Special Report

100 Most Popular Country Music Albums of All Time

Photo by David Redfern / Redferns / Getty Images

The world of country music has not been spared the effects of the novel coronavirus that is currently disrupting lives throughout the world. Numerous live music events have been canceled — such as the Country Music Association’s 2020 CMA Fest, the biggest annual festival in country music — and many artists, including Willie Nelson and Margo Price, have delayed the release of their new records.

Yet all hope is not lost for lovers of country music. The genre has a rich history that has left us with thousands of beautiful albums, most of which have stood the test of time. So while fans may have to wait to hear new music from their favorite artists, it’s a great time to revisit some old favorites and remember what drew us to the style of music in the first place.

To aid in this exercise, 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 to 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. These are the best selling country albums of the last 10 years.

This is not to say that musicians who perform more traditional country in this day and age cannot be exceptionally successful as well. Artists including George Strait, Clint Black, and Dolly Parton have all sold millions of albums and dominated both the Country Albums chart and the singles list at times. In fact, the artists with the most hits are generally those who would be considered performers of “classic” country. These are the country musicians with the most hits.

Click here to see the most popular country albums of all time.

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 U.S. album sales. Both components of the index were given equal weight.

An artist’s total U.S. album sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA certifies 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 had at least 1,000,000 certified sales — or certified “platinum” — so far.

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100. 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
> Artist: Dolly Parton
> Year: 1980
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 1 million

“9 to 5 and Odd Jobs” was the third of seven of Dolly Parton’s albums to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Album chart, capitalizing on the success of Parton’s star turn in the film “9 to 5.” The “9 to 5” single was one of two songs by the nine-time Grammy winner to top the Billboard Hot 100.

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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

“Live Like You Were Dying” is one of Tim McGraw’s 16 albums to top the Billboard Top Country Album list, spending 104 weeks on the chart. The album also is one of four of the rugged singer’s LPs to top the Billboard 200. “Live Like You Were Dying” and “Back When” were country No. 1 singles off the record.

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98. Old 8×10
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1988
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 2 million

Randy Travis is one of the so-called new traditionalists of country music. His “Old 8×10” went to the top of the top country album chart, one of his five albums to top that chart. Some of the singles from the album include “Honky Tonk Moon” and “Deeper Than the Holler.”

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97. Kill the Lights
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Year: 2015
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 2 million

The son of a Georgia peanut farmer, Luke Bryan had six No. 1 country albums starting from 2011 to 2017, including “Kill the Lights,” which was on the country chart for 167 weeks. Among the singles the album spawned was “Kick the Dust Up” and “Strip It Down,” both of which topped the Hot Country Songs chart in 2015.

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96. Greatest Hits Volume Two
> Artist: Reba McEntire
> Year: 1993
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 1
> Copies sold: 5 million

“Greatest Hits Volume Two” by Reba McEntire spent 170 weeks on the country album chart and was one of her biggest successes. Among the songs in the collection are “Does He Love You,” “Love Will Find Its Way To You,” and “Rumor Has It.”

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95. Carrying Your Love with Me
> Artist: George Strait
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 3 million

Texas-born George Strait, who is credited with re-energizing the country music genre in the 1980s, has 27 top country albums to his credit, including “Carrying Your Love with Me.” The album produced three country chart leaders: “One Night at a Time,” “Carrying Your Love with Me,” and “Round About Way.”

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94. Set This Circus Down
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 2001
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 3 million

“Set This Circus Down” was one of 16 albums from Tim McGraw that topped the country charts. The LP generated four of his 26 No. 1 singles: “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” “Angry All the Time,” “The Cowboy in Me,” and “Unbroken.”

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93. Galveston
> Artist: Glen Campbell
> Year: 1969
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 1 million

Glen Campbell, the Arkansas native who enjoyed much crossover success in the 1960s and 1970s, topped the country charts in 1969 with “Galveston” for 11 weeks. The title song was one of his five country No.1 singles, and the album reached the apex of the Billboard Hot 100 as well. The multiple-Grammy winner died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease in 2017.

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92. Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
> Artist: Ronnie Milsap
> Year: 1985
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 1 million

Ronnie Milsap, the country singer who was born nearly blind because of congenital glaucoma, has experienced great chart success. His “Greatest Hits, Vol. 2” compilation produced several of his 35 Hot Country Songs chart-toppers, including “She Keeps the Home Fires Burning,” “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me,” and “Don’t You Know How Much I Love You.”

