Lynyrd Skynyrd Honors A Late Band Member With A New Bestseller

In March 2023, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost founding guitarist Gary Rossington, who passed away at the age of 71 at his home. The beloved musician’s final show with the rock group took place the year prior in Nashville — and, thankfully, it was recorded.

Now, Lynyrd Skynyrd has honored Rossington and given fans a career retrospective with Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman. Taped at the famous Nashville venue, the project brings Lynyrd Skynyrd back to one of Billboard’s most competitive albums charts and scores one of the top debuts in America this week.

Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman Debuts

Celebrating 50 Years opens at No. 22 on the Top Album Sales chart, Billboard’s ranking of the bestselling projects of any style throughout the United States. The set opens with 4,400 pure purchases, according to Luminate.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Follows Lorde, Russ and Barbra Streisand

This week, the group earns the twelfth loftiest debut, as it’s a busy period for exciting new arrivals. The Top Album Sales chart is led by Lorde’s Virgin, and the loftiest four spaces are claimed by brand new efforts. Behind Lorde comes Beautiful Chaos by Kasteye (No. 2), Wild by Russ (No. 3), and The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2 by Barbra Streisand (No. 4).

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Many Bestsellers

Throughout the years, Lynyrd Skynyrd has sent 19 projects to the Top Album Sales chart. Somehow, despite being one of the most beloved American rock acts in history, the group has never reached No. 1. In fact, the musicians have never even cracked the top 10.

Celebrating 50 Years becomes Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first new placement on the Top Album Sales tally since the spring of 2021, when Live at Knebworth ’76 opened at No. 14.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s All Time Greatest Hits

As Celebrating 50 Years appears on the Top Album Sales chart, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s All Time Greatest Hits continues to find space on several other albums rankings – but not the purchase-only tally. At the moment, the group’s compilation lives on the Billboard 200 (No. 92), the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart (No. 24), and the Top Rock Albums list (No. 20).