DAME Vera Lynn is celebrating her 100th birthday this week in style by becoming the first centenarian to have an album in the UK charts.
The album, featuring re-orchestrated versions of some of her classic songs, made the top 3 with only Ed Sheeran and rapper Drake keeping it off the top spot.
Dame Vera said: “I have been quite overwhelmed by the response to my 100th birthday and now the icing on the cake is the news that my new Decca album is No. 3 in the UK Album Charts.”
The Forces’ Sweetheart rose to prominence during the Second World War, having started performing when she was just seven.
She later dominated the music charts when they began in 1952 and continued to rack up hits over the decades.
Official Charts Company Chief Executive Martin Talbot said: “What a fantastic achievement for Vera Lynn, to set these amazing landmarks and find herself rubbing shoulders in the albums Top 5 with Ed Sheeran, Drake, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man and Depeche Mode.
“I’m sure they feel equally as honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as such a genuine British icon.”
On the album, Dame Vera is joined by an all-star line-up of British singers including Alfie Boe, Alexander Armstrong and Aled Jones to perform newly-composed duet parts.
Her version of Sailing is also included – it was not generally known that she had even recorded the song.
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