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91. Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be)
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1981
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 4 million

The ponytailed balladeer with the outlaw persona released the album with the cocksure title in 1981, and it went 4x platinum. The double LP contains such Willie Nelson classics as “Georgia On My Mind,” “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” and “On The Road Again,” all of which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

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90. Tailgates & Tanlines
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Year: 2011
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 4 million

Luke Bryan’s third studio album, “Tailgates & Tanlines,” a paean to fun in the sun, had country and crossover success, summiting the Top Country Albums chart and reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It was eventually certified 4x platinum. The singles “I Don’t Want This Night to End” and “Drunk on You” topped the country charts.

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89. Hope Floats
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Year: 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 2 million

The soundtrack to the movie “Hope Floats,” starring Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr., and Gena Rowlands, showcased the talents of various rock and country artists. One song from the album, “To Make You Feel My Love” by Garth Brooks, went to No. 1 on the country singles chart in August 1998. Other artists on the record include Sheryl Crow, Trisha Yearwood, and the Rolling Stones.

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88. Taking the Long Way
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 2 million

“Talking the Long Way” was the most recent of the Dallas trio’s four country No. 1 LPs and their third chart-topper on the Billboard 200. The multiplatinum Dixie Chicks album won Grammys in 2006 for Album of the Year and Best Country Album, and the song “Not Ready to Make Nice” won Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. That single rose to No. 4 on the Hot 100, the group’s highest charting single on that list to date.

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87. Put Yourself in My Shoes
> Artist: Clint Black
> Year: 1990
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 3 million

New Jersey native Clint Black who grew up in Texas helped revive the popularity of country music in the 1980s by harking back to the genre’s traditionalist roots. The 3x platinum “Put Yourself in My Shoes” was his second chart-topping album. The LP produced two of his 13 country No. 1 hits — “Loving Blind” and “Where Are You Now.”

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86. Blown Away
> Artist: Carrie Underwood
> Year: 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 3 million

The 2005 “American Idol” winner has reeled off seven country No. 1 albums, and “Blown Away” was one of them. The LP went 3x platinum in early 2020. The album’s title song won the Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance in 2012. The single “Good GIrl” was one of Carrie Underwood’s 14 country chart-toppers.

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85. City of New Orleans
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1984
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 1 million

Willie Nelson’s “City of New Orleans” was a work noteworthy for its song covers such as the title song, “Please Come to Boston” originally recorded by Dave Loggins, and “Wind Beneath My Wings” written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. Nelson’s cover of Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans” was one of 20 songs to top the country chart.

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84. Kane Brown
> Artist: Kane Brown
> Year: 2016
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 1 million

Kane Brown of Tennessee blended country and R&B music genres, and his self-titled debut album led the country charts in 2016, going multiplatinum in 2020. His single “What Ifs,” featuring Lauren Alaina, topped the country chart..

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83. Moody Blue
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Year: 1977
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million

Rock and roll’s king was never far from his country roots and had seven No. 1 country albums. Elvis Presley had become secluded in his Graceland mansion at the time he recorded “Moody Blue,” and he used a recording truck parked at his house to make the LP. The album’s popularity took off after his death, leading the country album chart in September 1977, a month after his death. The album generated the No. 1 songs “Way Down/Pledging My Love” and “Moody Blue/She Thinks I Still Care.”

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82. Unchained Melody: The Early Years
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million

“Unchained Melody: The Early Years” was one of the five chart-topping albums from the Mississippi-born LeAnn Rimes, who began her career at age 13. The album tried to capitalize on the success of “Blue,” Rimes’ debut album, and featured her cover versions of songs such as “I Will Always Love You,” “Yesterday,” and “Unchained Melody,” the latter of which went to No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs list.

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81. Here’s to the Good Times
> Artist: Florida Georgia Line
> Year: 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million

Florida Georgia Line, formed in Nashville and comprising Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, took country music by storm in 2012 with the album “Here’s to the Good Times.” The multiplatinum record was the duo’s first of four country No. 1 albums and enjoyed crossover appeal, climbing to No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The album included the single “Cruise,” which topped the country charts in December of 2012.

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80. Wynonna
> Artist: Wynonna Judd
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 3
> Copies sold: 5 million

The Judds were an enormously successful mother-daughter country duo in the 1980s. When the mother Naomi became ill in 1991, Wynona went on her own. She struck gold with her debut effort “Wynonna” that became the first of her three country No. 1 albums and eventually went 5x platinum. The record also reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. “She is His Only Need” and “No One Else On Earth” are two No. 1 country hits for Judd off her debut record.

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79. Storms of Life
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1986
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 3 million

“Storms of Life” was the debut album for Randy Travis, the first of his five country chart-toppers, and it occupied a position in the country album chart for a remarkable 243 weeks. The record spawned two of Travis’s 16 No. 1 singles, “On the Other Hand” and “Diggin’ Up Bones.”

