Carla Bruni's rare television appearance alongside Metallica earlier this week has given the singer a huge sales boost.

Bruni, who married French President Nicolas Sarkozy in February, performed tracks from her latest album 'As If Nothing Had Happened' on Later...with Jools Holland.

"Our store managers say they have been seeing a lot more people coming in asking about her album,” a HMV spokesperson told the Sun newspaper.

It's understood that internet interest in Bruni's album has also increased.

As well as perform, she also gave an intriguing insight into her life as the first lady of France.

Asked by Holland how she approached her two lives, Bruni replied: "I don't really mix them up - I separate them. I play my music and then I go with my husband when he needs me."

She also admitted to disturbing her husband in the night with her music but said it did not “drive him mad”.

(by Jason Gregory)