Tate McRae Scores Her First No. 1 Album With 'So Close To What'
The Calgary star nudges Drake and PartyNextDoor's $ome $exy $ongs 4 U to No. 2 on both the Billboard Canadian Albums and the American Billboard 200 charts – a rare case of two Canadian albums in the top two slots.
Tate McRae is so close to superstardom.
The Calgary pop singer has notched her first No. 1 album with So Close To What, topping the Billboard Canadian Albums chart on the chart dated March 8. Shebumps Drake and PartyNextDoor's $ome $exy $ongs 4 U to no. 2, there and on the Billboard 200 — a rare occasion where Canadians have the top 2 albums in both Canada and the U.S.
It marks a major ascension for the Canadian star, who has been building her profile since her breakthrough with 2020's "You Broke Me First." In the five years since, McRae has evolved into one of Gen Z's biggest singers and performers.
She switched up the sad-pop style of that early single for 2000s radio pop throwback on her second album, 2023's Think Later, scoring a huge global hit with the "Promiscuous"-influenced "Greedy."
On So Close To What, she doubles down while also bringing in Miami bass, dancehall and more, delivering a record that splits the difference between referencing pop greats of the past and looking ahead.
McRae expressed her excitement at the No. 1 debut on Instagram.
She's accompanied the album rollout with videos that show off her skills as a top-tier dancer, especially in the video for recent single "Revolving Door," which is a showcase for McRae's sleek movements.
That song debuts at No. 13 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 this week and No. 22 on the American Hot 100. Her highest placement is the sultry "Sports Car," which she performed on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. That track sits at No. 11 on the Canadian Hot 100 and No. 16 in the U.S.
McRae has 15 songs in total on the Canadian Hot 100 this week. She heads out on the Miss Possessive World Tour this month to extend her dominance, and will perform six Canadian dates in August.
At the top of the Canadian Hot 100, ROSÉ and Bruno Mars' "APT." holds on for a second week. Mars also holds the No. 2 spot with his Lady Gaga duet "Die With a Smile." Lola Young's frustration anthem "Messy" also hits a new peak in the top ten at No. 7.
Sometimes when an album floods the Canadian Hot 100, it immediately disappears the week after, but that's not the case with $ome $exy $ongs. Drake and PartyNextDoor notch 16 tracks on the chart this week, though they are mostly falling, not climbing. "Nokia" drops 5-10 and "Gimme a Hug" moves down 10-39.
Check out the full charts here and all of Billboard Canada's charts here.
