Grammy gals Jones and Lavigne top chart

Norah Jones and Avril Lavigne, two of this year’s entries in the Grammy best new artist competition, hold the top two places, respectively, on the nation’s album sales chart, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Jones’ “Come Away With Me,” which is also nominated for album of the year, sold 114,000 last week to hold on to the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week, while Lavigne’s “Let Go” sold 105,000 copies, which enabled the CD to move up one spot to No. 2.

The Dixie Chicks’ “Home,” another Grammy album of the year nominee, sold 87,000 copies to finish No. 3, while the soundtrack for “Chicago” entered the charts this week at No. 4 by selling 83,000 copies.

-- Robert Hilburn