Credit: Billboard
This certification news establishes Combs’ career trajectory as one of the fastest and most monumental in modern music. His 168 million units place him ninth among all artists in RIAA history, just behind global icons like Drake and Taylor Swift. Combs’ success is already cemented in the diamond tier, where he holds the country artist record with four Diamond-certified singles—each having sold or streamed over 10 million units. These massive hits include “Beautiful Crazy,” “When It Rains It Pours,” “Hurricane,” and “She Got the Best of Me.”
The “Hurricane” singer was genuinely surprised by the news. In a statement, Combs recalled his initial reaction: “‘Are you sure? There’s no way.’ It was only 8 years ago that I got my first [RIAA] plaque for ‘Hurricane’ going gold.” He immediately credited his massive achievement to his audience, stating, “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.”
The record comes amid a stellar year for Combs. He recently released The Prequel, a new three-song set that features “My Kinda Saturday Night,” and is up for three CMA Awards in November, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year. Furthermore, Combs has been instrumental in bridging country music to new audiences, making history as the first country artist to headline both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. With his current single “Back in the Saddle” continuing to climb the charts and a headlining slot at the Austin City Limits Music Festival scheduled for later this month, Luke Combs is clearly defining the sound and scope of country music’s next generation.
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