Chart Beat now offers a sneak peak at chart action with a first-look edition on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, when all of our online charts are refreshed with the latest data, Chart Beat appears as always in its full form, spotlighting achievements from among our entire menu of charts.


'SOBER' UP: Pink becomes the first artist in the 13-year history of the Adult Top 40 airplay chart to string together three consecutive No. 1s, as "Sober" steps 2-1. She scored her first leader with "Who Knew" in October 2007 and followed with "So What" in December.

Not a bad feat for an artist whose sound was too rhythmic-leaning to draw any chart ink at Adult Top 40 when she arrived in 2000. Her first three singles, "There You Go," "Most Girls" and "You Make Me Sick," from her debut album "Can't Take Me Home," all reached the top 20 at Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic, but did not chart at Adult Top 40.

In 2001, Pink teamed with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Mya for her first Adult Top 40 appearance, the foursome's No. 25-peaking cover of LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade." Her sophomore set, "M!ssundaztood," sported a more mainstream pop sound, with writing and production credits from 4 Non Blondes' Linda Perry, and continued her momentum at Adult Top 40, producing three top 20 hits: "Get the Party Started," "Don't Let Me Get Me" and "Just Like a Pill."

In 2007, "U + Ur Hand" became Pink's first top five at the format, reaching No. 5 and paving the way for her current chart-topping streak.

Dating to the Adult Top 40 chart's 1996 launch, Pink matches Daughtry, Goo Goo Dolls and Santana with a trio of No. 1s apiece. They trail only Nickelback, the leader with five chart-toppers, and Matchbox Twenty (four).

The coronation of "Sober" also marks the first Adult Top 40 No. 1 for co-writer Kara DioGuardi. The "American Idol" judge (and former Billboard employee) previously penned top 10s at the format for Kelly Clarkson ("Walk Away"), Santana ("I'm Feeling You") and Ashlee Simpson ("Pieces of Me").


THE KING REIGNS AGAIN: On the heels of being honored as the Academy of Country Music's top act of the decade, George Strait scores his record-padding 44th No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, as "River of Love" rolls 3-1.

The song extends the Country Music Hall of Famer's record set when "Give It Away" became his 41st No. 1 in September 2006, surpassing the mark of 40 trips to the summit which Conway Twitty held for 20 years; the late Twitty logged his 40th No. 1, "Desperado Love," in September 1986. Strait had matched Twitty's total when "She Let Herself Go" ascended to the top in January 2006. "River" is Strait's first No. 1 since "I Saw God Today" last May. He first led with "Fool Hearted Memory" on the chart dated Aug. 28, 1982.

Recorded Sunday (April 6), "George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert" will air on CBS-TV May 27, featuring Jamie Foxx, Alan Jackson and Taylor Swift among its packed lineup. Speaking of Foxx ...


JAMIE FOXX RULES RHYTHMIC: The actor/singer ascends to his first No. 1 on the Rhythmic airplay chart as a lead artist, as "Blame It" climbs 2-1. The song is Foxx's third leader at the format; his previous two, in his first two chart appearances, were in featured roles: on Twista's "Slow Jamz," with Kanye West, in 2004 and on West's "Gold Digger" in 2005.


COVER STORY: Seether scores the first top 10 remake at Modern Rock in five years, as "Careless Whisper" charges 13-8. The band's unlikely update of Wham's 1985 Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary No. 1 is the first cover to reach the upper tier since 311's reinvention of the Cure's 1989 classic "Love Song" rose to No. 1 in April 2004.

"Whisper" is Seether's fourth Modern Rock top 10 from the album "Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces." "Fake It" and "Rise Above This" reached No. 1, and "Breakdown" climbed to No. 4.


COMPLETE BEAT: Check back tomorrow for this week's expanded Chart Beat encompassing all of our charts. We'll detail the maiden coronation for Keith Urban atop the Billboard 200, where his new album, "Defying Gravity," begins at the summit. The country star had twice peaked as high as No. 3 in five prior appearances dating to 2000.