Luke Bryan’s ‘Tailgates and Tanlines’ Debuts as No. 1 Country Album, No. 2 All-Genre Album

After sales of 145,296 units in its first week in stores, Luke Bryan takes over the No. 1 position this week on Billboard's Country Albums chart and the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Top 200 all-genre chart with his latest release, 'Tailgates and Tanlines.' The charting positions of 'Tailgates and Tanlines' is the second highest selling debut for a country release this year, behind Brad Paisley.

"I’m very proud of this album, and to have fans connect with the music in this way is exciting and really humbling," says Bryan in a press statement. "When I was writing and recording this project, I wanted to make an album which made people forget about all the other things in their lives that might stress them out and just have fun! And to have this kind of response from my fans makes me feel like that goal was accomplished!"

'Tailgates and Tanlines' is Bryan's third studio album on Capitol Records Nashville, and has already produced a hit single with 'Country Girl (Shake It for Me),' which is currently Top 5 on the singles chart. The tune has sold over one million downloads, making it his best-selling single to date.

The success of 'Tailgates and Tanlines' more than doubles the first week sales numbers from his gold-certified sophomore release,  'Doin' My Thing,'  which spawned three back-to-back No. 1 singles: 'Rain Is a Good Thing,' 'Do I' and 'Someone Else Calling You Baby.'

This fall, Bryan will headline the 10th annual CMT on Tour trek, which will also feature special guests Josh Thompson, Lee Brice and CMT's 'Next Superstar' winner, Matt Mason. The tour kicks off on September 15 in Huntington, W.V. at Big Sandy Superstore Arena and will play 22 shows before wrapping on November 19 in Monroe, La. Click here for a complete list of dates where the tour will be stopping.