Taylor Swift sells 1.2 million copies of "Red"

Taylor Swift's new studio album is a smash hit.

The 22-year-old singer sold 1.2 million copies of "Red" in its first week -- the largest sales week for any album in a decade. According to Billboard, Swift has the most albums sold in a single week since 2002, when Eminem's "The Eminem Show" sold 1.322 million

Nielsen SoundScan confirmed the blockbuster sales on Tuesday night. "Red" marks Swift's second straight album to sell more than 1 million copies in its first week; "Speak Now," her third album, sold a little over 1 million copies when it was released in 2010. She is the only woman to have two albums sell more than 1 million copies in its first week.

Swift's "Red" is only the 18th album to sell a million units in a one week since SoundScan began counting sales in 1991.

"They just told me Red sold 1.2 million albums first week. How is this real life?! You are UNREAL. I love you so much. Thanks a million ;)," Swift tweeted to her 20 million-plus million followers Tuesday night.

Swift isn't a boy band, but she's certainly got the appeal of one: the country crossover has a huge following, particularly among teens who have followed her since she was a teen herself, releasing her first album. But she's also a critic's darling: The Grammy-winner's "Red" garnered plenty of acclaim when it was released last week.

Swift was omnipresent in the week of the album's release, appearing on such shows as "Good Morning America," "Dancing with the Stars" and "Katie." She also joined with two untraditional partners - Papa John's and Walgreens, which offered the album for sale. And she announced her upcoming tour.

The last album to sell more than 1 million copies in its debut week was Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," which sold 1.1 million copies last year. However, that album was deeply discounted on Amazon.com in its first week.

Swift has the opportunity to celebrate for a second time this week: As the reigning "Entertainer of the Year" at the CMA Awards, she has the chance to capture the trophy again when it is held Thursday in Nashville.