Luke Combs Makes History as Highest-Certified Country Artist, Surpassing Garth Brooks
Luke Combs has made history as the highest-certified country artist by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), surpassing Garth Brooks. With a combined 168 million units sold and streamed, Combs has taken the top spot from Brooks, who held the record for over 20 years. Combs expressed his gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support throughout his career, emphasizing that this achievement belongs to them as much as it does to him.
In addition to this milestone, Combs already held the record for the most Diamond-certified singles for a country artist, with four songs reaching the 10 million units mark. These songs include “Beautiful Crazy,” “When It Rains It Pours,” “Hurricane,” and “She Got the Best of Me.” Combs’ latest single, “Back in the Saddle,” is climbing the Billboard Country Airplay chart, adding to his list of accomplishments.
This year has been exceptional for Combs, with three CMA Awards nominations, including entertainer of the year, and the announcement of his third child with wife Nicole. Following his successful worldwide tour in 2024, Combs has focused on playing festivals and made history as the first country artist to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. He is set to headline the Austin City Limits Music Festival later this month.
While Drake holds the title of the RIAA’s highest-certified artist across all genres, with 298.5 million units sold and streamed, and Taylor Swift follows closely behind at 242.5 million units, Combs now ranks ninth among all artists. His dedication to creating music that resonates with his fans has solidified his position as a prominent figure in the country music industry.