In 1965, when Julie Andrews won an Oscar for Best Actress for her first movie, Mary Poppins, she famously remarked, “I know you Americans are famous for your hospitality, but this is really ridiculous.” Leona Lewis probably has a pretty good idea of how the actress felt. Lewis’ first album, Spirit, enters The Billboard 200 at #1–three weeks after her first American single, “Bleeding Love,” topped the Hot 100. Lewis is the first foreign-born artist to reach #1 in the U.S. with his or her first charted album and first charted single since Spice Girls in 1997. That quintet, which, like Lewis, hails from England, reached #1 with its album Spice and single “Wannabe.”

In the past 52 years, only five other non-American artists have received such a hospitable welcome on the U.S. charts. The Singing Nun (from Belgium) scored in 1963 with The Singing Nun and the novelty-edged ditty “Dominique.” The Beatles turned the music world upside down in 1964 with Meet The Beatles! and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra (from France) was a throwback to a gentler time with its 1968 album Blooming Hits and instrumental smash “Love Is Blue.” Average White Band (from Scotland) scored in 1975 with AWB and the funky instrumental “Pick Up The Pieces.” And Men At Work (from Australia) capitalized on strong MTV appeal in 1982 with Business As Usual and “Who Can It Be Now?”

Except for the Beatles, none of these newcomers really lived up to their fast starts. The Singing Nun never even made the Hot 100 again. Mauriat never had another top 40 hit. Men At Work, AWB and Spice Girls basically had two-year chart careers. It seems that artists do better long-term if they build gradually rather than experience overnight success. What does this mean for Lewis? Plainly, early success doesn’t guarantee a long and substantial career. But the fact that so many of these other acts flamed out quickly doesn’t mean the same thing will happen to her. Talent, drive and luck will play important roles, as they always do, in determining how far she’ll go and how long she’ll stay in the game.

Vangelis (from Greece) nearly made this list with the Chariots Of Fire soundtrack and the instrumental theme “Chariots Of Fire–Titles,” from 1982. But he had had two prior charted albums with Jon & Vangelis, in which he partnered with Jon Anderson of Yes.

“Bleeding Love” returns to #1 on the Hot Digital Songs chart after yielding for two weeks. “Bleeding Love” sold 223,000 downloads this week, its heftiest total to date. This is the fourth straight week that the #1 song on Hot Digital Songs has registered sales of 200,000 or more downloads. That’s a new record, topping the old record of three weeks–another indication that this is a fast-growing market. “Bleeding Love” has topped the 200,000 mark in both of its weeks on top. Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body” and “4 Minutes” by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake also reached that threshold when they topped the chart.

Before the Nielsen/SoundScan era started in 1991, it was unheard of for a debut album to enter the chart at #1. Whitney Houston’s 1985 debut album took 50 weeks to hit the top spot. Mariah Carey’s 1990 debut took 36 weeks. Even in the early years of SoundScan, it was rare for a debut album to open at #1. Toni Braxton’s 1993 debut took 31 weeks to reach the top. But by 2001, when Alicia Keys’ Songs In A Minor bowed at #1, it was a fairly common occurrence.

Houston, Braxton and Keys were all signed to their record deals by legendary executive Clive Davis, who also signed Lewis. Braxton and Keys both won Grammys for Best New Artist. Houston surely would have won, but was (foolishly) struck from the eligibility list because she had earlier recorded a duet or two. (Horrors!) Lewis is the instant front-runner to win the award next year. It’s only April, so that prediction may seem rash, but she has everything that Grammy voters love–a classy sound, undeniable vocal ability, splashy commercial success and the promise of a long career.

Lewis, 23, is the first British solo artist to enter the weekly pop album chart at #1. She’s also the first female solo artist who was born in England to top the chart since Olivia Newton-John scored with back-to-back albums in 1974-1975.

Lewis rose to fame in England after winning that country’s X Factor TV talent competition. The show was launched by Simon Cowell of American Idol fame. Lewis is the second act that Cowell has championed that has landed a #1 album. Cowell was also behind Il Divo, which opened at #1 with Ancora in 2006.

Lewis’s reign atop the Billboard 200 album chart is expected to be brief. Mariah Carey’s E=MC2 is likely to send it packing next week. Two weeks after that, Madonna is due with Hard Candy. If Leona, Mariah and Madonna hit #1 in succession, as I expect, it will be the first time that three female solo artists have debuted at #1 back-to-back-to-back since Monica, Beyonce and Ashanti scored in June and July 2003.

Two of the top three albums this week are by country artists. This is country music’s best showing since late October, when the top three spots were held by Carrie Underwood, Robert Plant/Alison Krauss and Gary Allan. (I’m not counting Eagles, who were in the top three in November with Garth Brooks, as a country act, because they transcend the genre.)