LADY'S FIRST: Following its pair of victories at the Country Music Association Awards a week ago (Nov. 11), for vocal group and single of the year ("I Run to You"), Lady Antebellum scores top honors on Billboard's Country Songs chart.

The Nashville trio snares its second No. 1, as "Need You Now" lifts 2-1. "I Run to You" led the list dated July 25.

Chart Beat reader Shawn Jackson of Lyons, Neb., notes that "Need You Now" becomes the 30th song to ascend to the top of Country Songs this calendar year, the most since 1994, when 30 songs also reached No. 1.

The year began with Rascal Flatts' "Here" advancing 2-1 in the chart week ending Jan. 3. Of 2009's 30 chart-toppers, Keith Urban leads with three. Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum each boast two.

With four chart weeks in December still on the horizon, 2009 could challenge 1993 (32 No. 1s) for most leaders since the survey converted to Nielsen BDS-monitored airplay data in 1990.

(The record for most No. 1s in a year on Country Songs is 51, set in 1985 and 1986).

Lady Antebellum is scheduled to release its sophomore album, "Need You Now," Jan. 26.


'CLUB' MUSIC: Fifteen years after Sheryl Crow's debut album "Tuesday Night Music Club" began conquering radio, one of the landmark collections of the '90s yields a new chart entry, as "Killer Life" bows at No. 30 on the Triple A adult alternative airplay chart (viewable at billboard.biz).

"Tuesday Night Music Club" was re-released yesterday (Nov. 17), augmented with a second disc of b-sides, rarities and out-takes, as well as a bonus DVD featuring the album's videos ("Leaving Las Vegas," "All I Wanna Do," "Strong Enough," "Can't Cry Anymore," "Run, Baby, Run" and "What I Can Do For You," plus an alternate version of "All I Wanna Do" directed by Roman Coppola).

The package additionally contains a newly-produced documentary revealing backstage, soundcheck and live footage from when Crow toured in support of the album's original release.

"Somehow amidst the dance divas of MTV and the dark angst of Seattle grunge," writes Crow's manager, Scooter Weintraub, in the album's liner notes, "Sheryl's salty voice, twangy Telecaster, frayed Levis, red curls and bent upper lip scratched their way into the musical culture."

"Killer Life," one of four previously-unreleased cuts originally intended for the follow-up to "Tuesday Night Music Club," is Crow's 19th Triple A charted title, most among women; Tracy Chapman and Sarah McLachlan rank second with nine entries apiece.


PHOENIX RISING: "1901" by Versailles, France's Phoenix, reaches the top 10 on Alternative Songs in its 19th chart week, charging 13-9 with its first Greatest Gainer award.

The song has been prominently featured in TV commercials for the 2010 Cadillac SRX, while another track, "Lisztomania," from the band's fourth studio album, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix," has received exposure in trailers for the film "Where the Wild Things Are" and in TV shows including "Cougar Town," "Entourage" and "Royal Pains."

After completing tour dates in Europe and the U.S., the quartet will participate in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Not in the four-man bobsled, however. The band will perform its music as part of the Cultural Olympiad festivities Jan. 22.


COMPLETE BEAT: Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" not only scales the summit of Country Songs, but the ballad also roars up the Billboard Hot 100 and Digital Songs.

Check Chart Beat tomorrow for a full round-up of this week's chart action, including the Billboard 200, where Bon Jovi collects its fourth No. 1 and 10th top 10 with "The Circle." Since Oct. 4, 1986, when Bon Jovi first appeared in the chart's top tier, the band is tied with U2 for second-most top 10s among rock groups; Dave Matthews Band leads the category with 11 top 10s in that span.