Country music has always had a unique voice—earthy, honest, and profoundly rooted in storytelling. From traditional folk songs sung in Tennessee to Nashville powerhouses performing crossover stadium anthems, the genre has been at the heart of the American music industry and culture as a whole for a century. Now it’s time to settle a big question: who are the best-selling country singers of all time?

Plenty of lists float around the internet, but many are narrow in scope or misrepresent the genre by blurring genre lines or leaning too heavily on U.S.-only metrics. This ranking does things differently. It uses a consistent, global standard—equivalent album sales (EAS)—that accounts for pure albums, singles (digital and physical), compilation appearances, and performance across both audio and video streaming platforms. This approach captures the full commercial footprint of a country artist’s career, whether they thrived in the vinyl days or dominate today’s playlists.

It’s also important to draw the line where it matters: country music. While artists like Taylor Swift and Elvis Presley have dipped into country sounds, their broader careers and successes belong to pop and rock. Including them would distort the picture. This list focuses solely on singers whose body of work is rooted in the genre, authentically, unmistakably country.

You’ll find legends here, no doubt. Garth Brooks does wonders, having transformed the genre into a commercial juggernaut in the 1990s. George Strait, with his unmatched consistency, earns his place as “King George” for a reason. Johnny Cash brought country to counterculture. Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers proved you don’t need to chase the mainstream to become a household name. Shania Twain put country music into the global map.

But not everyone makes the cut. It’s tough. Artists like Luke Combs are huge right now but haven’t had the time to build the kind of catalog needed to cross the 30 million EAS threshold. Others like Martina McBride, Clint Black, or The Judds had major runs but not enough cross-format sales to climb this high. Even icons like Hank Williams and Buck Owens, though essential to the genre’s legacy, fall short in cumulative numbers, proof that legacy and longevity don’t always align.

This is where sales meet substance. These are the 34 country singers who’ve cracked the 30 million EAS milestone, ranked by total career sales. Get ready to see who truly moved the needle—from honky tonks to international arenas.

Best-selling country artists of all time

#34 – Luke Bryan – 30.3 million EAS

Luke Bryan exploded in the early 2010s as Country’s party-starting hitmaker. With albums like Tailgates & Tanlines (2011) and Crash My Party (2013), he crushed both country radio and digital sales charts, riding a wave of bro-country’s mainstream moment.

His catalog includes massive singles such as Country Girl (Shake It for Me), Play It Again, and Drunk on You, all of which sold millions of downloads. His digital sales contribute a formidable 45.6 million units, on top of 10.4 million studio album sales. On streaming platforms, Bryan has quietly built an impressive catalog presence, adding 11.6 million EAS to his tally.

In recent years, Bryan’s momentum cooled somewhat, and while he remains a strong touring draw and TV personality (notably on American Idol), his EAS growth has plateaued. Even so, surpassing the 30 million mark locks in his status as one of the most commercially successful country stars of the digital age.

#33 – Keith Urban – 30.9 million EAS

Keith Urban’s fusion of country with pop-rock flair earned him mainstream success in both the U.S. and his native Australia. Exploding in the early 2000s, albums like Golden Road (2002) and Be Here (2004) made him a superstar with hits such as Somebody Like You, You'll Think of Me, and Days Go By.

With 18.2 million album sales, Urban was a great seller during the 2000s. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, new hits like Blue Ain’t Your Color and Stupid Boy boosted his digital sales as well, contributing a total of 35 million units, while streaming brings in a solid 4.7 million EAS.

After his commercial peak came in the mid-2000s, he remained critically respected and visible up to the late 2010s. His recent output hasn’t matched his past successes. Still, the breadth of his catalog and his global appeal give him a solid foothold on this list.

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#32 – Loretta Lynn – 30.9 million EAS

One of the biggest names in the history of country music, Loretta Lynn claimed 29 albums and 35 singles that made the Top 10 of Billboard country charts from 1963 to 1977. Her raw and unfiltered lyrics had a real influence on country music’s audience, while hits like Coal Miner’s Daughter, You Ain’t Woman Enough, and The Pill became classics.

