RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Hollywood & Entertainment Lana Del Rey Manages A Chart First Among Women By Hugh McIntyre ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts. Follow Author Jul 30, 2026, 08:45am EDT Jul 30, 2026, 09:40am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary Lana Del Rey’s 'Born to Die' reaches 650 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the first album by a solo female artist to hit that milestone. The 2012 release rises to No. 111 as it extends its run to more than 12 and a half years on the ranking. 'Born to Die' now stands as the sixteenth-longest-charting album in the history of the Billboard 200 chart, though it never reached No. 1.
Lana Del Rey fans expected a new album in 2025, but it never materialized. The singer-songwriter has spoken several times about the collection, which has changed names repeatedly, and she has already released several singles from the set, including “Henry, Come On,” “Bluebird” and “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter.” Those tracks have all become at least minor hits on various Billboard charts.
Diehard fans of the Grammy nominee’s work continue to wait for what is now called Stove – which may be one of multiple albums Del Rey is developing. In the meantime, her breakout major-label project remains enormously popular and keeps her on the charts. This week, Born to Die helps Del Rey become the first solo female musician to reach an incredible milestone on the most important albums ranking in the United States.
Born to Die rises from No. 116 to No. 111 on the Billboard 200 , which ranks the most-consumed albums and EPs in the U.S. The chart blends traditional purchases, track sales and streaming activity to show what Americans are listening to.
As it climbs, Born to Die celebrates its six-hundred-fiftieth week on the Billboard 200. That’s more than 12 and a half years on the 200-position roster.
Born to Die becomes the first album by a solo female musician to spend 650 weeks on the Billboard 200. No other collection credited solely to a woman has reached that milestone.
Only one other album by an act that officially features women has remained on the tally for that length of time. Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours , recorded when the band included both Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie, has so far accumulated 695 frames on the Billboard 200.
Born to Die now ranks as the sixteenth-longest-charting release of any kind in American history. The next album likely to reach that figure is AC/DC’s Back in Black . The rock blockbuster is currently up to 646 turns on the roster, leaving it only four frames away from matching Del Rey’s new milestone – though it’s not present on the list at the moment.
These are the longest-charting albums in the history of the Billboard 200.
Despite its incredible popularity and longevity, Born to Die never topped the Billboard 200. The album debuted and peaked in the runner-up position in February 2012. Several other collections by Del Rey have also stalled at No. 2, including Honeymoon and Chemtrails Over the Country Club .
Two projects have brought the singer-songwriter to the summit. Ultraviolence and Lust for Life both arrived at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Each of them spent one frame running the show before stepping aside.
Born to Die appears on another two Billboard charts this week, and it ranks inside the top 40 on both of them. The full-length rises from No. 20 to No. 18 on the Top Alternative Albums chart. It simultaneously advances from No. 33 to No. 31 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums ranking.
Born to Die has now lived on all three charts on which it currently appears for more than 600 weeks. That is especially notable on the two genre-specific lists, where some of the releases that have outlasted Born to Die on the Billboard 200 are not eligible to compete.
Del Rey also appears on both of Billboard ’s worldwide songs rankings with “Summertime Sadness,” her collaboration with Cedric Gervais. The track gains ground on the two lists this frame, inching to Nos. 128 and 140 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and Billboard Global 200 charts, respectively.
“Young and Beautiful” gives Del Rey another worldwide hit. The track returns to the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart at No. 179, but it doesn’t land on the Billboard Global 200.
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