Luke Combs Breaks Garth Brooks’ Record for Country Artist Certifications

Nashville, TN – Luke Combs has officially surpassed Garth Brooks to become the highest-certified country artist in history, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The announcement revealed that Combs has sold and streamed a combined total of 168 million units, compared to Brooks’ 162.5 million. Brooks had held the record for over twenty years.

In a statement, Combs expressed disbelief at the news. “When my team first told me about this, my initial reaction was, ‘Are you sure? There’s no way,’” he said. “It was only 8 years ago that I got my first [RIAA] plaque for ‘Hurricane’ going gold.”

Combs credited his loyal fan base for his success, saying, “I’m super humbled by the fans’ belief in me and support of my music today and over the years. This achievement is more so theirs than it is mine.”

Combs also holds the record for the most Diamond-certified singles among country artists, with four singles surpassing 10 million units each. These songs are “Beautiful Crazy,” “When It Rains It Pours,” “Hurricane,” and “She Got the Best of Me.”

Currently, Combs’ single “Back in the Saddle” is climbing to No. 8 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. He recently released a three-song set titled The Prequel, featuring tracks like “My Kinda Saturday Night,” “15 Minutes,” and “Days Like These.”

This year has been eventful for Combs, as he is nominated for three awards at the upcoming CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. Additionally, he and his wife, Nicole, recently announced they are expecting their third child.

After a successful worldwide tour in 2024, Combs will headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, making him the first country artist to do so. He is also set to headline the Austin City Limits Music Festival later this month.

As for the biggest names in music, the RIAA states that the highest-certified artist across all genres is Rihanna, with 298.5 million units sold and streamed, followed by The Beatles at 242.5 million. Luke Combs is now ranked ninth among all artists.