Move over, Garth — there’s a new king of country music sales.
Luke Combs has officially claimed the title of highest-selling country artist of all time, surpassing Garth Brooks’ decades-long reign. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Luke now holds an eye-popping 168 million certified units from sales and streams. That pushes him ahead of Garth’s total of 162.5 million.
For anyone keeping track, that makes Luke not just the country chart champ, but also one of the best-selling musical artists across all genres. He now ranks ninth overall in the RIAA’s all-time standings — rubbing elbows with legends like The Beatles, Rihanna, and Eminem.
Luke responded to the milestone with the kind of humility that’s made him a fan favorite. “When my team first told me about this, my initial reaction was, ‘Are you sure? There’s no way…’”
“I’m super humbled by the fans’ belief in me and support of my music. This achievement is more so theirs than it is mine.”
Even more mind-blowing? He only got his first gold plaque eight years ago. That’s right — in less than a decade, Combs has rocketed from rising star to all-time sales leader in a genre packed with heavyweights.
And in case you’re wondering, this isn’t some “technicality” record padded by merch bundles or streaming quirks. This is legit, RIAA-certified success based on combined physical sales, digital sales, and streaming.
The man’s music is everywhere — on the radio, on your playlists, and clearly, in millions of people’s hearts (and ears).
Of course, Garth is still Garth. He changed the game in the ’90s and set a bar few thought could ever be cleared. But Luke’s meteoric rise shows how the country landscape is evolving — blending traditional storytelling with modern platforms and massive streaming reach.
If you needed proof that country music is still thriving — and that fans are very much along for the ride — this is it.
Long live the king… or should we say, the Combs.
