Best Selling Country Albums of the Last 10 Years

Justin Moore co-wrote nine out of the 10 songs on his debut studio album. The album includes crossover hit “Small Town USA,” which reached the 44th position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart and No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

Singer and songwriter Chris Young released his second album, “The Man I Want to Be,” in 2009, but it would not be certified platinum until 2018. The record features three No. 1 country singles: “Voices,” “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” and “The Man I Want to Be.”

Blake Shelton, known by many outside of country music for his work as a judge on NBC’s music competition show “The Voice,” rose to country superstardom throughout the aughts. His first greatest hits album, “Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton,” was released in 2010 and included selections from the five studio albums he’d released up to that point.

Australian singer Keith Urban released his pop-country album “Get Closer” just one year after his album “Defying Gravity.” “Get Closer” contains only eight tracks, three of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: “You Gonna Fly,” “Long Hot Summer,” and “Without You.”

Justin Moore released “Outlaws Like Me” less than two years after his self-titled album debut. Moore co-wrote 11 of the 13 songs on the album, which often veers out of country and into rock territory.

Chris Young demonstrated his ability to reach a nearly perfect balance between harder country music and pop on his third album, “Neon.” The record spawned four singles and two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: “Tomorrow” and “You.”

Jake Owen’s third album “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” was the singer and songwriter’s first No. 1 country album. It also featured his first No. 1 country single in the album’s title track. It’s Owen’s best selling record to date.

Prior to the release of his debut album “Up All Night,” Kip Moore wrote songs for acts such as Thompson Square and Frankie Ballard. When it came time to record his own album, Moore stuck to some of the popular basics of modern country: trucks, girls, and drinking.

Kenny Chesney is a hero of contemporary country. Not surprising, his 13th studio album “Welcome to the Fishbowl” sold 1 million copies. The album features No. 1 country hit “Come Over,” as well as the duet single “Feel Like a Rock Star,” which Chesney performed with Tim McGraw.

Kacey Musgraves’ “Same Trailer Different Park,” her major label debut, climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 on April 6, 2013, the highest chart position ever for the young musician from east Texas. Musgraves infuses classic country sound with a millennial sensibility. Singles from the album include “Merry Go Round” and “Follow Your Arrow.”

Keith Urban has had two albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and “Fuse” was one of them. The Grammy-award winning country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist released six singles from the album, including “We Were Us,” which rose to No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Singer Thomas Rhett was only 23 when he released his debut album “It Goes Like This” in 2013. Prior to the album’s release, Rhett cut his teeth writing songs for acts, including Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line.

Cole Swindell’s self-titled album has been his most successful, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 on March 8, 2014. Swindell, a former songwriter for country music star Luke Bryan, is in the bro-country segment of country music. Of the four singles from the album, the one that rose the highest was “Chillin’ It,” which reached No. 28 on the Hot 100 pop chart and No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

“Just As I Am” was one of two albums to reach the No. 2 position on the Billboard 200 for Brantley Gilbert. Of the four singles from the album, two — “Bottoms Up” and “One Hell Of An Amen” — have been Brantley Gilbert’s biggest hits. The Georgia native had a musical epiphany when he was 19 years old after surviving a near-fatal car accident.

The title of Miranda Lambert’s fifth album, “Platinum,” can refer to the singer’s hair, her fame, or — as of 2016 when it was certified platinum by the RIAA — the number of copies it’s sold. The 16-track record also won the Grammy award for Best Country Album the year it was released.

Country singer, songwriter, and television personality Blake Shelton has had two chart-topping albums, with “Bringing Back The Sunshine” peaking on the Billboard 200 on Oct. 18, 2014. The single “Sangria,” one of four singles from the album, climbed to No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. Shelton has five albums on the best selling country album list, more than any other artist.

While not as successful as their debut album “Here’s to the Good Times,” country duo Florida Georgia line had a hit with their second album, “Anything Goes.” The most popular single from the record — which showcases the group dabbling in various musical styles — is “Dirt,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country music chart.

“Pain Killer,” the sixth studio album from American country music group Little Big Town, was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Country Album. It was the group’s fourth-most successful album, rising to No. 7 on the Billboard 200 on Nov. 8, 2014.

