In 2016, 22 different albums topped the chart; placings were based on electronic point of sale data from retail outlets.
[1] In the issue of Billboard dated January 2, Chris Stapleton was at number one with Traveller, its fifth week in the top spot.
Traveller's first run of the year in the top spot was ended by Joey + Rory's first chart-topping album Hymns That Are Important to Us,[3] which reached number one in the issue of Billboard dated March 5; Joey Feek, the female half of the husband-and-wife duo, died on March 4 at the age of 40.
[4] Several other acts topped the chart for the first time in 2016, beginning with Sturgill Simpson,[5] who spent a single week at number one in May with A Sailor's Guide to Earth, which would go on to win the award for Best Country Album.
One album reached number one on both the Top Country Albums chart and the all-genre Billboard 200 in 2016: Jason Aldean held the top spot on both listings in the issue of Billboard dated October 1 with They Don't Know.