The Big News: Aided by the collective powers of Simon Cowell and Oprah, Artist to Watch Leona Lewis‘ first album Spirit rocketed to the top of the chart, selling 204,841 copies on its way to becoming her the first British solo artist to ever have a debut album open atop the U.S. charts. A pair of country artists occupied two and three, with George Strait’s Troubadour and James Otto’s Sunset Man selling in the 50Ks. NOW 27 clung to number four, while R.E.M.’s Accelerate hung around at five after debuting last week at two. (more…)