If you hadn't heard of Joy Villa before the 2017 Grammys, you certainly have by now. The 25-year-old singer wore a Donald Trump dress to Sunday night's awards show, and social media has not been quiet about the controversial move. Bustle reached out to the singer for comment on the dress, but has yet to receive a response. The buzz has reportedly helped her boost record sales, but you're likely wondering exactly how high they've "skyrocketed." So, how much did Joy Villa's album sales increase after the Grammys? Well, as of yet, there doesn't appear to be any statistics readily available.
According to both Fox News and CBS Pittsburgh, her 2014 EP I Make The Static jumped to the top of Amazon's top digital paid albums after her red carpet appearance. It's currently sitting at No. 1 ahead of records like Bruno Mars' 24K Magic, Beyoncé's Lemonade, and Lady Gaga's Joanne. The five-song project is also in the top spot on iTunes' Top Albums chart. Neither site seems to have public figures for how many sales such a feat requires.
It's understandable why listeners would take such headlines with a grain of salt. In January, Donald Trump claimed on Twitter that America's Got Talent alum Jackie Evancho's album sales had also soared after she was confirmed to perform the National Anthem at his presidential inauguration. Billboard, who tracks record sales through Nielsen Music, later fact-checked the comment with inconclusive results. Evancho's sales had increased, but the publication explained that it could be because it was a Christmas album, and most holiday albums receive a sales spike in the chart weeks approaching Christmas.
Without solid numbers, it's difficult to judge how much Villa's own album sales have leaped, but it's clear she succeeded in one thing: making a statement. She initially arrived at the Grammys in a white, flowing cape, but later whipped it off to reveal a red, white, and blue gown emblazoned with Trump's name and his campaign slogan, "Make America great again."
Despite online backlash, Villa defended the decision on Instagram. "Go big, or go home. You can either stand for what you believe or fall for what you don't," she wrote. "Life is made to be lived, so go boldly and give no effs!"
Give no effs, she did. I think we can all agree on that.