Her tally includes 16.9 million albums, 10.3 million compilation sales, and 9 million physical singles. The smaller album market during the 1960s and the lack of mainstream appeal from country music at the time prevented her from selling even more. Her downloads and streams are low, with 3 million digital sales and 574k EAS from streaming platforms.

When she passed away at 90 in 2022, Lynn received a wide wave of praise in line with her legendary status.

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#31 – Charley Pride – 32.5 million EAS

As country music’s most successful Black artist, Charley Pride broke industry barriers in the late 1960s and 1970s with a velvet voice and a string of country chart-toppers like Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ and Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone. His appeal cut across audiences at a time of deep racial division in the genre.

He sold 14.3 million albums and 12 million physical singles, with an additional 14.1 million from compilations. These numbers are enormous for someone who never made the Billboard Top 200 album or singles chart's Top 20. Like every country artist, his sales were massively undercovered on Billboard's charts until the introduction of the SoundScan system in 1991.

Pride’s success was hard-won. After years attempting to enter baseball's big leagues, he got his first country chart-topper when he was already 35 years old. He still went on to record an impressive string of 29 country #1 hits spanning 15 years from 1969 to 1983.

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#30 – Carrie Underwood – 33.7 million EAS

Catapulted to fame after winning American Idol in 2005, Carrie Underwood became an instant country-pop juggernaut. Her debut, Some Hearts, remains one of the best-selling country albums of the 21st century, followed by consistent platinum success with Carnival Ride, Blown Away, and more.

Underwood has sold 18 million albums, and her digital footprint is enormous with 54.4 million downloads—powered by crossover hits like Before He Cheats, Jesus, Take the Wheel, and Blown Away. She is the top seller in this ranking on this format. Streaming adds 6.35 million EAS, a strong showing for an artist whose core audience skews older.

Though newer releases saw her sales drop a bit, Underwood’s early impact, catalog strength, and consistent presence across formats secure her spot in the Top 30 best-selling country artists ever.

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#29 – Morgan Wallen – 35.1 million EAS

Morgan Wallen is the breakout country star of the streaming era. Despite entering the scene in the late 2010s, he’s already amassed 33 million EAS from streaming alone—by far the highest proportion of any artist on this list. His 2021 album Dangerous: The Double Album shattered records (over 3 years in the US Top 10 chart), followed by 2023’s One Thing at a Time, which topped the main US album list for 19 weeks, a record for a country album.

Controversies off the mic haven’t derailed his momentum, and if his trajectory continues, Wallen could be a Top 10 contender within a few years, despite having one of the leanest discographies on this list. With his new album, I'm the Problem, released this month, expect him to skyrocket the ladder very quickly.

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#28 – Vince Gill – 36.2 million EAS

Vince Gill is a special entry on this list, as he is one of the rare country stars to be well known for his technical virtuosity on guitar. Breaking out in the late 1980s, he became a strong figure in 1990s country with hits like I Still Believe in You, Go Rest High on That Mountain, and When I Call Your Name.

He sold 25.4 million albums, alongside 8.7 million compilations. From 1989 to 1998, all eight studio albums went at least Platinum, including five consecutive multi-million sellers. He got a late revival with the million-selling These Days in 2006.

His talent as a guitarist opened the doors at the Eagles' line-up, with the band inviting him to join them in order to replace Glenn Frey after he passed away in 2017.

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#27 – Rascal Flatts – 36.3 million EAS

From 2000 to 2010, Rascal Flatts were the face of country-pop. Albums like Me and My Gang and Feels Like Today sold millions, while singles such as Bless the Broken Road, Life Is a Highway, My Wish, and What Hurts the Most found crossover success—they all sold over 3 million downloads in the US. With 19.4 million album sales scanned at retail in the US during the 2000s, they ranked as the best-selling country band of the decade, dethroning The Chicks.

