The 50 Most Successful Grammy Winners of All Time

Country singer Alan Jackson released numerous hugely popular albums throughout the 1990s, including “A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ‘Bout Love),” “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” and “Who I Am.” And while he was nominated for eight Grammy Awards during that period, he didn’t win until 2002 when he received the award for Best Country Song for his “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)” about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Fifteen million of Latin rock band Santana’s 43.5 million total certified sales are for the album “Supernatural,” which features collaborations with artists including Dave Matthews, Lauryn Hill, and Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas. In 1999 that album helped Santana win eight of its Grammys in one night, including Album of the Year and Best Rock Album.

Jay-Z has been nominated for more Grammys than any other artist on this list with a total of 80 nominations. He’s won 22 of the awards, making him the rapper with the most wins ever.

Ariana Grande has sold 40 million digital singles throughout her career, with standouts such as “Problem,” “Bang Bang,” and “Thank U, Next.” The pop star was recognized by the recording academy in 2018 when she won her sole Grammy to date — Best Pop Vocal Album — for the album “Sweetener.”

Country band Alabama has sold millions of studio albums and greatest hits compilations. The band has two Grammy Awards, both for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. The winning songs were “Mountain Music” in 1982 and “The Closer You Get…” in 1983.

Saxophonist Kenny G has 48 million certified album sales in the United States. His 1992 album “Breathless” accounts for 12 million and “Miracles: The Holiday Album” for another 8 million. The jazz musician’s sole Grammy win to date is Best Instrumental Composition in 1993 for his “Forever in Love.”

Crossover country singer Kenny Rogers has sold 48 million albums and digital singles combined and won three Grammy Awards. The first of these was for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for his country chart-topping song “Lucille” in 1977.

The band from Columbus, Ohio, has had great success in its 11-year history. In addition to their exceptional sales — including two multi-platinum albums — the duo won a Grammy in 2016 for their song “Stressed Out.” They accepted the award in their underwear.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar has had huge sales of singles such as “HUMBLE.,” “LOVE.,” and “Swimming Pools (Drank).” He’s also done exceptionally well at the Grammys, winning a total of 13 awards. His most recent win was Best Rap Performance in 2018 for “King’s Dead” from the “Black Panther” soundtrack.

Including compilation albums, Neil Diamond has released 21 albums that have been certified at least platinum. Diamond’s sole Grammy win came in 1973 for his soundtrack for the drama film “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” He was last nominated in 2011.

Celine Dion’s many hit records include two that were certified diamond (sales of 10 million) by the RIAA: “Falling Into You” (1996) and “Let’s Talk About Love” (1997). The former earned her two of her five Grammy Awards — one for Album of the Year and one for Best Pop Album.

Country crooner Carrie Underwood has released numerous platinum and multi-platinum albums as well as singles. She’s also won seven Grammy Awards, most recent being Best Country Solo Performance in 2014 for “Something in the Water.” Underwood’s last nomination was for her song “Church Bells” in 2016.

Irish rock band U2 has moved 53 million certified units, combining albums and digital singles. The band has also done exceptionally well at the Grammy Awards over the years, winning a total of 22 awards. Among these are two Album Of The Year awards — one for “Joshua Tree” in 1987 and one for “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” in 2005. U2 is the only band to accomplish this feat.

The crown jewel in Shania Twain’s discography is undoubtedly “Come On Over,” which has been certified 20x multi-platinum. This is not the Canadian singer’s only major hit, however. “The Woman in Me” is certified 12x platinum and “Up!” is 11x platinum. Twain won five Grammy Awards between 1995 and 1999.

Fleetwood Mac has released nine albums that have gone platinum or multi-platinum, including the 20x multi-platinum “Rumours.” That record won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1977.

One of the most popular American rock bands in history, Van Halen has sold millions of records, including “1984” and the 1978 untitled release, both of which are certified diamond. The band’s Grammy success has been somewhat limited, though it did win one award in 1991 for Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal for the album “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.”

Linkin Park has released nine albums that have been certified platinum or greater, including the 11x multi-platinum release “Hybrid Theory.” The band has won two Grammys for the songs “Crawling” and “Numb/Encore,” which it collaborated on with rapper Jay-Z. In 2005 the band performed at the awards ceremony with Jay-Z as well as former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.

