Chase Rice released his new seven-song project, The Album Part 1, on Jan. 24. The EP was strategically released to coincide with Chase’s drama-filled appearance on ABC’s The Bachelor on Jan. 27.

One of the show’s contestants, Victoria F., previously dated Chase. During the episode, bachelor Peter surprised Victoria F. by taking her to Chase’s concert. Reality show drama ensued.

As Chase told the titular host of The Ty Bentli Show before the album was released, he hoped his exposure on The Bachelor would boost album sales, even though he was not thrilled with how the show threw him “under the bus.”

“The thing is, I knew [Victoria F.] was going to be on the show going into the very beginning of it, and we talked about it,” says Chase. “We were just like, ‘You know what? They’re not going to do that. There’s no way. They’re not going to involve me in the storyline.’ And sure enough, we underestimated them.

“It just seemed really unnecessary to be honest. I mean, it’s never happened before where one of the guests of the show gets involved, and I don’t believe that was a coincidence. I’m just going to be straight up, I can’t point the blame to anybody, but that’s why I twisted it to the music, because I mean, when [Peter and Victoria F.] turned the corner, obviously I’m the surprise for the date, and it’s just weird. But when I thought about it, I was like, ‘Okay, they’re going to throw me under the bus.’ I wanted to make it about the music. That’s why I dropped the album now. It’s like, ‘All right, if they’re going to do that, I’m going to put out The Album Part 1 and hopefully by the end of week, thank them for a number one album.’

“I have zero desire to be part of some BS reality TV drama. I could care less about that. This was not a coincidence. I put the album out on purpose right now. Then hopefully at the end of the week, I can be like, ‘Hey, thanks y’all for the BS drama. I got a number one album.’ That’s all I care about.”

Well, the numbers are in.

Chase’s The Album Part 1 moved 11,000 equivalent units in its debut week, according to Nielsen Music, which was good enough for the No. 6 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. In addition, The Album Part 1 was the highest-selling new release on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.