The best-selling country musicians of all time

Entertainment

The best-selling country musicians of all time

2024-09-20T14:34:19Z

Shania Twain in 1999. — Shania Twain is one of the best-selling female country musicians.

Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images

The best-selling country artists of all time include Elvis Presley, Tim McGraw, and Shania Twain.
We used RIAA’s data to compile this list based on total album units sold in the US.
Only three artists on this list debuted in the 2000s: Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Rascal Flatts.

Advertisement

Country music is one of the most popular genres in music, with its own set of stars, award shows, and hall of fame.

In fact, two of the top three best-selling musicians of all time are country music artists: Elvis Presley and Garth Brooks.

We used the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) list of best-selling artists, ranked by albums sold, to pick out the top 25 most successful country musicians of all time.

To qualify as a country star, a musician’s output had to primarily appear on country charts, or the artist had to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, nominated in the country genre at the Grammys, or received nominations at country award shows like the CMAs or the ACM Awards.

Advertisement

Here’s who made the cut, from No. 25 to No. 1.

Advertisement

25. Rascal Flatts — 18.5 million units

Rascal Flatts broke up in 2021 after 20 years together.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

24. Hank Williams Jr. — 19.5 million units

Hank Williams Jr. is the son of one of the most influential country musicians of all time, Hank Williams.

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Advertisement

23. Brooks & Dunn — 21.5 million units

Brooks & Dunn were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

22. Carrie Underwood — 22.5 million units

Carrie Underwood won “American Idol” in 2005.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Carrie Underwood

Advertisement

21. Jimmy Buffett — 23 million units

Jimmy Buffett died in 2023.

Getty Images

20. Kid Rock — 23.5 million units

Kid Rock was one of the first country rap artists.

Gary Miller/Getty Images

Advertisement

19. Johnny Cash — 23.5 million units

Johnny Cash is a country music legend.

Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

18. Vince Gill — 24 million units

Vince Gill is married to the “Queen of Christian Pop,” Amy Grant.

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Advertisement

17. Toby Keith — 25.5 million units

Before his death in 2023, Toby Keith earned 20 No. 1 country songs.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI

16. Faith Hill — 25.5 million units

Faith Hill has won five Grammy Awards.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Advertisement

15. Linda Ronstadt — 30 million units

Linda Ronstadt’s music falls into many genres, including country.

Paul Natkin/Getty Images

14. Willie Nelson — 31.5 million units

Willie Nelson is also an actor and has appeared in films like “Thief,” “Half Baked,” and “Blonde Ambition.”

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Advertisement

13. The Chicks — 33 million units

The Chicks removed “Dixie” from their name in 2020.

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

12. John Denver — 33.5 million units

John Denver died in a plane crash in 1997.

Paul Natkin/Getty Images

Advertisement

11. Kenny Chesney — 35 million units

Kenny Chesney won the Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year for four years in a row.

Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI

10. Tim McGraw — 40 million units

Tim McGraw has released 17 studio albums.

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Advertisement

9. Reba McEntire — 41 million units

Reba McEntire recently was a coach on “The Voice.”

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images

8. Alan Jackson — 44.5 million units

Alan Jackson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Advertisement

7. Kenny Rogers — 47.5 million units

Kenny Rogers had a decades-long friendship with Dolly Parton.

David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

6. Shania Twain — 48 million units

Shania Twain is the most successful female country musician of all time.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM

Advertisement

5. Alabama — 49 million units

Alabama is the best-selling country band of all time.

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

4. Taylor Swift — 51 million units

Taylor Swift began her career as a country singer before transitioning to pop.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Advertisement

3. George Strait — 69.5 million units

George Strait has a record-breaking 44 No. 1 country songs under his belt.

Paul Natkin/Getty Images

2. Elvis Presley — 146.5 million units

Elvis Presley got his start in country music as a young boy in Mississippi.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Advertisement

1. Garth Brooks — 162 million units

Garth Brooks has released nine platinum albums, the most of any artist.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Advertisement

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content