Country music is an irreplaceable part of American culture, dating back generations. And while the genre has undoubtedly changed throughout the years, fans continue to seek it out for its strong melodies, musicianship, and storytelling.
Since 1967, the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards have been recognizing excellence in country music. Each year, more than 7,400 industry professionals — including executives, publicists, songwriters, and musicians — vote on the year’s best song, album, entertainer, and more. This year’s ceremony is scheduled to air live Wednesday, Nov. 13, on the ABC Television Network with Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire hosting.
While not always the case, the music that is recognized by the CMA often coincides with what fans of the genre enjoy the most. This is every Album of the Year as chosen by the CMAs since 1967.
In anticipation of this year’s ceremony, 24/7 Tempo has identified the 100 most popular country albums of all time based on album sales and performance on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
As anyone who has tuned into country radio recently knows, pop country is extremely popular. Artists who appeal not only to country fans but also the average listener of pop music are much more in demand than more traditional country artists. The success of crossover artists such as Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, and Sam Hunt is a testament to this.
This is not to say that musicians who work strictly within the confines of country cannot be exceptionally successful as well. Artists including George Strait, Clint Black, and Dolly Parton have all dominated the Country Albums chart at times and sold millions of albums. These are the most popular country music stars.
Click here to see the 100 most popular country music albums.
To determine the most popular country albums of all time, 24/7 Tempo generated an index based on weeks spent in the No. 1 position on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and lifetime album sales. Both components of the index were given equal weight.
An artist’s total certified U.S. album sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA tracks album sales released in the U.S. market with at least 500,000 units sold. For an album to be considered for our ranking, it must have at least 1,000,000 certified sales.
100. 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
> Artist: Dolly Parton
> Year: 1980
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 1 million
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99. Live Like You Were Dying
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 3
> Copies sold: 4 million
98. Old 8×10
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1988
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 2 million
97. Kill the Lights
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Year: 2015
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 2 million
96. Greatest Hits Volume Two
> Artist: Reba McEntire
> Year: 1993
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 1
> Copies sold: 5 million
95. Carrying Your Love with Me
> Artist: George Strait
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 3 million
94. Set This Circus Down
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 2001
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 3 million
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93. Galveston
> Artist: Glen Campbell
> Year: 1969
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 1 million
92. Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
> Artist: Ronnie Milsap
> Year: 1985
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 1 million
91. Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be)
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1981
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 4 million
90. Tailgates & Tanlines
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Year: 2011
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 4 million
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89. Hope Floats
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Year: 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 2 million
88. Taking the Long Way
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 2 million
87. Put Yourself in My Shoes
> Artist: Clint Black
> Year: 1990
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 3 million
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86. Blown Away
> Artist: Carrie Underwood
> Year: 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 3 million
85. City of New Orleans
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1984
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 1 million
84. Kane Brown
> Artist: Kane Brown
> Year: 2016
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 1 million
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83. Moody Blue
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Year: 1977
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million
82. Unchained Melody: The Early Years
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million
81. Here’s to the Good Times
> Artist: Florida Georgia Line
> Year: 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million
80. Wynonna
> Artist: Wynonna Judd
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 3
> Copies sold: 5 million
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79. Storms of Life
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1986
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 3 million
78. Ol’ Waylon
> Artist: Waylon Jennings
> Year: 1977
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million
77. Sweet Sixteen
> Artist: Reba McEntire
> Year: 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million
76. Own the Night
> Artist: Lady Antebellum
> Year: 2011
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million
75. Pure Country
> Artist: George Strait
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 1
> Copies sold: 6 million
74. Kickin’ It Up
> Artist: John Michael Montgomery
> Year: 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 4 million
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73. Drive
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 4 million
72. Waylon & Willie
> Artist: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
> Year: 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 2 million
71. Feels Like Today
> Artist: Rascal Flatts
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 5 million
70. Montevallo
> Artist: Sam Hunt
> Year: 2014
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 3 million
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69. Rose Garden
> Artist: Lynn Anderson
> Year: 1970
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 1 million
68. Unleashed
> Artist: Toby Keith
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 4 million
67. No Holdin’ Back
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 2 million
66. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1986
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 5 million
65. Coyote Ugly
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Year: 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 4 million
64. The Greatest Hits Collection
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 6 million
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63. You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 4 million
62. 40-Hour Week
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1985
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 2 million
61. Scarecrow
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 2001
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 5 million
60. A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ’bout Love)
