Special Report
The Most Popular Country Music Albums of All Time
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Country music is rooted in a variety of musical traditions, including American and British folk, jazz, blues and rhythm and blues, cowboy song, Appalachian string bands, and Southern church music. It began to coalesce out of these influences and become its own thing early in the 20th century, and by the 1920s it had become a viable commercial genre of its own.
That genre has changed significantly over the past century, becoming more popular than ever as it expanded to include such variations as Western swing and later “outlaw country” and “party country,” embraced elaborate studio production values, and opened itself to collaborations with pop, folk rock, and even hip-hop.
To determine the 100 most popular country music albums of all time, 24/7 Tempo developed an index based on the number of weeks an album spent on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and its certified U.S. sales according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Only albums with at least a Platinum certification from the RIAA or unit sales of at least one million were considered. (For a different kind if ranking, see every country music album of the year since 1967.)
Click here to see the 100 most popular country music albums of all time
The results span more than half a century, reaching from 1968 up to the present day. Among the artists represented are such cultural icons as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson; numerous “hat acts” (so named for their on-stage headgear) including Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, and Toby Keith; and such country queens as Shania Twain, The Chicks, and Taylor Swift (the last of whose music is now far more pop than country) — among many others. (These are the 50 greatest country music stars of all time.)
Whatever the particulars, these albums represent one of America’s greatest musical traditions.
100. Carrying Your Love with Me
> Artist: George Strait
> Release date: April 22, 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 3 million
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99. Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
> Artist: Ronnie Milsap
> Release date: April 1, 1985
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 1 million
98. Galveston
> Artist: Glen Campbell
> Release date: March 17, 1969
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 1 million
97. Tailgates & Tanlines
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Release date: August 9, 2011
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 4 million
96. Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be)
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Release date: August 21, 1981
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 4 million
95. Taking the Long Way
> Artist: The Chicks
> Release date: May 23, 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 2 million
94. Hope Floats
> Artist: Various Artists
> Release date: May 19, 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 2 million
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93. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Kenny Chesney
> Release date: September 26, 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 2
> Copies sold: 5 million
92. Blown Away
> Artist: Carrie Underwood
> Release date: May 1, 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 3 million
91. Put Yourself in My Shoes
> Artist: Clint Black
> Release date: November 6, 1990
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 3 million
90. City of New Orleans
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Release date: July 2, 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 1 million
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89. Here’s to the Good Times
> Artist: Florida Georgia Line
> Release date: December 4, 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million
88. Unchained Melody: The Early Years
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Release date: January 31, 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million
87. Waylon & Willie
> Artist: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
> Release date: January 21, 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million
86. Moody Blue
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Release date: July 1, 1977
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 10
> Copies sold: 2 million
85. Wynonna
> Artist: Wynonna
> Release date: March 31, 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 3
> Copies sold: 5 million
84. Storms of Life
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Release date: June 2, 1986
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 3 million
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83. Urban Cowboy
> Artist: Various Artists
> Release date: June 6, 1980
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 3 million
82. Pure Country
> Artist: George Strait
> Release date: September 15, 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 1
> Copies sold: 6 million
81. Own the Night
> Artist: Lady A
> Release date: September 13, 2011
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million
80. Sweet Sixteen
> Artist: Reba McEntire
> Release date: May 1, 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million
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79. Ol’ Waylon
> Artist: Waylon Jennings
> Release date: April 1, 1977
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 1 million
78. Drive
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Release date: January 15, 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 4 million
77. Kickin’ It Up
> Artist: John Michael Montgomery
> Release date: January 10, 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 4 million
76. Feels Like Today
> Artist: Rascal Flatts
> Release date: September 28, 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 5 million
75. Montevallo
> Artist: Sam Hunt
> Release date: October 27, 2014
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 3 million
74. Rose Garden
> Artist: Lynn Anderson
> Release date: March 1, 1971
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 1 million
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73. Unleashed
> Artist: Toby Keith
> Release date: July 23, 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 4 million
72. Kane Brown
> Artist: Kane Brown
> Release date: December 2, 2016
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 2 million
71. No Holdin’ Back
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Release date: September 26, 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 2 million
70. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Alabama
> Release date: January 27, 1986
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 5 million
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69. ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Release date: September 24, 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 3
> Copies sold: 6 million
68. Coyote Ugly
> Artist: Various Artists
> Release date: July 21, 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 4 million
67. The Greatest Hits Collection
