The Singing Nun is the debut studio album by Belgian musician and former religious sister Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers, released by Philips Records in 1963. A surprise hit, the album topped the Billboard 200 and other charts internationally for several weeks and sold millions of copies, particularly on the strength of the single Dominique. The album was initially intended to be a give-away, recorded for local children who enjoyed music from the local nunnery, but Philips decided to try giving it a widespread release, resulting in a huge commercial and critical success, garnering sales certifications and award nominations. No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for 10 weeks, from the issue of December 7, 1963. Wiki link