Boyle beats Lambert, Rihanna, GaGa to US No.1

Susan Boyle has beaten Adam Lambert, Rihanna and Lady GaGa to the top of the US albums chart.

Her I Dreamed A Dream LP - which has already made No.1 in the UK and Australia - sold 701,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at the summit of the Billboard Hot 100.

The album's seven-day sales tally makes it the fastest-selling debut by a female artist in US chart history - and second-fastest ever behind Snoop Dogg's 1993 arrival Doggystyle.

I Dreamed A Dream recently became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history after shifting 410,000 copies in its first week of release.

Behind Boyle, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli holds steady at two with festive set My Christmas, while American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert bows at three with debut disc For Your Entertainment.

Other new entries in the top ten come from Rihanna, who lands at four with Rated R, and Lady GaGa, who bows at five with The Fame Monster.

However, Shakira has to settle for a number 15 debut with latest LP She Wolf.