Overall, they moved 23.2 million albums, had 41 million digital sales, and performed well on streaming with 4.56 million EAS. The group disbanded in 2021, but recently reunited. A new album, Life Is a Highway: Refueled Duets, will be released next month, their first studio album since 2017.

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#26 – Randy Travis – 36.5 million EAS

A key figure in the neo-traditionalist movement of the 1980s, Randy Travis revived country’s core sound at a time when pop influence was rising. His debut landmark album Storms of Life (1986) launched a wave of hits like Forever and Ever, Amen, and Deeper Than the Holler. Follow-up album Always & Forever sold over 6 million units.

Travis racked up 26 million album sales and 7 million compilations, and 2.5 million physical singles. His digital sales (7 million) and streams (1.74 million EAS) are pretty decent for an 1980s singer on the border of country and Christian music.

Health issues curtailed his career in the 2010s, but his early success and deep catalog secure his mid-table position in this ranking.

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#25 – Conway Twitty – 39.3 million EAS

Hitting his first country #1 hit in 1968, by 1980 Conway Twitty was up to 29 chart toppers, a record at the time. He maintained his unstoppable run until 1986, when he got his 40th #1. He preserved this record for two decades, until George Strait improved his tally in 2006. His smooth baritone powered signature tracks like Hello Darlin’, I’d Love to Lay You Down, and Tight Fittin’ Jeans.

Even more impressively, he broke all-time records in the country field despite kicking off his career in the rockabilly genre way back in 1957. His song It's Only Make Believe became a transatlantic #1 smash the following year. He shifted to country music in 1966 when everyone else was crazy about rock music. From his debut album in 1959 to his passing in 1993, he released at least one album every year except in 1965 and 1992.

This paid off as Twitty's accumulated 13.9 million studio album sales, 17 million from compilations, and 21.25 million physical singles. Over the next years, he will pass 40 million EAS. Twitty ranks as the 25th best-selling country singer of all time.

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#24 – Faith Hill – 40.0 million EAS

Alongside Shania Twain, Faith Hill brought glamour and crossover appeal to country in the 1990s and early 2000s. Albums like Faith and Breathe were blockbuster sellers in North America, while hits like This Kiss and There You’ll Be helped her reach global audiences.

Hill's studio albums sold a whopping 33.5 million copies, with remaining formats pushing her total to 40 million. Her relatively compact discography limits her long-term accumulation, but the height of her popularity was massive. The diva stepped back from solo projects after the 2000s, with no new solo album since 2008.

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#23 – Brooks & Dunn – 45.1 million EAS

As the genre's top-selling duo, Brooks & Dunn defined '90s honky-tonk with arena-sized energy. Debut album Brand New Man (1991) did wonders with over 7 million US sales, with Hard Workin’ Man and Waitin' on Sundown selling millions as well.

They also extended their run for a long period, with all their albums up to the final record, with new songs, 2007's Cowboy Town, moving great numbers. To date, they have sold 28.7 million studio albums, with 9.6 million compilation units. Digital sales are strong at 18 million, and streaming adds 3.66 million EAS.

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#22 – The Chicks – 45.7 million EAS

Formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, The Chicks rose with Wide Open Spaces (1998) and Fly (1999), albums that redefined modern country with harmonies and a feminist edge. Home (2002) solidified their critical and commercial standing. These three albums alone combine for 30 platinum awards in the US.

Their 38.5 million studio albums sold are among the highest on this list. Their streams (2.7 million EAS) are healthy as well when we consider that they released only one album (2020's Gaslighter) since 2006.

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#21 – Patsy Cline – 46.0 million EAS

Though her recording career was tragically short due to her death in a plane crash at 30, Patsy Cline’s voice and emotional depth made her an icon. Songs like Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, and Walkin’ After Midnight have outlived every trend.

Her studio albums sold small numbers—3.75 million albums— as the market was very low when they were released in 1957-1962. Sales of posthumous compilations have been a staggering throught at 38.5 million, plus 7.75 million physical singles. With 841k EAS from streams, her catalog is still alive over six decades after her passing.

With 46 million EAS in total, she ranks as the fourth-best-selling female country artist ever.