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 6 million
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59. Back Home Again
> Artist: John Denver
> Year: 1974
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 3 million
58. Everywhere
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million
57. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
> Artist: Kenny Chesney
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million
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56. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million
55. Eyes That See in the Dark
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1983
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 2 million
54. Here for the Party
> Artist: Gretchen Wilson
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 5 million
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53. My Kinda Party
> Artist: Jason Aldean
> Year: 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 4 million
52. My World
> Artist: Eddy Arnold
> Year: 1965
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 17
> Copies sold: 2 million
51. 50 Number Ones
> Artist: George Strait
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 7 million
50. Roll On
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1984
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
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49. John Michael Montgomery
> Artist: John Michael Montgomery
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
48. Shock’n Y’all
> Artist: Toby Keith
> Year: 2003
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
47. Crash My Party
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Year: 2013
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
46. Stardust
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 5 million
45. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 6 million
44. When the Sun Goes Down
> Artist: Kenny Chesney
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 4 million
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43. Fresh Horses
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 7 million
42. Long Road Out of Eden
> Artist: Eagles
> Year: 2007
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 7 million
41. Me and My Gang
> Artist: Rascal Flatts
> Year: 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 15
> Copies sold: 4 million
40. Wichita Lineman
> Artist: Glen Campbell
> Year: 1968
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 20
> Copies sold: 2 million
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39. Breathe
> Artist: Faith Hill
> Year: 1999
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 8 million
38. Greatest Hits Volume II (And Some Other Stuff)
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Year: 2003
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 6 million
37. The Ultimate Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 2007
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 2
> Copies sold: 10 million
36. In Pieces
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1993
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 8 million
35. Johnny Cash At San Quentin
> Artist: Johnny Cash
> Year: 1969
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 20
> Copies sold: 3 million
34. Speak Now
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 6 million
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33. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Waylon Jennings
> Year: 1979
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 5 million
32. Red
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 6 million
31. The Closer You Get…
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1983
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 21
> Copies sold: 4 million
30. Behind Closed Doors
> Artist: Charlie Rich
> Year: 1973
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 22
> Copies sold: 4 million
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29. Always on My Mind
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1982
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 22
> Copies sold: 4 million
28. Kenny
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1979
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 25
> Copies sold: 3 million
27. Up!
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 11 million
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26. Home
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 19
> Copies sold: 6 million
25. Traveller
> Artist: Chris Stapleton
> Year: 2015
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 2 million
24. The Gambler
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 23
> Copies sold: 5 million
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23. Wide Open Spaces
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 12 million
22. Feels So Right
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1981
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 27
> Copies sold: 4 million
21. Sevens
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 10 million
20. The Chase
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 9 million
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19. Killin’ Time
> Artist: Clint Black
> Year: 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 31
> Copies sold: 3 million
18. Mountain Music
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1982
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 28
> Copies sold: 5 million
17. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1980
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 12 million
16. The Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 10 million
15. Taylor Swift
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 24
> Copies sold: 7 million
14. Blue
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Year: 1996
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 28
> Copies sold: 6 million
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13. Not a Moment Too Soon
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 6 million
12. Need You Now
> Artist: Lady Antebellum
> Year: 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 31
> Copies sold: 6 million
11. Some Hearts
> Artist: Carrie Underwood
> Year: 2005
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 27
> Copies sold: 8 million
10. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Year: 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 35
> Copies sold: 8 million
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9. Always & Forever
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1987
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 43
> Copies sold: 5 million
8. Some Gave All
> Artist: Billy Ray Cyrus
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 34
> Copies sold: 9 million
7. The Woman in Me
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 12 million
6. Double Live
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 21 million
5. Fearless
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2008
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 35
> Copies sold: 10 million
4. Fly
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 1999
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 36
> Copies sold: 10 million
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3. Ropin’ the Wind
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1991
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 33
> Copies sold: 14 million
2. No Fences
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1990
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 41
> Copies sold: 17 million
1. Come On Over
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 50
> Copies sold: 20 million
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