Dustin Lynch Scores No. 1 Debut Album!

Posted Aug 30th 2012 12:20PM by Stephen L. Betts
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Frederick Breedon IV, Getty Images

Country newcomer Dustin Lynch is celebrating several milestones this week. As his debut single, "Cowboys and Angels," moves into the Top 10 on Billboard's Country Songs charts and has now surpassed sales of 500,000, the Tennessee native's self-titled debut album bows in the No. 1 spot on the Top Country Albums chart. The latter feat makes Dustin the only new male artist to have his inaugural album debut at the pinnacle in 2012.

"I moved to Nashville nine years ago," Dustin, now 27, tells The Boot. "I'm literally a nine-year overnight success. I dreamed of doing music my whole life. Garth Brooks was my hero, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, the whole class of '89. Garth was always the frontrunner. He was just like a superhero to me growing up. He's the reason I sing country music and I told him that when I met him. Singing country music, even though I was a little over an hour away in Tullahoma, growing up, it was still a very sacred, untouchable and unfathomable career. I know people who move across the world to come here but an hour drive is long ways, too. It's been a lifelong dream but now with the success of 'Cowboys and Angels,' it's been life-changing."

When Dustin Lynch was released shortly after midnight last Tuesday (Aug. 21), the collection stormed the iTunes Country Albums chart and stayed at the top for four days straight. But it's a safe bet that if he had to buy the album himself, the singer would have gone the more traditional brick-and-mortar route.

"I'm a country music fan first and foremost," says Dustin. "There's something I love about going to Wal-Mart or Target, anywhere that sells actual CDs. I love going into stores and buying the actual album because I'm a fan. I live for looking at album artwork and who played on what song, where it was recorded. All that stuff is very important to me."

For more of The Boot's exclusive interview with Dustin Lynch, click here.

Watch Dustin Lynch's 'Cowboys and Angels' Video