Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Big Machine Records) - Big Machine recording artist,
Jack Ingram earns his highest debut as his breakthrough album, THIS IS IT, lands at No 4 on the Country Album Chart, with first week sales of 26,425 units, sliding in right behind multi-platinum artists Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, and coming up just short of
Alabama with only 55 less albums sold. THIS IS IT's first single, Ingram's rendition of 'Lips of an Angel,' has found a home high on the radio charts and amongst the most-played videos with No 1 positions on CMT and GAC. The single has fueled a high octane internet presence, with Ingram homepage features on iTunes, MSN, Rhapsody, AOL
Music and Yahoo Music!. As the riveting live entertainer with a 'rocking-raconteur stage presence' (Billboard), prepares to hit the road with superstar
Brad Paisley on the Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour in late April, a slew of appearances will be keeping him busy. He'll co-host Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith (April 8), perform live on the CBS Saturday Early Show (April 14), attend the CMT Awards (April 16) where he's nominated in the Wide Open Country category, and be the focus of his own AOL Sessions later this month.
Industry insiders have been predicting Ingram's transition from Country Rock cult hero to bona fide Country star since last summer, when two studio tracks from Ingram's LIVE WHEREVER YOU ARE album took over radio and Country Music Television's Top Ten. The expansive and emotional 'Wherever You Are' went all the way to No 1 and was followed by the tongue-in-cheek Top Ten hit, 'Love You.' Both hits reappear on THIS IS IT, along with 'Lips of An Angel,' and an appearance by Sheryl Crow on 'Hold On,' a rocker of a ballad.
As Country redefines its sound, Ingram steps into the spotlight by splitting the difference between old-school outlaws like Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson and American rockers like Tom Petty. He's recorded and/or toured with Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, Pat Green, Gary Allan – consistently changing lanes between country and rock. The former major label artist finds more success the more renegade he goes. While Ingram's spent the past decade as a sought-after live performer with a solid fan base, it was signing with independent label, Big Machine Records led by Scott Borchetta and renewing his focus on his own Texas rock sound that has led to Ingram's current rise.