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78. Ol’ Waylon
> Artist: Waylon Jennings
> Year: 1977
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million

Along with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings was the poster boy for outlaw country music. The Texas native posted a string of No. 1 country albums in the 1970s and has notched 11 chart-toppers total. “Ol’ Waylon” contained the No. 1 hit “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love),” one of Jennings’s 15 country chart-toppers.

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77. Sweet Sixteen
> Artist: Reba McEntire
> Year: 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million

“Sweet Sixteen” is Reba McEntire’s 16th studio album and one of her 13 chart-topping LPs. Four singles reached the Top 10 in the country chart, with “Cathy’s Clown,” a cover of an Everly Brothers song, reaching No. 1.

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76. Own the Night
> Artist: Lady Antebellum
> Year: 2011
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million

Blending country with 1960s soul, the Nashville trio scored a platinum effort with “Own the Night,” one of five No. 1 country albums from the group. The album won the Grammy for Best Country Album, Lady Antebellum’s fifth all-time Grammy win. Two of the album’s songs, “We Owned the Night” and “Just a Kiss,” went to the top of Hot Country Songs chart.

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75. Pure Country
> Artist: George Strait
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 1
> Copies sold: 6 million

Country traditionalist George Strait has recorded 27 country chart-topping albums. The soundtrack to the film “Pure Country” featured the Grammy-winning Strait in his first starring role in movies. The LP reached No.1 in July 1993 and went 6x platinum. “Heartland” and “I Cross My Heart” are two of Strait’s astounding 44 country chart-toppers.

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74. Kickin’ It Up
> Artist: John Michael Montgomery
> Year: 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 4 million

John Michael Montgomery embraced a more upbeat sound in “Kickin’ It Up,” his follow-up to his 1992 debut “Life’s a Dance.” “Kickin’ It Up” outsold his first record in the U.S. by 1 million copies and topped Billboard’s country albums chart for six weeks. It is also the only album by Montgomery to top the Billboard 200, which tracks albums from all genres.

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73. Drive
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 4 million

Alan Jackson’s 2002 album “Drive” spent six weeks at the top of the country albums chart amongst a total 103 weeks on the chart. It was his seventh chart-topper. In addition to popular singles “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” and “That’d Be Alright,” the album includes “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” a moving song written in reaction to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

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72. Waylon & Willie
> Artist: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
> Year: 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 2 million

Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, the symbols of outlaw country music, collaborated on an album that would be one of Nelson’s 17 chart-toppers on the country list. The album, which spent 126 weeks on the country chart, is best known for the No. 1 single “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” one of 20 chart-toppers for Nelson.

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71. Feels Like Today
> Artist: Rascal Flatts
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 5 million

Rascal Flatts’ ballad-heavy third album was a hit, selling 5 million copies in the U.S. The Grammy-nominated single “Bless The Broken Road” hit No. 1 and stayed on the Billboard country songs chart for 25 weeks. “Feels Like Today” stayed on the country albums chart for 105 weeks.

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70. Montevallo
> Artist: Sam Hunt
> Year: 2014
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 3 million

Sam Hunt is a leading figure in the bro-country subgenre, and his debut “Montevallo” is loaded with the type of clean beats, slick vocals, and modern lyricism that define the genre. The album includes three chart-topping country hits — “Take Your Time,” “Leave the Night On,” and “House Party” — and was certified 3x platinum in 2017.

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69. Rose Garden
> Artist: Lynn Anderson
> Year: 1970
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 1 million

The success of Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” was largely due to its tremendously popular title track, which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country songs chart. The song earned Anderson a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and also propelled the singer to winning Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMA Awards and Top Female Vocalist at the ACM Awards.

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68. Unleashed
> Artist: Toby Keith
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 4 million

Oklahoma native Toby Keith released his second No. 1 country album, “Unleashed,” in 2002. The album’s popularity — it debuted atop the country and BIllboard 200 charts — was stoked by Keith’s song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” that tapped into the nation’s mood after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The singles off the record, “Who’s Your Daddy?” and the duet with Willie Nelson, “Beer for My Horses,” topped the country chart.

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67. No Holdin’ Back
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 2 million

Randy Travis closed the 1980s with his fourth No. 1 album, titled “No Holdin’ Back.” The LP produced three country hits for the Grammy winner, including the chart-toppers “It’s Just a Matter of Time” and “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart.”

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66. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1986
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 5 million

Country music band Alabama notched one of its 11 chart-topping country albums with its “Greatest Hits” collection in 1986. Seven of the group’s 33 country No. 1 singles are on the 5x platinum LP, including “Mountain Music,” Feels So Right,” and “40 Hour Week (For a Livin’).” The album also contains two previously unreleased songs, and one of them, “She and I,” went on to top the country chart.

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65. Coyote Ugly
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Year: 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 4 million

The soundtrack to the movie “Coyote Ugly” features some non-country songs such as EMF’S “Unbelievable” and INXS’s “Need You Tonight.” However, it features enough country tracks — including four songs by LeAnn Rimes, who also appears in the film — for it to have charted on Billboard’s country albums list. In total, it spent two full years on the chart, including eight at the top.

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64. The Greatest Hits Collection
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 6 million

Alan Jackson had only released five albums — including a Christmas album — when this greatest hits collection was issued. Included are all of his No. 1 singles up to that point, including “Chattahoochee,” “She’s Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues),” “I’d Love You All Over Again,” and “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.”

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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

“You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs” was LeAnn Rimes’ follow-up of new material to her smash debut “Blue” (1996). The album leans more towards adult contemporary than Rimes’ prior release, and while there are numerous religious songs on the album, it also includes covers to such songs as Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which was released under the title “National Anthem.”

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62. 40-Hour Week
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1985
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 2 million

The album “40-Hour Week” by country music band Alabama was No. 1 on the country charts for 14 weeks and became a multi-platinum success. Among the singles off the LP were “There’s No Way,” “40 Hour Week (For a Livin’),” and “Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” — three of Alabama’s 33 chart-toppers.

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61. Scarecrow
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 2001
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 5 million

Garth Brooks, country music’s prolific hitmaker, helped grow the genre’s audience. He recorded 17 No. 1 country albums beginning in 1990. “Scarecrow” topped the Top Country Albums and Billboard 200 charts in 2001 and went 5x platinum. Five singles were released from the record, including the songs “Beer Run,” a duet with George Jones, and “Squeeze Me In,” a duet with Trisha Yearwood).

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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

Alan Jackson’s third studio album proved to be yet another hit in his career. The majority of the album’s songs are firmly in the neo-traditionalist style that came to define Jackson’s early career. Among the album’s singles are “Mercury Blues” and the chart-topping ’90s country anthem “Chattahoochee.”

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59. Back Home Again
> Artist: John Denver
> Year: 1974
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 3 million

John Denver straddled the genres of country and folk music throughout his career. 1974’s “Back Home Again” was among his most popular releases, featuring singles including “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and “Annie’s Song,” the former of which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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58. Everywhere
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million

Tim McGraw’s album “Everywhere” was his first recording after his marriage to Faith Hill, who collaborated with him on the song “It’s Your Love” on the LP. That song was one of four singles to lead the country charts. The others were the title song, “Just to See You Smile,” and “Where the Green Grass Grows.” The LP, one of McGraw’s 16 country chart-toppers, also had crossover appeal.

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57. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
> Artist: Kenny Chesney
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million

On his sixth studio album, Kenny Chesney found his crossover sweet spot, effortlessly blending pop and twangy country. It’s a slower-paced album than some of his earlier releases, featuring numerous ballads, which appealed to fans who kept it at No. 1 on the country albums chart for 11 weeks. It is tied with “When the Sun Goes Down” (2004) as Chesney’s best-selling non-compilation album.

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56. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million

The Canadian-born singer has had enormous country and crossover success in album sales. Her “Greatest Hits” collection, released during the holiday season in 2004, topped the country charts for 11 weeks and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, where she has had five Top 10 albums. “Greatest Hits,” one of five country chart-toppers for Twain, contains the No. 1 singles “Any Man of Mine,” “You’re Still the One,” and “Honey, I’m Home.”

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55. Eyes That See in the Dark
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1983
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 2 million

With extensive songwriting credits for Bee Gees members Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robin Gibb, “Eyes That See in the Dark” is essentially a pop album. It includes the massively popular Dolly Parton duet “Islands in the Stream,” which was the only country song to top the Billboard 100 — which includes all genres — until Lonestar accomplished the task in 2000 with their song “Amazed.”

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54. Here for the Party
> Artist: Gretchen Wilson
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 5 million

Gretchen Wilson delivered 10 tracks of country music with rock and roll attitude on her debut album “Here for the Party.” The album’s first single — “Redneck Woman” — soared to the top of Billboard’s country singles chart faster than any single in the decade leading up to it. The album was the first of three chart-toppers for Wilson.

