The music world was shocked earlier this fall when beloved singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1. The musician had been privately battling skin cancer for years, and since nobody knew about his struggle, his death came as a real surprise to many of his fans. Now, with a new release on the horizon, it’s possible that Buffett may be on his way to his first posthumous No. 1 album.
Just a week after his death, Buffett’s estate announced that he had a new full-length on the way that had been finished shortly before his passing. The set, titled Equal Strain in All Parts, is expected to arrive on November 3. Buffett has never had a problem selling albums, especially when they’re new, but can this one rise all the way to the top?
Buffett has actually already hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the chart company’s weekly ranking of the most consumed albums in the U.S. each week. He scored his first champion back in 2004 when License to Chill rose to the summit, decades into his tenure as a superstar.
Since hitting the top of the Billboard 200, Buffett has come close to repeating that success more than once. His recent album, Life on the Flipside, peaked at No. 2 on the same chart in 2020, narrowly missing out on becoming another leader for the star.
In addition to his sole No. 1, Buffett has charted plenty of top 10 albums throughout his career. He has now collected a lucky 13 placements inside the highest tier on the Billboard 200 throughout the years he’s been a well-known figure in music.
Interest in Buffett’s music has remained incredibly high for decades, as he’s built a dedicated following that snaps up anything he releases. Now that he’s gone and his passing is still fresh in the minds of so many who loved him and his work, his fan base will likely turn out in droves to support Equal Strain in All Parts. Just how many copies the title will be able to sell in its first week is yet to be seen, but the collection is sure to be a commercial success. Whether it can reach the No. 1 spot is difficult to say, especially considering the fact that it faces some really tough competition.
On the same day that Buffett’s Equal Strain in All Parts is set to drop, two other major stars in the music industry are also coming out with new albums. Country. singer-songwriter Jason Aldean is looking to continue his success based around the controversial single “Try That in a Small Town” with a new album called Highway Desperado.
At the same time, BTS singer Jung Kook will release his debut solo album Golden. That title has already produced a pair of top 10 hits on the Hot 100, and the K-pop star has a massive following that is eager to see him become the first solo South Korean musician to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It’s going to be a tight race for sure, but Buffett should not be counted out.
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