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#20 – Toby Keith – 47.2 million EAS

Toby Keith's unapologetic swagger defined post-9/11 country music. Early hits like Should’ve Been a Cowboy made him a fixture, but it was anthems like Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue and Beer for My Horses that propelled him into superstardom.

Over the years, he moved 27.4 million studio albums, 11 million compilations, and 29 million digital sales—making him one of the strongest performers in digital formats. Streaming adds another 4.37 million EAS.

Though his output slowed in the late 2010s due to health issues, Keith’s commercial prime stretched across two decades, and his aggressive touring further embedded his songs in country culture.

#19 – Glen Campbell – 49.9 million EAS

A genre-bridging icon, Glen Campbell’s mix of country, pop, and orchestral arrangements made him a household name in the late 1960s and 1970s. Hits like Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman, and Gentle on My Mind gave him broad appeal, and his TV show amplified his star power.

He was one of the rare country stars to become a mainstream seller across Europe, while Wichita Lineman was the first country album to top the Billboard 200 album chart. This broader success made him one of only three country artists to surpass 20 million sales in each studio album, compilation sales and physical singles sales.

He kept going from his debut single in 1958 to his death in 2017, releasing his final album Adiós two months before his passing. Campbell will top 50 million EAS in the upcoming weeks, a score that puts the icon among the 20 best-selling country artists ever.

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#18 – George Jones – 50.1 million EAS

George Jones, often cited as Country’s greatest pure vocalist, also released music across seven decades, from 1955 to 2013. His signature song He Stopped Loving Her Today is universally hailed as a genre-defining moment, but his catalog stretches far beyond a single hit.

His commercial footprint includes 17.2 million albums, 26.9 million compilations, and 12 million physical singles. Digital sales reach 7 million, with 1.36 million EAS from streaming.

Jones’s turbulent personal life, including never-ending alcohol problems, possibly limited his success at times. He remained a very prolific singer, accumulating a total of 44 million studio albums and compilation sales. In total, Jones is just over 50 million, good enough for #18 in this ranking.

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#17 – Hank Williams Jr. – 50.2 million EAS

The heir to a legendary name, Hank Williams Jr., carved out his own space with Southern rock-infused country anthems, ultimately outselling his father comfortably. From Family Tradition to All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight, he embraced a rebel persona that found its audience.

Williams Jr. is another hard worker. 1981's The Pressure Is On, his first studio album that went past Platinum status, was his 33rd effort since his 1964 debut. 2012's Old School New Rules became his highest peak at #12.

This incredible trajectory concludes on sales of 22.6 million from studio albums and 21.2 million from compilations.

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#16 – Kenny Chesney – 51.2 million EAS

Kenny Chesney's sun-soaked brand of country has ruled since the late 1990s. From No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems to When the Sun Goes Down, his music became synonymous with summer, stadiums, and sing-alongs.

From 1995 to 2020, Chesney issued 18 studio albums, all of which reached at least Gold status in the US, one of the longest such runs in the country field. This easily explains how he got to 29.1 million studio album sales. And that's not all, as his 2000 Greatest Hits went five times platinum while he shifted 40 million digital sales, the fourth highest result among artists from this list.

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#15 – Jimmy Buffett – 52.4 million EAS

Jimmy Buffett’s laid-back escapism gave rise to an entire subculture—the Parrotheads. Though more coastal folk than hardcore country, his commercial roots are firmly planted in Nashville, especially early in his career.

Often regarded as a one-hit wonder due to the monumental success of Margaritaville, Buffett's studio albums sold 29 million copies despite none of them reaching 2 million, a sign of a very consistent discography.

His 1985 compilation Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit(s), which peaked at #4 after his passing in 2023, is the best-selling catalog country album since the start of the SoundScan era (1991), with over 7 million sales.

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#14 – Merle Haggard – 55.0 million EAS

Merle Haggard’s Bakersfield twang and outlaw spirit made him a cornerstone of country’s identity. With classics like Mama Tried, Okie from Muskogee, and The Fightin’ Side of Me, Haggard voiced both rebellion and blue-collar pride.