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53. My Kinda Party
> Artist: Jason Aldean
> Year: 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 4 million

The fourth album from Macon, Georgia, native Jason Aldean spent a total of 126 weeks on the Top Country Albums chart, 12 of which at No. 1. The electric guitar-laden album features the chart-topping hits “Dirt Road Anthem,” “Fly Over States,” and “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”

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52. My World
> Artist: Eddy Arnold
> Year: 1965
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 17
> Copies sold: 2 million

“My World” marked a transition for Eddy Arnold from his earlier cowboy roots to a slicker Nashville sound. The album sold 2 million copies in the U.S. thanks in large part to its singles “Make the World Go Away” and “What’s He Doing in My World.”

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51. 50 Number Ones
> Artist: George Strait
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 7 million

Enduring hitmaker George Strait has had 27 albums lead the country chart, and his “50 Number Ones” was one of those LP successes, going 7x platinum. The record was on the Top Country Albums chart for 204 weeks. The album included a new single, “I Hate Everything,” which went to No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs list. His chart-toppers are arranged in chronological order.

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50. Roll On
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1984
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million

“Roll On,” the eighth studio album released by Alabama, is one of 11 LPs by the group to reach the country music album pinnacle. All four singles from “Roll On” — “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler),” “When We Make Love,” “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band),” and “(There’s A) Fire in the Night” — topped the country charts. The album was the last to feature the Confederate battle flag on its cover.

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49. John Michael Montgomery
> Artist: John Michael Montgomery
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million

John Michael Montgomery’s third studio album offered another collection of slickly produced honky tonk fare for country music fans. It includes two of the musician’s seven career No. 1 hits — “I Can Love You Like That” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident).”

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48. Shock’n Y’all
> Artist: Toby Keith
> Year: 2003
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million

Toby Keith’s eighth studio album went 4x platinum and occupied the top spot on the country album chart for 13 weeks. “Shock’n Y’all” was one of Keith’s 10 country chart-topping albums and one of four to lead the Billboard 200. Country chart-topping singles include “American Soldier,” and “Whiskey Girl.”.

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47. Crash My Party
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Year: 2013
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million

“Crash My Party” was a huge hit for the telegenic Luke Bryan, occupying the top spot on the country album chart for 13 weeks of a total of 266 weeks it spent on the chart. Six singles were released from the LP, and four of them — “That’s My Kind of Night,” “Drink a Beer,” “Play It Again,” and “I See You” — went to No. 1 on the country chart. A deluxe version of the album with four extra tracks was made available exclusively at Target.

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46. Stardust
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 5 million

Willie Nelson released this now legendary album of pop standards at the peak of the outlaw country movement. It is Nelson’s best selling album in the U.S.

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45. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Year: 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 6 million

Tim McGraw’s first greatest hits compilation soared to No. 1 on the country chart in 2000, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and would eventually be certified 6x platinum. McGraw has had 26 songs to hit No. 1 on the country chart. Among the chart-toppers on the collection are “Don’t Take the Girl,” “She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart,” and “Something Like That.”

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44. When the Sun Goes Down
> Artist: Kenny Chesney
> Year: 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 4 million

Kenny Chesney’s “When the Sun Goes Down” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after selling 550,000 copies in the U.S., based on data from Nielsen SoundScan. The album spent 104 weeks on Billboard’s country albums chart, 14 of which in the top position.

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43. Fresh Horses
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 8 million

Garth Brooks’ seventh studio album “Fresh Horses” had the biggest first-week sales of any album by the musician up to that point and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Eight of the album’s 10 tracks appeared on the country singles chart, including chart-toppers “She’s Every Woman” and “The Beaches of Cheyenne.”

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42. Long Road Out of Eden
> Artist: Eagles
> Year: 2007
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 7 million

Thirteen years passed between the Eagles’ release of “Long Road Out of Eden” and their previous release, the live album “Hell Freezes Over.” With 7 million copies sold in the U.S. “Long Road Out of Eden” is the band’s fifth best-selling album. The band won two Grammy awards for two songs off the album, “How Long” and “I Dreamed There Was No War.”

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41. Me and My Gang
> Artist: Rascal Flatts
> Year: 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 15
> Copies sold: 4 million

Rascal Flatts served up a healthy dose of slick country-pop on their fourth album, “Me and My Gang.” The single “My Wish” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, as did the song “Stand.”

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40. Wichita Lineman
> Artist: Glen Campbell
> Year: 1968
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 20
> Copies sold: 2 million

Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” includes the chart-topping title track that would later be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Other tracks include a cover of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and “Words,” which was written by the Bee Gees’ Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb. The album stayed at No. 1 on the country albums chart for 20 weeks.

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39. Breathe
> Artist: Faith Hill
> Year: 1999
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 8 million

Country-pop diva Faith Hill’s 1999 album “Breathe” features two massive singles — “Breathe” and “The Way You Love Me” — both of which were No. 1 hits on the country singles chart and Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 list. The album “Breathe” is Hill’s domestic best seller, with 8 million copies sold as of 2003.

