"AMERICA" THE BEAUTIFUL

Nothing proclaims that America is the greatest country on earth like a year-old album from an Irish New Age singer or a new metal disc from a British expatriate. Nothing except, perhaps, a collection of superstars singing songs celebrating the greatest country on earth.

Which is why Columbia's God Bless America—with Celine Dion, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Mariah Carey and more—debuts at the top of the HITS album chart this week. Reprise's Enya keeps gaining to land at #2, and Ozzy Osbourne's new Epic set bows at #3.

Here's Wherehouse's Bob Bell, explaining why Americans who love America love America the Beautiful: "It's no surprise that the God Bless America LP, as the first of the high-profile benefit records to come out, shows an enormous outpouring of support for the cause." And by outpouring, he obviously means doing their patriotic duty and spending their tax rebates.

But wait, there's more of this kind of insight—precisely the kind of acumen that makes us proud to be Americans: "This Enya record has been a true phenomenon. The sustained selling power is amazing, in that after nearly a year in the streets, sales are still increasing. And then there's Ozzy. Ozzy rules!"

Bell then went out behind the gym to smoke with the other heshers.

Other Top 20 debuts come from opera singer Andrea Bocelli (Philips) at #12 and great patriot John Mellencamp (Columbia) at #13.

It's also evident that rock is back. Nickelback, in fact. Gains by the Roadrunner/IDJ band and Warner Bros.' Linkin Park (10% and 9%, respectively) show the love of God and country and guitars. Arista's Usher continues to grow as well.

Look for a shakeup in the Top 10 and beyond next week, with DMX, Incubus, Bush, C-Murder, the Cranberries and a live Dave Matthews Band all debuting.