His vast catalog—66 studio albums—makes him one of the most prolific artists on this list. Just like Hank Williams Jr., he debuted in the mid-1960s, but had to wait until 1981 and more than 30 albums to get his first Gold disc.

Through the years, countless compilations came out too, with several of them topping a million. His cross-format total lands at 55 million EAS, the 14th best-selling country artist ever.

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#13 – Tim McGraw – 59.1 million EAS

With a string of No. 1 hits across three decades, Tim McGraw became one of country’s most consistent stars. From Don’t Take the Girl to Live Like You Were Dying and Humble and Kind, he was among the very biggest American artists of his generation, all-genres.

In fact, from Not a Moment Too Soon in 1994 to 2004's Live Like You Were Dying, he released seven consecutive 3+ million sellers in the US. He was the #1 country seller of the 2000s in the US with 24.8 million sales scanned, and only bested by Eminem and the Beatles among all artists. The Rest of Our Life, his 2017 duet album with his wife Faith Hill, is his last good seller. Still, with nearly 7 million EAS from streams, his catalog remains strong. McGraw claims 59.1 million EAS overall.

#12 – Waylon Jennings – 61.2 million EAS

A pioneer of outlaw country, Waylon Jennings brought grit and independence to Nashville’s polished sound. With albums like Honky Tonk Heroes and Dreaming My Dreams, and hits like Luckenbach, Texas, he defined an entire subgenre.

Another country legend among the 1930s generation—11 of them make this list— Jennings released plenty of records. His most successful albums were collaborations with his favorite partner, Willie Nelson. With him, he was part of the Highwayman, while recording hit songs like Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.

The outlaw singer did well in every format despite his 2002 passing—30.3 million studio albums, 23.2 million compilations, 13 million physical singles, 7.5 million downloads, and 2.66 million EAS from streaming.

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#11 – Reba McEntire – 62.3 million EAS

Reba McEntire’s reign spans music, television, and business, making her one of the genre’s most visible ambassadors. Her discography—stretching back to the late 1970s—includes Whoever’s in New England, Fancy, and Is There Life Out There.

Her run of Gold albums bests even Kenny Chesney, with 20 consecutive studio albums and 25 years (from 1984 to 2009) reaching this mark. The 32nd best-selling female singer of all time, she is just outside the top 10 among country stars with 62 million EAS.

#10 – Dolly Parton – 63.9 million EAS

Dolly Parton is country royalty. With a songwriting catalog that includes Jolene, 9 to 5, Coat of Many Colors, and I Will Always Love You, her influence spans far beyond genre boundaries. What a start for the best-selling country artists ever's top 10.

Her commercial stats: 34.6 million albums, 16.4 million compilations, 20.45 million physical singles, 12 million digital sales, and 4.94 million EAS from streaming. Impressive on every front. While many artists from this list have been falling out of grace in the 2020s, Parton is stronger than ever, with 2023's Rockstar becoming her highest peaking album ever at #3.

#9 – Alan Jackson – 67.9 million EAS

He never chased trends, yet somehow Alan Jackson made them. From the honky-tonk twang of Chattahoochee to the somber patriotism of Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning), Jackson struck a chord from dive bars to award stages. His incredible string of platinum albums during the 1990s and the 2000s powered him to 43 million studio album sales.

His two main Greatest Hits albums (I & II) sold over 15 million combined globally. Streaming adds 5.69 million EAS, proving that his catalog remains very popular. All in all, Jackson comfortably lands in the Top 10—proof that you don’t need flash when you’ve got timeless songs and a straight-line delivery.

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#8 – Alabama – 71.2 million EAS

Before country groups were a thing, there was Alabama. The band rewrote the genre’s playbook in the 1980s with a record-setting streak of chart-toppers and anthems like Dixieland Delight and Song of the South. Despite their limited impact on Billboard charts due to their lack of accuracy, the band released seven consecutive multi-million sellers from 1980 to 1985, and they maintained platinum status up to their 1995 album In Pictures.