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38. Greatest Hits Volume II (And Some Other Stuff)
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Year: 2003
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 6 million

This greatest hits compilation from Alan Jackson primarily covers material from the second half of the 1990s. The 18-track album features two previously unreleased songs — “Remember When” and Jimmy Buffett duet “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” — both of which hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

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37. The Ultimate Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 2007
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 2
> Copies sold: 10 million

Garth Brooks’ double-disc greatest hits collection “The Ultimate Hits” includes all of the singles found on his 1994 album “The Hits” with 12 additional hits and four previously unreleased songs, including a cover of “Workin’ for a Livin’,” previously performed by Huey Lewis & the News. The album was certified diamond — meaning it sold at least 10 million copies — by the RIAA in 2016.

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36. In Pieces
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1993
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 9 million

“In Pieces” is a higher-energy effort than Garth Brooks’s preceding effort “The Chase.” “In Pieces” gave long-time Garth fans what they wanted — a collection of rock-influenced honky tonk tunes and ballads. It was the musician’s third album in a row to debut at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Top Country Albums charts. Among the album’s tracklist are such popular songs as “Standing Outside The Fire” and “Callin’ Baton Rouge.”

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35. Johnny Cash at San Quentin
> Artist: Johnny Cash
> Year: 1969
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 20
> Copies sold: 3 million

“Johnny Cash at San Quentin” was the Man in Black’s second live prison album after 1968’s “At Folsom Prison.” The live recording is considered by many to benefit from Cash’s wild energy — a result of his tempestuous life at the time. The album spent 55 weeks on the Top Country Albums chart, 20 of which at No. 1.

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34. Speak Now
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 6 million

International superstar Taylor Swift was still producing catchy country-pop in 2010 when she released her third studio album “Speak Now.” In addition to spending 13 weeks in the top spot on the country albums chart, “Speak Now” features two No. 1 country singles — “Sparks Fly” and “Ours.”

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33. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Waylon Jennings
> Year: 1979
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 5 million

Waylon Jennings released this nine-track greatest hits compilation at the end of what many consider to be his most artistically accomplished decade — the 1970s. The album focuses on his outlaw years, featuring songs such as “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love),” “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys,” and “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way.”

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32. Red
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 7 million

“Red” was the final album from Taylor Swift to appear on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. It remained on the chart for an exceptional 225 weeks. Though Swift’s transitioning out of the genre is apparent on the album, it was nominated for Best Country Album at the Grammy Awards as well as Album of the Year at the 2013 CMA Awards.

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31. The Closer You Get…
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1983
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 21
> Copies sold: 4 million

“The Closer You Get…” — one of 11 Alabama albums that led the country charts — has been certified 4x platinum. The venerable country music band had two No. 1 hits from the LP: “The Closer You Get” and “Lady Down on Love.”

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30. Behind Closed Doors
> Artist: Charlie Rich
> Year: 1973
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 22
> Copies sold: 4 million

Charlie Rich released numerous hit songs throughout the 1960s, but his 1973 album “Behind Closed Doors” was his most commercially successful. The album worked as a blueprint for Nashville’s countrypolitan sound, with lush orchestration and pop hooks. The album spent a total of 100 weeks on the country albums chart, 22 of which in the No. 1 spot.

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29. Always on My Mind
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1982
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 22
> Copies sold: 4 million

“Always on My Mind” has a stronger pop edge than many of Willie Nelson’s albums. It was a massive hit with fans and ended up spending 253 weeks on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The album also won Album of the Year at the CMA Awards in 1982.

David Redfern / Getty Images

28. Kenny
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1979
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 25
> Copies sold: 3 million

Kenny Rogers was at the height of his popularity when he released “Kenny” in 1979. The album, which mixes adult contemporary with country, produced the No. 1 singles “You Decorated My Life” and “Coward of the County.”

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27. Up!
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 11 million

Shania Twain’s album “Up!” was originally released in three different versions — a “Red” pop mix, a “Green” country mix, and a “Blue” international mix. It was another major hit for the Canadian diva, becoming her third-most popular album in the U.S. after selling 11 million copies.

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26. Home
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 19
> Copies sold: 6 million

The Dixie Chicks’ follow-up to 1999’s “Fly” is decidedly country and features an assortment of acoustic instruments. “Home” spent 91 weeks on the Top Country Albums chart, 19 of which at the top of the chart.

Mike Windle / Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

25. Traveller
> Artist: Chris Stapleton
> Year: 2015
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 4 million

Chris Stapleton spent years writing songs for popular country acts, including Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, and Lee Ann Womack, before releasing his debut album “Traveller.” The album’s bluesy southern rock sound earned it the Grammy Award for Best Country Album in 2015.

