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 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. Rascal Flatts — 18.5 million units Rascal Flatts broke up in 2021 after 20 years together.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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.
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
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.
Getty Images
20. Kid Rock — 23.5 million units Kid Rock was one of the first country rap artists.
Gary Miller/Getty Images
19. Johnny Cash — 23.5 million units Johnny Cash is a country music legend.
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