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 units
Luke Bryan has been a judge on "American Idol" since 2018.
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24. Hank Williams Jr. — 19.5 million units
Hank Williams Jr. is the son of one of the most influential country musicians of all time, Hank Williams.
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23. Brooks & Dunn — 21.5 million units
Brooks & Dunn were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
22. Carrie Underwood — 22.5 million units
Carrie Underwood won "American Idol" in 2005.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Carrie Underwood
21. Jimmy Buffett — 23 million units
Jimmy Buffett died in 2023.
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19 (tie). Kid Rock — 23.5 million units
Kid Rock was one of the first country rap artists.
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19 (tie). Johnny Cash — 23.5 million units
Johnny Cash is a country music legend.
Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
18. Vince Gill — 24 million units
Vince Gill is married to the "Queen of Christian Pop," Amy Grant.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
16 (tie). Toby Keith — 25.5 million units
Before his death in 2023, Toby Keith earned 20 No. 1 country songs.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI
16 (tie). Faith Hill — 25.5 million units
Faith Hill has won five Grammy Awards.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
15. Linda Ronstadt — 30 million units
Linda Ronstadt's music falls into many genres, including country.
Paul Natkin/Getty Images
14. Willie Nelson — 31.5 million units
Willie Nelson is also an actor who has appeared in films such as "Thief," "Half Baked," and "Blonde Ambition."
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13. The Chicks — 33 million units
The Chicks removed "Dixie" from their name in 2020.
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12. John Denver — 33.5 million units
John Denver died in a plane crash in 1997.
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11. Kenny Chesney — 35 million units
Kenny Chesney won the Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year for four years in a row.
Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI
9 (tie). Tim McGraw — 41 million units
Tim McGraw has released 17 studio albums.
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9 (tie). Reba McEntire — 41 million units
Reba McEntire was recently a coach on "The Voice."
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8. Alan Jackson — 44.5 million units
Alan Jackson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
7. Kenny Rogers — 47.5 million units
Kenny Rogers had a decades-long friendship with Dolly Parton.
David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images
6. Shania Twain — 48 million units
Shania Twain is the most successful female country musician of all time.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ACM
5. Alabama — 49 million units
Alabama is the best-selling country band of all time.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
4. Taylor Swift — 57 million units
Taylor Swift began her career as a country singer before transitioning to pop.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
3. George Strait — 69.5 million units
George Strait has a record-breaking 44 No. 1 country songs under his belt.
Paul Natkin/Getty Images
2. Elvis Presley — 146.5 million units
Elvis Presley got his start in country music as a young boy in Mississippi.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1. Garth Brooks — 162 million units
Garth Brooks has released nine platinum albums, the most of any artist.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
