Pop sensation Conan Gray has achieved a significant career milestone with his newest album, “Wishbone,” which has debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, marking his first chart-topping album. The record simultaneously landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, surpassing his previous entries and establishing a new high-water mark for the 25-year-old artist’s commercial success.
“Wishbone” generated impressive first-week numbers, moving over 71,000 total units with 53,000 in pure album sales—Gray’s strongest commercial launch to date. This achievement represents a notable improvement over his previous releases, “Kid Krow” (2020) and “Found Heaven” (2024), both of which peaked at No. 2 on Top Album Sales but never claimed the top position.
Shattering personal records, Gray’s “Wishbone” dominates charts with 71,000 units sold—finally claiming the No. 1 spot that eluded his previous works.
Critics have enthusiastically embraced the album, with Clash Magazine declaring it Gray’s “career best” and Associated Press recognizing him as a “tastemaker of Gen Z pop.” Rolling Stone praised Gray’s newfound confidence, highlighting his most assured vocal and creative performance yet, while Billboard honored the collection as their “Editor’s Pick Of The Week.”
The album’s creation involved longtime collaborator Dan Nigro as executive producer, continuing a partnership that began in 2018 and previously yielded multi-platinum hits “Heather” and “Maniac.” Additional production came from a team including Ethan Gruska, Noah Conrad, Luka Kloser, and Elvira, though Gray maintained complete creative control as the album’s sole writer. Much of the album was crafted during downtime from touring, allowing Gray to fulfill his dream of creating this particular body of work.
Gray celebrated the release with a performance on the Today Show’s Summer Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza, showcasing tracks like “This Song,” “Vodka Cranberry,” and “Caramel.” A trilogy of interconnected music videos directed by Danica Kleinknecht accompanies the album, filmed in Gray’s native Texas and following a narrative focused on characters Wilson and Brando. Gray’s success demonstrates how personal branding plays a crucial role in establishing an artist’s unique identity in the competitive music industry. His team also implemented strategic pre-save campaigns on streaming platforms to build anticipation before the album’s release. The artist will soon embark on “The Wishbone Pajama Show” tour starting September 11, which includes his first-ever performance at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
With “Wishbone,” Gray has definitively elevated from emerging indie artist to established pop fixture, with the album’s commercial and critical triumph representing a pivotal moment in his ascending career trajectory.
