors in sales, streaming, and track equivalents, offers a comprehensive view of evolving listening habits within the U.S. music market.