NEWSIdol Gives Diamond Extra Sparkle
May 14 2008, Published 10:00 a.m. ET
There's an awful lot of former contestants out there who will tell you that appearing on American Idol doesn't necessarily do anything for your career.
But the show has given at least one singer a boost this season.
Neil Diamond has just scored his first-ever number one album, two weeks after appearing on Fox's primetime smash.
The 60s legend mentored the Idol finalists and then performed the single Pretty Amazing Grace on the results show.
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Now Home, produced by Rick Rubin, has debuted at number one in the Billboard Top 200 albums chart.
According to Billboard, the closest the Sweet Caroline star ever got to the top spot before that was with the soundtrack to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which reached No. 2 in 1973.
Mariah Carey's E=MC2 also hit No. 1 two weeks after she appeared on Idol.
Dolly Parton, whose Backwoods Barbie came out in February and peaked at No. 17, was the only mentor who didn't see her album rocket to the top after mentoring the Idols.
