Winfrey Credited With Lewis’ Success

Pop star LEONA LEWIS has OPRAH WINFREY to thank for her recent U.S. chart success – because it was the TV titan’s overwhelming support that helped her single BLEEDING LOVE soar to the top of the charts, according to bosses at her record label.

The former winner of British reality TV show The X Factor made history last week (begs24Mar08) by securing the coveted number one slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – making her the first U.K. female solo artist to achieve the feat in over 20 years.

Lewis embarked on a massive promotional campaign in America prior to the single’s release, and most notably appeared on Winfrey’s show, Oprah, to rave reviews from the talk show queen.

And bosses at the star’s record label Sony BMG insist winning the support of Winfrey was the key to chart dominance.

Sony BMG U.K. International Vice President Dave Shack says, “Oprah was lighting the touch paper to rocket Leona beyond the likes of Usher to number one.

“It gave the platform it (the single) needed and it feels really, really good. We’re all excited about where it leads to the album.”

Lewis’ debut LP Spirit is released in the U.S. on 8 April (08).

(LR/SDS/MT)