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24. The Gambler
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 23
> Copies sold: 5 million

“The Gambler” is Kenny Rogers’ best selling non-compilation album, with 5 million copies sold in the U.S. The conceptual album — which eventually spurred its own made-for-TV film series — includes the signature, chart-topping title track, which was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2018.

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23. Wide Open Spaces
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 13 million

The first album from the Dixie Chicks to feature lead singer Natalie Maines proved a huge success, selling 12 million copies in the U.S. The album blends many musical styles, including bluegrass, in which sisters Martie Seidel and Emily Robison had a strong background.

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22. Feels So Right
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1981
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 27
> Copies sold: 4 million

“Feels So Right” was the first of Alabama’s 11 country chart-topping albums, going 4x platinum. Three singles from the album reached No. 1, including the title track, “Old Flame,” and “Love in the First Degree.” The singles “Feels So Right” and “Love in the First Degree” became crossover hits for the band.

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21. Sevens
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 10 million

Garth Brooks’ eighth studio album, “Sevens,” walked back the country superstar’s arena rock tendencies in favor of a more traditional country sound. The record debuted at the top of both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts with sales totaling nearly 897,000 units during its first week. The singles “Longneck Bottle” and “Two Piña Coladas” both shot to No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

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20. The Chase
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 10 million

Garth Brooks’ “The Chase” was certified diamond by the RIAA in January 2020, meaning it has sold 10 million copies in the U.S. Upon its release, Capitol Records shipped 5 million copies to sellers — the largest initial album shipment at that time. “The Chase” spent 97 weeks on the country albums chart, 16 of which at No. 1.

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19. Killin’ Time
> Artist: Clint Black
> Year: 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 31
> Copies sold: 3 million

Clint Black’s 1989 debut album includes some of his biggest hits: “Better Man,” “Killin’ Time,” and “Walkin’ Away,” all of which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Black co-wrote or wrote every track on the album.

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18. Mountain Music
> Artist: Alabama
> Year: 1982
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 28
> Copies sold: 5 million

“Mountain Music” was Alabama’s most successful studio album, spending 28 weeks atop the Billboard country album chart and certified 5x platinum by the RIAA. It is one of 11 Alabama LPs to top the country album charts. All three singles from the LP — “Mountain Music,” “Take Me Down,” and “Close Enough to Perfect” — topped the country charts. The album also reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 chart.

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17. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Year: 1980
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 12 million

Kenny Rogers 1980 “Greatest Hits” album primarily focuses on material from the late 1970s through the early 1980s. Among the album’s 12 hits are “The Gambler,” “Coward of the County,” and “Lucille.” Also included are re-recorded versions of “Reuben James” and “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town.”

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16. The Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 10 million

Garth Brooks is one of country music’s biggest hit makers, having released 36 Top 10 hits and 19 No. 1 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart throughout his career. Fourteen of these chart-toppers appear on this 18 song compilation, which Brooks eventually had discontinued and buried the master recording under his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Dwight McCann / Wikimedia Commons

15. Taylor Swift
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 24
> Copies sold: 7 million

Recorded at the age of 16, Taylor Swift’s debut album ultimately sold 7 million copies in the U.S. Swift wrote or co-wrote every song on the album, including country chart-toppers “Our Song” and “Should’ve Said No,” establishing herself as a talent to watch.

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14. Blue
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Year: 1996
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 28
> Copies sold: 6 million

LeAnn Rimes’ twangy debut album was released when the singer was merely 13 years old. “Blue” spent 28 weeks at No. 1, and its title track earned the young singer a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

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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

“Not a Moment Too Soon” was Tim McGraw’s second studio album and a blockbuster. It topped the country and Billboard 200 charts, the first of four times that McGraw would accomplish the feat. The album went 6x platinum. Much of the LP’s success has been attributed to the controversy around his novelty song, “Indian Outlaw,” that some found offensive to Native Americans. The album produced the first two of McGraw’s 26 No. 1 singles, “Don’t Take the Girl” and “Not a Moment Too Soon.”

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12. Need You Now
> Artist: Lady Antebellum
> Year: 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 31
> Copies sold: 9 million

The follow-up to country trio Lady Antebellum’s self-titled debut album spent 31 weeks at No. 1 out of a total of 94 weeks on the country albums chart. It also debuted at No. 1 on the multi-genre Billboard 200 albums chart after selling 481,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It won Best Country Album at that year’s Grammy Awards, and its title track won the awards for Record of the Year and Best Country Performance by a Group With Vocals.