While they never chased crossover success, their live shows filled stadiums and their harmonies influenced everyone from Brooks & Dunn to Rascal Flatts. Streaming only accounts for 1.93 million EAS, but Alabama’s legacy remains impressive with 71.2 million EAS and an 8th place overall.

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#7 – John Denver – 81.6 million EAS

Take Me Home, Country Roads isn’t just a song—it’s a cultural landmark. The unofficial West Virginia state song. John Denver brought nature, warmth, and folk sensibility into the country scene, winning hearts from Tokyo to Tennessee.

Just like Glen Campbell, his success wasn't limited to North America and Australia, the usual situation for most country stars. Denver sold very well in many places from every continent. Throughout the 1970s, albums like Poems, Prayers & Promises, Rocky Mountain High, Back Home Again, and Windsong were bigger and bigger. Even though his new albums weren't selling much for quite a long when the songwriter passed away in 1997, his studio albums amassed a sizable total of 34.6 million.

Of course, with massive hits, Denver also shifted a large share of live albums and compilations. His 1973's Greatest Hits is well past 10 million global sales. In total, he sold 38.3 million copies with these releases. His catalog remains strong to this day, with streaming accounting for 3.14 million EAS.

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#6 – Shania Twain – 85.0 million EAS

No artist shook up Nashville quite like Shania Twain. With the help of producer Mutt Lange, she transformed country into a global pop powerhouse. Come On Over alone rewrote industry records, and hits like That Don’t Impress Me Much turned into international earworms.

The 1997 classic is up to 47.4 million EAS across all metrics. It is far and away the biggest country album of all time and the fifth biggest era of the 1990s, all-genres. Twain's 85 million total comes almost entirely from three albums only: the aforementioned Come On Over, 1995's The Woman in Me, and 2002's Up!. She would have been even higher if it weren't for her very small prolificacy compared to her peers. Never mind, Shania Twain is the best-selling country female artist of all time.

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#5 – George Strait – 90.6 million EAS

He never danced, rarely gave interviews, and didn’t stray from the sound. Yet George Strait has more No. 1 hits than anyone in country history. Amarillo by Morning and Check Yes or No didn’t just top charts—they became part of the genre’s DNA.

His first 19 studio efforts went Platinum, and his first 30 surpassed the Gold criteria. From 1981 to 2013, that's 32 years of success. Strait’s career is a masterclass in consistency—no reinvention, just an unbroken run of loyalty from fans and radio alike. This adds up to healthy totals, including 58 million studio albums and 23 million compilations.

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#4 – Willie Nelson – 102.9 million EAS

Willie Nelson’s braids, weathered voice, and battered guitar are etched into American music mythology. With On the Road Again, Always on My Mind, and a thousand other tracks, he built a catalog that spans generations. Stating that he’s one of the most prolific artists ever is no overstatement. With up to 102 studio albums, he is still going at 92. In fact, he has released 23 studio albums since he turned 80!

Naturally, he isn't releasing multi-million sellers anymore as he did with 1977's Stardust and 1982's Always on My Mind, but he continues to increase a tally that is already massive: 58.8 million albums, 34.1 million compilations, 12.25 million singles, and 14 million digital units. Streaming brings in another 4.33 million EAS. This pushes him over the magical 100 million EAS mark, one of only four country artists to be there.

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#3 – Kenny Rogers – 115.9 million EAS

Storytelling was Kenny Rogers’s superpower. Of course, we all know The Gambler. A monument in country history, the track was a huge smash and still shines on Spotify. His collaborations with Dolly Parton (Islands in the Stream) and solo smashes like Lucille turned him into one of the genre’s first global ambassadors.

He pushed boundaries even more so than Glen Campbell and John Denver, hitting big time from Chile to South Africa to Brazil to the Philippines.

That gentleman crooner style, which gave him a crossover appeal, didn't reduce his impact in the US either—at over 12 million, his 1980 Greatest Hits remains the best-selling country album released before the 1990s bonanza, and the best-selling compilation of the genre.

