American Idol Runner-Up Lauren Alaina's New Release Starts Out Strong

Posted by Webb on 06/07/2011
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American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina is receiving tremendous support from fans and country radio alike for her first recordings, which hit No. 9 on the Billboard Digital Albums and Country Albums charts and No. 11 on the Digital Songs chart in last week’s chart debut. 
 
“Like My Mother Does,” which was sent to radio after she performed it on American Idol on May 24, debuted at No. 11 on the Digital Songs chart and No. 20 on the Hot 100 chart for sales of 121,204, making it the highest debut for a second-place finalist in six years. The single also makes a stellar debut at country radio, launching at No. 49 on the Hot Country Songs chart. This week the song jumps six spots to No. 43.
 
A compilation album of her performances from American Idol, called American Idol Season 10: Lauren Alaina, is ranked No. 9 on the Digital Albums and Country Albums charts for sales of 10,651.
 
“This is so awesome!” she says. “American Idol has changed my life, so I’m excited that the songs I performed on there are doing so well. I can’t believe that I have a song out on country radio, much less that so many stations started playing it right away. I can’t wait to get out and meet everybody and thank them personally for playing my song.
 
“Not only is ‘Like My Mother Does’ important to me professionally, but it’s also special to me personally because my mom has been beside me through this whole thing. She has been my biggest cheerleader and my biggest supporter when I was feeling down. This song is for her.”
The 16 year old from Rossville, Ga., was the runner-up on Season Ten of American Idol on May 25. A record-breaking 122.4 million votes were cast for winner Scotty McCreery and Lauren, and 38.6 million viewers tuned in to see the finale.
 
Lauren will begin recording her debut album this week in Nashville, where she will also participate in the annual CMA Music Fest. She will present at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday and play in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game on Saturday, June 11. She is looking forward to making her Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, June 10.
 
She will join the American Idols Live tour that begins July 6 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and runs through September.
 
Lauren will also perform on ABC’s Good Morning America on Aug. 12.