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11. Some Hearts
> Artist: Carrie Underwood
> Year: 2005
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 27
> Copies sold: 8 million

“Some Hearts” is Carrie Underwood’s debut album, released after the now-superstar won “American Idol” TV talent contest. The album is loaded with hits, including country chart-topping singles “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats,” and “Wasted.”

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10. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Year: 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 35
> Copies sold: 8 million

“O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” a prison movie set during the Great Depression, starred George Clooney, John Turturro, and Holly Hunter and was directed by the Coen brothers. The soundtrack to the movie was the handiwork of noted record producer T-Bone Burnett, who researched and recreated the country, bluegrass, and blues sounds of the period. Among the talent showcased on the album are Ralph Stanley, the Whites, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, and Emmylou Harris.

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9. Always & Forever
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Year: 1987
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 43
> Copies sold: 5 million

“Always & Forever” was the second studio album for Randy Travis, who helped launch the new traditionalist movement in country music. The LP was the second No. 1 for the North Carolina native, producing chart-topping singles “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “I Won’t Need You Anymore (Always and Forever),” and “Too Gone Too Long.” “Always & Forever,” a 5x platinum album, was on the Billboard Top Country Album chart for 208 weeks. Travis won the first of his seven Grammys, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “Always & Forever.”

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8. Some Gave All
> Artist: Billy Ray Cyrus
> Year: 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 34
> Copies sold: 9 million

“Some Gave All,” the debut LP for Billy Ray Cyrus, was the first of his two country chart-topping albums. It was No. 1 for 34 weeks, and the record went 9x platinum in 1996. It also was Cyrus’ lone Billboard 200 chart-topper. The album is remembered for the country No. 1 single “Achy Breaky Heart,” which also crossed over to reach No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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7. The Woman in Me
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 12 million

Shania Twain’s “The Woman in Me” occupied the country album chart top spot for 29 weeks and garnered the Canadian vocalist a Grammy for Best Country Album. Eight singles were released from the LP, which went 12x platinum. The songs “Any Man of Mine,” “(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!” “You Win My Love,” and “No One Needs to Know” were all country No. 1 hits.

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6. Double Live
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 21 million

Garth Brooks’ “Double Live” album was a monster hit, going 21x platinum. The record was one of the Oklahoma native’s 17 country chart-toppers, and it also led the Billboard 200. “Double Live ” was Brooks’ first live album and contained three previously unreleased songs: “It’s Your Song,” “Wild as the Wind” (duet with he Trisha Yearwood), and “Tearin’ It Up (And Burnin’ It Down).”

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

5. Fearless
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Year: 2008
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 35
> Copies sold: 10 million

Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift who has successfully blended pop and country genres notched her second country No. 1 and her first chart-topper on the Billboard 200 with “Fearless,” which would go on to win Grammys for Best Country Album and Album of the Year. Swift also won Grammys for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for “White Horse,” which was on “Fearless.” The album went 10x platinum in 2017. The singles “You Belong to Me” and “Love Story” led the country charts.

David Brown / Wikimedia Commons

4. Fly
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Year: 1999
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 36
> Copies sold: 11 million

Riding the popularity of their album “Wide Open Spaces,” Dallas-based Dixie Chicks released in 1999 their megahit, “Fly,” which topped the country and Billboard 200 album charts and was certified diamond by the RIAA. Eight singles were released from the album, including the No. 1 songs “Cowboy Take Me Away” and “Without You.”

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3. Ropin’ the Wind
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1991
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 33
> Copies sold: 14 million

No artist dominated country music more than Garth Brooks in the 1990s. During that period, he released 10 albums that topped the country chart, and seven of those LPs went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. “Ropin’ the Wind” was one of his biggest albums. It was certified 14x platinum in 1998 and was No. 1 for 33 weeks. Three singles from the album summited the country charts: “Shameless,” “What’s She Doing Now,” and “The River.”

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2. No Fences
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Year: 1990
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 41
> Copies sold: 18 million

Garth Brooks combined neo-traditional country with irresistible pop hooks on his second album, 1990’s “No Fences.” The album has sold 18 million copies in the U.S., thanks in large part to the singles “Friends in Low Places,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Unanswered Prayers,” and “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House,” all of which reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

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1. Come On Over
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Year: 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 50
> Copies sold: 20 million

Shania Twain established herself as the queen of country-pop with her massively successful third studio album, “Come On Over.” It spent an astounding 50 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and is tied with Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” as the 11th best-selling album of all time in the United States, with 20 million copies sold. Seven of the record’s songs topped the singles chart, and the songs “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” “Come On Over,” “You’re Still The One” all earned Twain separate Grammy awards.

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