Grammy award-winning country singer-songwriter Garth Brooks has placed 19 albums in the Billboard 200 top 10 since 1991, including “Man Against Machine,” which peaked at No. 4 on Nov. 29, 2014. Neither of the two singles “People Loving People” and “Mom” cracked the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Hit-maker Carrie Underwood has had four albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, though her “Greatest Hits: Decade #1” failed to do so. The hits collection reached No. 4 on Dec. 27, 2014 on the Billboard 200. Among the hit singles on the album is her lone No. 1 on the Hot 100 pop chart, “Inside Your Heaven.” Underwood has four albums on the best selling country album list.

Zac Brown Band’s 2015 release “Jekyll + Hyde” is the band’s most sonically diverse album, covering numerous music styles across its 16 tracks. The album even features a crossover hit, “Heavy Is the Head,” featuring the late Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell. The song reached No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart.

Singer Thomas Rhett, who wrote songs for major country acts Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, has three albums on this list. “Tangled Up” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 on Oct. 17, 2015. Four of the five singles from the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Carrie Underwood’s fifth studio album combines a number of rock-tinged songs with more personal ballads, including “What I Never Knew I Always Wanted” about her son, who was born just months before the album’s release. Singles “Heartbeat,” “Church Bells,” “Smoke Break,” and “Dirty Laundry” all broke into the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Eric Church has had two No. 1 albums, and “Mr. Misunderstood” climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Church’s appeal is reflected in the attendance record he broke at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on May 25 — he drew 56,521 people to his first-ever stadium show. Church also received a plaque commemorating 30 million records that he has sold throughout his career.

Keith Urban, who won Entertainer of the Year at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards, has three albums in the best selling country albums list, including “Ripcord” — his ninth studio album rose to No. 4 on the Billboard 200. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” was the top single from the album, climbing to No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Jon Pardi, who was raised in California, unapologetically sticks with country’s blue-collar roots, eschewing trendy crossovers of rap phrasing and pop melodies. “California Sunshine” is his second album and most successful, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard 200. Pardi won Best New Artist at the Country Music Association Awards in 2017.

“Dig Your Roots” is Florida Georgia Line’s third studio album and third album to go platinum. While the album maintains the duo’s penchant for pop, it is decidedly more mellow than their earlier releases. The single “H.O.L.Y.” spent an impressive 18 weeks at No. 1 on the country songs chart and reached No. 14 on the Hot 100 pop music chart.

Garth Brooks’s 2016 release “The Ultimate Collection” is a 10 disc-boxed set featuring his then-new album “Gunslinger” and nine other discs of music selected from the singer’s extensive catalog. The RIAA has certified each of the individual discs as platinum: “Old School;” “Midnight Fire;” “Cowboys;” “The Road,” which is spread across two discs; “Anthems;” “The Covers,” “RPMs,” “Turn It Up,” and “Gunslinger.” The set was released exclusively through Target, with “Gunslinger” receiving an additional separate release.

Miranda Lambert released her double disc “The Weight of These Wings” following her divorce from fellow country musician Blake Shelton. The album was a huge success and won the award for Album of the Year at the 2017 Academy of Country Music Awards.

The Chattanooga, Tennessee, singer’s self-titled album was his second-most successful, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Earlier that same month, Kane Brown made musical history when the then-24-year-old became the first artist to top all five of Billboard’s main country charts at the same time — Top Country Albums, Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Digital Song Sales, and Country Streaming Songs.

Brett Young, who won New Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards, had his second-most successful album with the self-titled “Brett Young.” The album, which rose to No. 18 on the Billboard 200, included singles such as “Sleep Without You” and “In Case You Didn’t Know.”

Singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton’s “From A Room: Volume 1” harkens back to the stripped down country stylings of the 1970s outlaw movement. The album won the Grammy for Best Country Album in 2017, Album of the Year at the 2018 ACM Awards, and Album of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards.

“Life Changes” was the first, and so far the only, No. 1 album for Thomas Rhett, reaching the top spot on the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. The album featured singles “Marry Me” and “Life Changes.” Rhett was named Male Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2019.

