'American Idol' winner Scotty McCreery debut song sets chart records

The song had the highest-charting debut for a new artist in more than two decades.It debuted at No. 32 on Billboard's NielsenBroadcast Data Systems-based Country Songs chart and is the highest debut for a new artist's first single since the chart began using Nielsen BDS data the week of Jan. 20, 1990, Billboard said. The song, which hit No. 1 on iTunes, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart with 171,404 units sold, whilea compilation album featuring 14 of his performances from "American Idol," called "American Idol Season 10: Scotty McCreery," reached No. 12 on the BillboardTop 200 all-genre albums chart and No. 3 on the country albums chart with 23,196 units sold, Interscope Records said. "I am humbled and shocked by this news,"McCreery, 17, said in a statement. "I can't tell you what it means to me to be on the same charts as my musical heroes. I want to thank my fans and especially country radio for their support. I continue to be amazed by everything that has happened to me in such a short time."