Tony Bennett, at the age of 85, has finally gotten a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with the release of “Duets II.” This makes the legendary musician the oldest living act to reach the top spot on the chart and marks Bennett’s first time reaching No. 1 with an album in his incredible 14-Grammy Award winning and 60-year career.
“Duets II,” which sold 179,000 copies in its first week, features 17 all-star collaborations with artists like Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Mariah Carey and the late Amy Winehouse. It’s been an exciting couple of weeks for Bennett, though, who also earned the title of oldest living artist to have a single on the Billboard Hot 100 when “Body and Soul,” his duet with Winehouse, debuted at No. 87.
Bennett first made the Billboard 200 album charts in 1957, but his previous album chart high was in 2006 when his first “Duets” compilation debuted at No. 3, selling 202,000 copies its first week.
In taking the title of oldest living act to reach the top position on the album chart, he dethroned Bob Dylan who had earned the name in 2009, then 67-years old, when his album “Together Through Life” debuted at No. 1.