All three of Adele’s studio albums have been massive successes on both a commercial and critical level. “21” sold 14 million certified copies, “25” sold 11 million, and “19” sold three million. Adele won her first Grammy Award for “Chasing Pavements” off of her debut album and collected 14 more afterward, including Album of the Year awards for her other two studio albums.

Among Canadian singer The Weeknd’s most popular singles are the diamond-certified “The Hills” and the 7x multi-platinum “Starboy” and “Can’t Feel My Face.” The artist has won three Grammy Awards, the most recent of which was Best Urban Contemporary Album for his 2016 album “Starboy.”

Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen has sold 65.5 million certified albums, the most popular of which is 1984’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” which has been certified diamond, selling 15 million copies in the U.S. That album was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys, though failed to win. Springsteen has won 20 Grammy Awards, however, the most recent being Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for “Working On A Dream” in 2009.

The Rolling Stones are rock and roll legends, having sold millions of copies of beloved albums such as “Hot Rocks,” “Some Girls,” and “Sticky Fingers.” The band didn’t win a Grammy Award until 1994, however, when they took home Best Rock Album for “Voodoo Lounge” and Best Music Video for “Love is Strong.” They were previously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1986.

Country star Tim McGraw has had outstanding sales of both albums and digital singles. His most highly certified album is “Not a Moment Too Soon” (6x multi-platinum) and single is “Live Like You Were Dying” (3x multi-platinum). McGraw has won three Grammy Awards, the first of which was Best Country Collaboration With Vocals in 2000 for his collaboration with wife Faith Hill, “Let’s Make Love.”

Among Aerosmith’s most certified albums are “Toys in the Attic,” “Pump,” and “Get a Grip.” The Boston band has picked up four Grammy Awards over the years, the first of which was awarded in 1990 for the song “Janie’s Got A Gun.” The most recent was in 1998 for the song “Pink.”

Metallica has sold 63 million certified albums, with the more accessible (compared with releases up to that point) self-titled album leading the pack with 16 million certified copies sold. The heavy metal band has done surprisingly well at the Grammy Awards — considering their often fringe genre — winning a total of eight awards to date. The most recent win was Best Metal Performance for their song “My Apocalypse” in 2008. The band was nominated for Best Rock Album in 2017.

Pop icon Madonna has released numerous platinum albums over her storied career. Two of her releases have been certified diamond: “Like a Virgin” and the compilation “The Immaculate Collection.” The most recent of her seven Grammy wins was Best Long Form Music Video in 2007 for “The Confessions Tour.” She’s received three additional nominations since.

Barbara Streisand has released an exceptional 31 albums that have been certified platinum. She has also had an unusually long relationship with the Grammy Awards. She won her first two awards in 1963 for “The Barbra Streisand Album.” Her most recent nomination came just this year — Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for “Walls.”

While Lady Gaga has released six albums that have been certified platinum or multi-platinum, her strength has been with singles, with sales — or sales equivalent — of 61 million certified copies. She has won Grammy Awards for both songs and albums. Three of Gaga’s 11 total wins were awarded in 2018.

George Strait has sold 69 million certified albums, including numerous greatest hits compilations and live recordings. Despite this monumental success, the country superstar has only won one Grammy to date — Best Country Album in 2008 for his “Troubadour.” That album was certified platinum in 2009.

Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” is the eighth most certified album of all time, reaching 23x multi-platinum. “Dark Side of the Moon” was also hugely popular and has been certified 15x multi-platinum. The only Grammy Award the band has been awarded thus far is Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Marooned” in 1994, though “The Wall” was nominated for Album of the Year in 1980.

Aussie rockers AC/DC had a massive hit with the 25x multi-platinum “Back in Black” — the fourth highest certification of an album by any artist. The band won its first and only Grammy to date in 2009 when it took home the award for Best Hard Rock Performance for “War Machine.”

Whitney Houston released two diamond-certified albums during her career: “The Bodyguard” soundtrack (1992) and her self-titled debut (1985). The latter was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys but lost. The former won the award in 1993.

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has released three diamond-certified singles to date — “Thinking Out Loud,” “Perfect,” and “Shape of You” — and another 18 platinum or multi-platinum releases. “Thinking Out Loud” won him half of his Grammy Awards, winning Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance in 2015.

