‘American Idol’ winner tops chart

The “American Idol” phenomenon continues as Kelly Clarkson’s debut album entered the national sales chart at No. 1 on Wednesday, outselling new collections by red-hot rapper 50 Cent and longtime pop-rock force Fleetwood Mac.

Clarkson, the former cocktail waitress from Texas who won the first “American Idol” competition last year, topped the chart after her “Thankful” CD sold 297,000 copies during its first week in the stores.

But her stay at the top may be brief. Madonna’s “American Life” got off to a fast start in its first day in stores Tuesday, and retailers expect it to enter the chart at No. 1 next week.

50 Cent’s “New Breed,” a combination DVD and CD, debuted Wednesday at No. 2, selling 246,000 copies. That gives him two entries in the Top 5. The New Yorker’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ ” album is No. 5.

Fleetwood Mac’s new “Say You Will” sold 218,000 to finish No. 3, while country singer Darryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten?” sold 214,000 for fourth place.

Two high-profile releases, meanwhile, slipped from the Top 10. Lisa Marie Presley’s debut album fell from No. 5 to No. 14, while Ginuwine’s “Senior” fell from No. 6 to No. 22.

The White Stripes’ critically lauded “Elephant” fell from No. 13 to No. 21 in its third week in the stores as several new albums moved past it. But its sales held fairly steady at 65,000 copies. “Elephant” has sold more than 250,000 copies in three weeks -- almost 40% of the total sales of the band’s previous album, 2001’s “White Blood Cells.”