Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” Becomes Band’s First Single Ever to Be Certified Diamond

Bon Jovi scored their biggest hit with the rock anthem “Livin’ on a Prayer,” which took over the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in February and March of 1987. Now, the classic tune has achieved an impressive milestone, getting certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for amassing 10 million sales and streams in the U.S.

Earlier this week, Bon Jovi and the RIAA posted a photo on their social media sites of frontman Jon Bon Jovi grinning widely while holding the Diamond award. “Livin’ on a Prayer” becomes the New Jersey rockers’ first single to be certified Diamond.

[RELATED: Jon Bon Jovi Admits He Wasn’t a Fan of “Livin’ on a Prayer” When First Written]

“Livin’ on a Prayer” was co-written by Jon, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, and songwriter Desmond Child. It was the second single issued from the band’s 1986 breakthrough a1bum, Slippery When Wet. The first single was “You Give Love a Bad Name, which also was co-written by Bon Jovi, Sambora, and Child. That song became the group’s first to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100 in November 1986.

Slippery When Wet wound up topping the Billboard 200 for seven straight weeks in early 1987, and became the best-performing album of that year.

Other Recent Bon Jovi Certifications

“Livin’ on a Prayer” was one of eight Bon Jovi releases that received new certifications from the RIAA this week. Here’s a rundown of the other seven:

—Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi’s best-selling album, was certified 16-times platinum for sales and stream of 16 million in the U.S.

–“Wanted Dead or Alive,” the third single released from Slippery When Wet, was certified six-times platinum.

–“You Give Love a Bad Name” was certified five-times platinum.

–Bon Jovi’s 2000 single “It’s My Life” was certified three-times platinum.

— Cross Road, the band’s 1994 best-of compilation, was certified seven-times platinum.

–The band’s 1984 debut single, “Runaway,” was certified platinum.

–Bon Jovi’s 2003 album This Left Feels Right was certified gold for 500,000 sales and streams in the States.

Bon Jovi Releasing Expanded Greatest Hits Album

Bon Jovi recently announced plans to release its 2010 Greatest Hits album on the vinyl for the first time in celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary. The 16-track collection will be issued as a two-LP set on September 13, and can be pre-ordered now. The album will be available on standard black vinyl and limited-edition smoke-colored vinyl packaged with one of three unique lithographs.