Maroon 5 won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2004, just three years after forming. They’ve sold millions of singles since then, with the most popular according to the RIAA being “Moves Like Jagger,” “Sugar,” and “Payphone.”

Bruno Mars has released 21 platinum or multi-platinum albums and singles, including the diamond-certified single “Just the Way You Are.” That song also won Mars his first Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2010. The artist has won 11 awards in total, including six in 2017 alone.

Among the many hit singles from Justin Bieber is his early release “Baby,” featuring rapper Ludacris, which came out in 2010. The song is his sole diamond-certified release to date. Bieber’s first — and only — Grammy win came five years later when he was awarded Best Dance Recording for the song “Where Are Ü Now,” a collaborative effort with Skrillex and Diplo.

Kanye West has received more Grammy nominations than any other artist on our list aside from Jay-Z, with 69. He’s won 21 awards, the first three of which were won in 2004. West’s highest-certified single is the Daft Punk-sampling “Stronger,” which won the rapper the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2007.

Singer Chris Brown has released nearly 50 platinum or multi-platinum albums and singles in his career. The controversial figure has only won one Grammy Award to date, however — Best R&B Album in 2011 for “F.A.M.E.”

Elton John has sold 78.5 million certified albums in his approximately 50 years as a performer. These include three diamond-certified releases. One of these is for his single “Candle in the Wind,” which also won him the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1997.

While Billy Joel’s “The Stranger” is diamond-certified, the singer’s best selling album is his two-volume Greatest Hits compilation, which has sold 23 million certified copies. Joel has won five Grammy Awards as well as a Grammy Legend Award in 1991.

Mariah Carey has had 13 albums be certified at least platinum. Two of these — “Music Box” and “Daydream” — attained diamond status. She’s won five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 1991.

Hard rockers Led Zeppelin won a single Grammy Award. Surprisingly, it was awarded following the band’s original 12-year run and came in 2013 for “Celebration Day” — a live album depicting a reunion set recorded in 2007. The band was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

The Eagles compilation “Their Greatest Hits (1971 – 1975)” holds the record for highest certified album, with 38 million sales and sales equivalents. In total they’ve sold 120 million albums in the U.S. The band’s first Grammy win was in 1975 for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group for “Lyin’ Eyes.” Their most recent was in 2008 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for the song “I Dreamed There Was No War.”

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is the second-highest certified album of all time, with 33 million copies sold in the U.S. to date. The King of Pop had similar success at the Grammy Awards. In 1984 he was the first artist to win eight awards in one night — a feat matched only by Santana in 2000. He was also a recipient of the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and the Grammy Legend Award in 1993.

Of the 121 million digital singles sold by Rihanna, the most popular was her 2011 “We Found Love,” followed by “Stay.” She has also released seven albums that have been certified at least platinum. She has won nine Grammy Awards, beginning with Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Umbrella,” which she collaborated with Jay-Z on, in 2007.

Elvis had been releasing music for a number of years prior to the first Grammy Awards ceremony. Despite these years of missed opportunities, the King of Rock and Roll still managed to win three Grammys. He was also awarded the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1971.

Garth Brooks has sold more albums in the U.S. than any other country artist, with a total of 148 million certified units. He has only won two Grammy awards — one in 1991 for his album “Ropin’ the Wind” and one in 1997 for the song “In Another’s Eyes.” His last nomination was in 2006.

Rapper Eminem has racked up 46 million certified album sales and 107.5 million digital singles sales since the release of his 1999 major label debut. During this period he has also won 15 Grammy awards. Eminem has performed at the awards show multiple times, including a memorable duet with Elton John, during which they played the song “Stan.”

The 30-year-old Swift has already won 10 Grammy Awards in the span of her relatively short career. She’s also had 44 million certified album sales and 121 million certified digital single sales. The 2008 album “Fearless” is the singer-songwriter’s lone release to be certified diamond by the RIAA.

The Beatles are the top certified artists with regard to albums only, having sold 183 million records in the U.S. The British legends also hold the honor of most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with 19. They received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2014.

Rapper Drake has surpassed The Beatles to become the top certified artist of all time, thanks largely to his many successful singles. The 11x platinum “God’s Plan” is his best-selling single to date, followed by “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance,” both of which have been certified 8x platinum. He has won four Grammy Awards and performed at the ceremony.