Ariana Grande's Petal debuts at number one in America

Ariana Grande has hit the top of the Billboard 200, the most important album chart in the United States, with her eighth studio album Petal. In its first week, 295,000 equivalent album units were sold, marking her strongest opening week since 2019 and giving her a seventh number one entry on that chart.

Grande responded to the news on her Instagram Story with a message of thanks to her fans: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart," she wrote, shortly after it became known that she is stepping back from public life. Her representatives confirmed earlier this month that she will be less visible for a while once her ongoing Eternal Sunshine tour wraps up.

The success of Petal comes against an emotional backdrop. After the music video for the title track was released, online commentary about the singer's appearance and body flared up and visibly affected her. During the first of three shows at the United Center in Chicago, Grande took a moment to address the crowd herself. She said her fans were worried that the negativity was spoiling things, but she reassured them: "Boundaries need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes and also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life." She added that the tour has been the most healing and meaningful experience of her life.

The decision to step back has already had several knock on effects on her schedule outside of music. Grande has withdrawn from the West End revival of Sunday In The Park With George at the Barbican Centre in London, where she was set to appear alongside her Wicked co star Jonathan Bailey. It would have been her West End debut, planned for next summer. Last month it was also reported that she would be sitting out the new season of American Horror Story due to the demands of the tour.

For Dutch and British music fans there is good news though: Grande is still scheduled for a ten night residency at The O2 in London, running from 15 August through 1 September. NME gave the album three and a half stars and described Petal as a record that draws you inward rather than channeling sadness into collective joy, something the magazine said has always been her greatest strength.