He retired after a final concert in Nashville on October 25, 2017, and passed away three years later. The legendary singer sold 49.6 million albums, a whopping 54.5 million compilations, and 27.5 million singles. Rogers' career total of 115.9 million EAS makes him the third-best-selling country artist ever.

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#2 – Garth Brooks – 144.6 million EAS

Borrowing the spectacle of rock and the structure of classic country, Garth Brooks sent country into a new dimension at the start of the 1990s. He filled stadiums, flooded FM radio, and redefined what country music could sell. Ropin’ the Wind, No Fences, Double Live—every one a bombshell. From 1991 to 1998, he had the #1 album in the US for 49 weeks. The biggest artist of the decade, hands down.

His sales were so gigantic that Brooks started to chase Elvis Presley's and the Beatles' RIAA certifications to be crowned the best-selling artist ever in the US. This led to polemical practices. As the RIAA certifies each disc, he released countless heavy box sets at very cheap prices, made new studio albums exclusive to packages with previously released material, and even agreed to exclusivities with some retailers in exchange for non-return clauses to inflate his scores. Out of his 162 million album sales certified in the US, nearly 50 million were obtained from these tactics.

Still, the success of his music was 100% legitimate, even counting boxes as only one unit, he is the best-selling artist on pure sales in the US since his debut to date. That's despite a retirement that went from 2001 to 2014 to take care of his children. Also, his absence from iTunes and streaming platforms reduce his digital impact to nearly zero. And yet here he is with 144.6 million EAS, a monumental total no matter how we look at it.

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#1 – Johnny Cash – 154.7 million EAS

Edging on top to the surprise of many is Johnny Cash. The legendary singer blurred the lines between country, folk, gospel, and rebellion. The Man in Black debuted on the iconic Sun records in 1955, alongside label mates like Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison. That same year he dropped his first stone cold classic -Folsom Prison Blues, followed by I Walk the Line five months later. After various more hits, another widely praised track came out in 1963, Ring of Fire. That year, his first compilation was issued: Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash was the first album ever to lead the newly introduced Billboard's Country Album chart in 1964.

His selling power became evident when 1967's Greatest Hits, 1968's At Folsom Prison and 1969's At San Quentin became consecutive best-sellers off the back of the same pool of tracks. The latter was only the second country album to top the main chart. Even when he wasn't as strong on the surface anymore from the mid-1970s, budget compilations were selling large numbers year in year out.

His career was then rejuvenated with the American Recordings series starting in 1994. It peaked with American IV: The Man Comes Around in 2002. Nearly half a century after his debut, and less than a year before his death, Cash achieved the unthinkable: release the biggest song of his career. Hurt, first noticed after a Nine Inch Nails cover, became a global anthem. The album sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and prompted a stunning wave of catalog sales. From 2003 to 2006, he scanned 12.1 million album sales in the US, more than Eminem, Norah Jones, Usher, and Coldplay.

The hype never really slowed down, with Cash selling many compilations every week both in the US and abroad. Ultimately, his hits packages combined for a record-breaking 108 million sales. Studio album sales (25.6 million), physical singles (27.6 million), and digital sales (29.5 million) are impressive as well. The trademark of an outstanding discography, his streams add for 8.4 million EAS, a higher total than any other artist who peaked before the digital era.

More than sixty years after becoming the first leader of the country album chart, with 154.7 million EAS, Cash is the best-selling country artist of all time.

The best-selling artists list, updated

All-time lists evolve very quickly, as illustrated by the rise of Morgan Wallen in this ranking. Soon, names like Luke Combs and Zach Bryan will enter it.

Our sortable and filterable list of the best-selling artists of all time is the perfect way to keep track of this ranking, and the sales and streams evolution of artists. If you want to dig deeper into one artist statistics, head to his Artist Dashboard page, as shown by this example of Shania Twain’s. If you want to compare two country singers across a large set of statistics, this tool is your dream come true.

Want clarification or just feel like discussing the ranking? Join the conversation on our forum!