Taylor Swift's new album, 'Red,' sells 1.2 million copies in first week

With a Golden Globe nomination in the best original song category for 'Safe & Sound,' Taylor Swift has twice the reason to celebrate Thursday, which is also her 23rd birthday.
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Posted: 10/31/2012

By: Breeanna Hare CNN

(CNN) -- We can just imagine the face Taylor Swift is making right now with the news that her newest album, "Red," sold 1.2 million in its first week.

"How is this real life?! You are UNREAL" Swift, 22, tweeted in reaction Tuesday. "I love you so much. Thanks a million."

Her first week sales arrived higher than the industry's projection of 1.1 million, which means Swift not only has her third No. 1 on the Billboard 200, but a new record to go with it.

While Lady Gaga notched 1.1 million sold when "Born This Way" arrived last May, Swift's slightly higher sales week makes "Red" the biggest sales week of any album in 10 years. According to Billboard, the last album to perform as well was Eminem's "The Eminem Show," which sold 1.322 in its first week out in 2002.

To top it off, Swift's also the only woman to claim two sales weeks that hit a million since SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991. Her album "Speak Now" sold 1.047 million in its first week in 2010.