Taylor Swift just broke a Billboard chart record that Whitney Houston held for 37 years

UNDATED (WKRC) – Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poet’s Department” has enjoyed steady success since its release and recently secured a record.

The Tortured Poet’s Department entered its 12th week at number one on the Billboard 200 (a ranking of albums by popularity), beating Whitney Houston’s 1987 album of the same name. Whitney spent only 11 weeks at number one, making Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poet’s Department the first album by a woman to spend its first 12 weeks at number one.

Previously, both Swift’s “1989” and “Fearless” had also remained at number one for eleven consecutive weeks after their debut.

This isn’t the first time Swift has broken one of Houston’s records. Swift’s weeks at number one with “Folklore” gave the pop star the most weeks at number one by a woman in 2020. Although the difference was 47 to 46 at the time, Taylor Swift has now reached a total of 81 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. That record is only surpassed by The Beatles, who spent an impressive 132 weeks at number one.

Nevertheless, Taylor Swift is the solo artist with the most weeks at number one, beating Elvis Presley by 14 weeks.

Although The Tortured Poet’s Department has had no shortage of success, some believe that Eminem’s The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) could displace the album at number one, at least long enough to break Swift’s streak. Eminem has had a streak of ten consecutive charting albums since the turn of the millennium, beginning with 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP.