The best-selling country musicians of all time

Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood are two of the most successful country musicians of the 21st century.Jason Davis/FilmMagic/Getty ImagesThe 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 Luke Bryan.Did you know two of the top three best-selling musicians of all time are country music artists?Elvis Presley and Garth Brooks trail only the Beatles in record sales.Country music is one of the most popular genres in music, with its own set of stars, award shows, and hall of fame.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 have received nominations at country award shows like the CMAs or the ACM Awards.Here's who made the cut, from No. 25 to No. 1.25. Luke Bryan — 19 million unitsLuke Bryan has been a judge on "American Idol" since 2018.Getty24. Hank Williams Jr. — 19.5 million unitsHank Williams Jr. is the son of one of the most influential country musicians of all time, Hank Williams.Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images23. Brooks & Dunn — 21.5 million unitsBrooks & Dunn were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019.Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum22. Carrie Underwood — 22.5 million unitsCarrie Underwood won "American Idol" in 2005.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Carrie Underwood21. Jimmy Buffett — 23 million unitsJimmy Buffett died in 2023.Getty Images19 (tie). Kid Rock — 23.5 million unitsKid Rock was one of the first country rap artists.Gary Miller/Getty Images19 (tie). Johnny Cash — 23.5 million unitsJohnny Cash is a country music legend.Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images18. Vince Gill — 24 million unitsVince Gill is married to the "Queen of Christian Pop," Amy Grant.Rick Diamond/Getty Images16 (tie). Toby Keith — 25.5 million unitsBefore his death in 2023, Toby Keith earned 20 No. 1 country songs.Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI16 (tie). Faith Hill — 25.5 million unitsFaith Hill has won five Grammy Awards.Michael Loccisano/Getty Images15. Linda Ronstadt — 30 million unitsLinda Ronstadt's music falls into many genres, including country.Paul Natkin/Getty Images14. Willie Nelson — 31.5 million unitsWillie Nelson is also an actor who has appeared in films such as "Thief," "Half Baked," and "Blonde Ambition."Brandon Bell/Getty Images13. The Chicks — 33 million unitsThe Chicks removed "Dixie" from their name in 2020.Frank Micelotta/Getty Images12. John Denver — 33.5 million unitsJohn Denver died in a plane crash in 1997.Paul Natkin/Getty Images11. Kenny Chesney — 35 million unitsKenny Chesney won the Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year for four years in a row.Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI9 (tie). Tim McGraw — 41 million unitsTim McGraw has released 17 studio albums.Michael Hickey/Getty Images9 (tie). Reba McEntire — 41 million unitsReba McEntire was recently a coach on "The Voice."Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images8. Alan Jackson — 44.5 million unitsAlan Jackson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.Rick Diamond/Getty Images7. Kenny Rogers — 47.5 million unitsKenny Rogers had a decades-long friendship with Dolly Parton.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images6. Shania Twain — 48 million unitsShania Twain is the most successful female country musician of all time.Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM5. Alabama — 49 million unitsAlabama is the best-selling country band of all time.Rick Diamond/Getty Images4. Taylor Swift — 57 million unitsTaylor Swift began her career as a country singer before transitioning to pop.Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management3. George Strait — 69.5 million unitsGeorge Strait has a record-breaking 44 No. 1 country songs under his belt.Paul Natkin/Getty Images2. Elvis Presley — 146.5 million unitsElvis Presley got his start in country music as a young boy in Mississippi.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images1. Garth Brooks — 162 million unitsGarth Brooks has released nine platinum albums, the most of any artist.Theo Wargo/Getty ImagesRead the original article on Business Insider

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