Chart Beat...

Billboard: Chart Beat Thursday: Whitney Houston
by Gary Trust | September 10, 2009 3:58 EDT

SHE'S GOT THE 'LOOK': How long had it been since Whitney Houston presided over the Billboard 200? Until this week, the superstar last led when the soundtrack to the "The Bodyguard," credited as a Houston album in Billboard's archives, spent its 20th and final week at No. 1 on the chart dated May 29, 1993. That week, a band called Radiohead made its first career appearance on the Billboard 200 with "Pablo Honey," Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)" was the Hot 100's Hot Shot Debut and Toby Keith notched his first of 33 career top fives on Country Songs.

This week, Houston returns to the Billboard 200 throne, as "I Look to You" roars in at No. 1. ( Click here for Billboard.com's analysis of Houston's hefty sales haul that produced the bow).

"I Look to You" becomes Houston's fourth No. 1 album. Her fab four are:

"Whitney Houston," 1986 (14 weeks at No. 1)
"Whitney," 1987 (11 weeks at No. 1)
"The Bodyguard" 1992-93 (20 weeks at No. 1)
"I Look to You" 2009 (1 week to date at No. 1)

"I Look to You" is Houston's first No. 1-debuting album since "Whitney" 22 years ago. The latter title was also the first album by a woman to begin at No. 1, arriving atop the Billboard 200 dated June 27, 1987.

Despite her lengthy hiatus from the penthouse, Houston's standing on the chart stretching to her juggernaut of a debut album remains sterling. Since her first week atop the tally on March 8, 1986, here is a look at the artists to spend the most weeks at No. 1:

51, Garth Brooks
46, Whitney Houston
30, Mariah Carey
22, Eminem
21, M.C. Hammer
21, U2
17, Billy Ray Cyrus
17, Jay-Z
16, Bruce Springsteen
16, Vanilla Ice

On R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, "I Look to You" becomes Houston's fifth No. 1. She previously reigned with "Whitney Houston" (1985), "I'm Your Baby Tonight" (1990-91), "The Bodyguard" (1992-93) and her soundtrack to "The Preacher's Wife" (1997).

While Houston starts atop the Billboard 200, she posts a new entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at the anchor spot, as "Million Dollar Bill" cashes in at No. 100. The song is her 39th career Hot 100 entry. The new album's title cut concurrently jumps from No. 98 to No. 70, granting Houston her highest Hot 100 ranking since "Could I Have This Kiss Forever," with Enrique Iglesias, peaked at No. 52 in 2000.

NEWSFILE: 10 SEPTEMBER 2009