Winehouse album is top UK seller in 21st century

The UK heaved a sigh of relief today after it was revealed that James Blunt had been overtaken by Amy Winehouse as the artist with Britain's biggest selling album of the 21st century.

Winehouse, who died last month aged 27, replaces the much-maligned former army officer after the Official Charts Company revealed her second album Back to Black had sold a total of 3.26 million copies – pipping the 3.25 million sales for Blunt's Back to Bedlam. Dido's No Angel, released in 2001, is third with a total of 3.07 million copies sold.

The news follows the announcement this week that legendary American crooner Tony Bennett – famous for his 1960s easy listening classic I Left My Heart in San Francisco - will introduce an Amy Winehouse tribute at this weekend's MTV Video Music Awards.

Bennett had recorded a duet with the jazz singer before her death. "It was a thrill to record with Amy Winehouse," he said, describing her as "one of the most honest musicians I have ever known". The record, Body and Soul, will be released as a charity single by Columbia Records, with profits going to a foundation established by the late singer's family. ·