Kenny Chesney’s 2017 live album consists primarily of songs released in the beginning of the 2000s. It also features numerous covers and guest appearances by musicians such as Taylor Swift, Eric Church, and Dave Matthews.

The prolific Miranda Lambert has had six albums reach the top 20 in the Billboard 200. “Revolution” was the third, climbing to No. 8. “White Liar” and “Heart Like Mine” were two of the singles off of the album that charted in the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

“Red River Blue” was the first No. 1 album for hit machine Blake Shelton, topping the Billboard 200 chart on July 30, 2011. The biggest-selling single from the album is “Honey Bee,” which rose to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Carrie Underwood’s fourth album is a slice of pop country perfection in the tradition of Shania Twain and Faith Hill. “Blown Away” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and spent seven weeks at the top, making Underwood the second country artist in the chart’s history to have each of his or her first four albums debut at No. 1.

Blake Shelton enters the best selling country albums list again with “Based on a True Story…” The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was his third most successful album by that metric. Shelton has five albums on the best selling country album list, more than any other artist.

Louisiana-born singer Hunter Hayes’ self-titled album reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums. Hayes has been nominated for five Grammy awards. The single “Wanted” rose to No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart on Billboard.

In his fifth album, Luke Bryan approaches more mature subjects than on his previous party-oriented works. The 13-track album generated six singles, each of which reached at least No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Two of these singles — “Kick the Dust Up” and “Strip It Down” — hit No. 1.

“This One’s For You” is the most successful album for the Asheville, North Carolina, native, climbing to No. 4 on the Billboard 200 on June 16, 2018. The album spawned five singles, and the two most successful songs on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart were “Beautiful Crazy” (No. 21) and “She Got the Best of Me” (No. 31).

Carrie Underwood’s triple-platinum third album produced three No. 1 country singles: “Cowboy Casanova,” “Temporary Home,” and “Undo It.” “Play On” also won Favorite Country Album at the 2010 American Music Awards.

Zac Brown Band’s second album didn’t lose any of the momentum of their first, producing four No. 1 country singles — “As She’s Walking Away,” “Colder Weather,” “Knee Deep,” and “Keep Me in Mind” — and a fifth single that hit No. 2, “No Hurry.” The album was a major crossover hit, reaching the top position not only on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart but also the Billboard 200, which includes all genres.

Eric Church’s third album, “Chief,” contains the musician’s only two No. 1 country songs to date: “Springsteen” and “Drink in My Hand.” The record also won Album of the Year at the CMA Awards in 2012.

Georgia native Sam Hunt originally had a professional football career in mind. When that didn’t pan out, he learned to play guitar and he’s never looked back. “Montevallo” is his most successful album so far, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. All five songs from the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, with “Take Your Time” rising the highest to No. 20.

Chris Stapleton made a career as an in-demand songwriter in Nashville before releasing his debut album “Traveller.” The record would propel him to country music superstardom. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and also won the Grammy award for Best Country Album. It was also nominated for Album of the Year.

Jason Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” has gone four times platinum, based on RIAA certification. All five singles from the album charted in the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Aldean has enjoyed great success, with four of his albums reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

“Tailgates & Tanlines” was the third studio album for Bryan. It debuted at No. 2 but wasn’t able to claim the top spot on the Billboard 200. Bryan has had four albums top the Billboard 200, and 12 have charted. “Tailgates & Tanlines” produced four singles, and all four charted in the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

“Crash My Party” is hit-maker Luke Bryan’s biggest hit to date, spending two weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200. The album would stay on the chart for 233 weeks. All six singles from the album charted on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now,” her third LP, is the only album in which the country music queen wrote all the songs herself. The 10-time Grammy award-winning Swift, who has become country’s biggest crossover star, sings about topics including love, romance, and heartbreak on the album. The debut of “Speak Now” at No. 1 on Billboard 200 gave Swift her second straight chart-topper in the U.S. following “Fearless.” The album’s first-week sales of over a million copies was the fifth highest debut in history for a female artist. All 14 songs from “Speak Now” appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.