After a consecutive run of 18 weeks for "Bad Day" (Warner Bros.), Daniel Powter abdicates his Adult Contemporary chart throne to a new leader:  Natasha Bedingfield, who claims her first AC No. 1 with "Unwritten" (Epic).

It's been a six-month journey for "Unwritten," Bedingfield's first song to appear on the AC tally.  The single debuted the week of March 18 and first made the top five the week of May 27.  "Unwritten" slipped to No. 6 but then returned to the top five the week of June 17 and has been there ever since, spending the last eight weeks in the runner-up spot before claiming pole position.

"Unwritten" is the fourth new No. 1 of 2006, and the first by a female artist.  Before "Bad Day," the other two songs that advanced to No. 1 in 2006 were "You and Me" by Lighthouse and "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt.

Bedingfield is the first female artist to lead the AC list since Kimberley Locke had a four-week reign with "Up on the Housetop."  That holiday song moved into the penthouse the week of Dec. 17, 2005.

Bedingfield is the first British female to dominate the AC chart since Dido spent four non-consecutive weeks on top with "Thank You" between June and September of 2001.

Powter is not the only Daniel who figures into this chart feat.  Natasha's brother, Daniel Bedingfield, also had one AC chart entry.  "If You're Not the One" peaked at No. 3 the week of June 14, 2003.

Source:  Billboard.com