Luke Combs has reached a new career milestone, becoming the highest RIAA certified country artist of all time with 168 million units sold. The record-breaking achievement adds to an already remarkable year for the Asheville, North Carolina native.
Reflecting on the moment, Combs admitted he was stunned:
“When my team first told me about this, my initial reaction was, ‘Are you sure? There’s no way.’ It was only 8 years ago that I got my first plaque for ‘Hurricane’ going gold. I knew then, without a doubt, I had the best fans in the world. The song had gone platinum before they could even give me the gold plaque. I’m super humbled by the fans’ belief in me and support of my music today and over the years. I know this does not happen without them. This achievement is more so theirs than it is mine. All I ever hoped and dreamed of from the beginning of this crazy ride was to make music that made people feel something and I can’t wait to continue making country music for the rest of my life.”
New Music and CMA Nominations
Combs released The Prequel last week, a three-song collection featuring “My Kinda Saturday Night,” “15 Minutes” and “Days Like These.” The release comes as he racks up three nominations at the 2025 CMA Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Single of the Year for “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma.”
His current single, “Back in the Saddle,” continues to climb the Billboard Country Airplay chart, now sitting at #8. Meanwhile, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” recently became his 19th #1 single. With this streak, Combs holds the record for the most consecutive #1 singles of any artist to begin their career, spending a total of 53 weeks at the top of the Country Airplay chart.
A Year of Milestones
Beyond chart success, Combs has reached streaming and certification records few can rival. He is the first country artist with two songs surpassing one billion streams on Spotify and the first with four singles certified RIAA Diamond. His latest album, Fathers & Sons, received critical praise for its reflections on parenthood, with NPR noting that Combs “has become a pop star, a global popstar.”
Collaborations and Ventures
Combs’ collaborations continue to expand his reach, with recent features alongside Post Malone, Bailey Zimmerman, Jon Bellion, and Alex Warren. He also partnered with Opry Entertainment Group to launch Category 10, a new entertainment complex in downtown Nashville.
Known for his high-energy performances, Combs recently became the first country artist to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. He’ll add Austin City Limits Music Festival to his résumé this weekend, following earlier festival stops at Newport Folk Festival and New Orleans JazzFest.
His live appearances have also included standout moments, from his unforgettable duet of “Fast Car” with Tracy Chapman at the Grammy Awards to joining Eric Church, Billy Strings, and James Taylor for the “Concert for Carolina,” which raised more than $24.5 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
Cementing His Legacy
With record-breaking certifications, chart dominance, and unforgettable performances, Luke Combs continues to push country music into uncharted territory. For him, the recognition is less about numbers and more about connection.As Combs put it: “All I ever hoped and dreamed of from the beginning of this crazy ride was to make music that made people feel something.”