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Release date: October 24, 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 4
> Copies sold: 6 million
66. You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Release date: August 29, 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 4 million
65. 40-Hour Week
> Artist: Alabama
> Release date: January 28, 1985
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 2 million
64. Scarecrow
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: November 13, 2001
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 5 million
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63. A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ’bout Love)
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Release date: September 30, 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 6 million
62. Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles
> Artist: Various Artists
> Release date: October 12, 1993
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 3 million
61. Back Home Again
> Artist: John Denver
> Release date: June 15, 1974
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 3 million
60. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: November 9, 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million
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59. No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
> Artist: Kenny Chesney
> Release date: April 23, 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million
58. Everywhere
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Release date: May 23, 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 4 million
57. Eyes That See in the Dark
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Release date: August 1, 1983
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 2 million
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56. Here for the Party
> Artist: Gretchen Wilson
> Release date: May 11, 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 5 million
55. My Kinda Party
> Artist: Jason Aldean
> Release date: November 1, 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 12
> Copies sold: 4 million
54. 50 Number Ones
> Artist: George Strait
> Release date: October 5, 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 5
> Copies sold: 7 million
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53. Crash My Party
> Artist: Luke Bryan
> Release date: April 7, 2013
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
52. Shock’n Y’all
> Artist: Toby Keith
> Release date: November 4, 2003
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
51. John Michael Montgomery
> Artist: John Michael Montgomery
> Release date: August 1, 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
50. Roll On
> Artist: Alabama
> Release date: January 16, 1984
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 4 million
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49. Stardust
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Release date: April 19, 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 5 million
48. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Release date: November 21, 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 9
> Copies sold: 6 million
47. When the Sun Goes Down
> Artist: Kenny Chesney
> Release date: February 3, 2004
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 14
> Copies sold: 4 million
46. Long Road Out of Eden
> Artist: Eagles
> Release date: October 30, 2007
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 7 million
45. Me and My Gang
> Artist: Rascal Flatts
> Release date: April 4, 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 15
> Copies sold: 4 million
44. Wichita Lineman
> Artist: Glen Campbell
> Release date: November 4, 1968
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 20
> Copies sold: 2 million
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43. Breathe
> Artist: Faith Hill
> Release date: November 9, 1999
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 8 million
42. Greatest Hits Volume II (And Some Other Stuff)
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Release date: August 12, 2003
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 6 million
41. The Ultimate Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: November 6, 2007
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 2
> Copies sold: 10 million
40. Fresh Horses
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: November 21, 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 8 million
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39. At San Quentin
> Artist: Johnny Cash
> Release date: September 1, 1969
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 20
> Copies sold: 3 million
38. Speak Now
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: October 25, 2010
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 6 million
37. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Waylon Jennings
> Release date: April 10, 1979
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 5 million
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36. The Closer You Get
> Artist: Alabama
> Release date: March 1, 1983
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 21
> Copies sold: 4 million
35. In Pieces
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: August 31, 1993
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 10 million
34. Always on My Mind
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Release date: February 28, 1982
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 22
> Copies sold: 4 million
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33. Behind Closed Doors
> Artist: Charlie Rich
> Release date: June 27, 1973
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 22
> Copies sold: 4 million
32. Kenny
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Release date: September 29, 1979
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 25
> Copies sold: 3 million
31. Up!
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: November 19, 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 6
> Copies sold: 11 million
30. Red
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: October 22, 2012
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 7 million
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29. Home
> Artist: The Chicks
> Release date: August 27, 2002
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 19
> Copies sold: 6 million
28. The Gambler
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Release date: September 30, 1978
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 23
> Copies sold: 5 million
27. Feels So Right
> Artist: Alabama
> Release date: February 1, 1981
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 27
> Copies sold: 4 million
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26. Sevens
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: November 1, 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 13
> Copies sold: 10 million
25. Wide Open Spaces
> Artist: The Chicks
> Release date: January 23, 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 7
> Copies sold: 13 million
24. Killin’ Time
> Artist: Clint Black
> Release date: May 2, 1989
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 31
> Copies sold: 3 million
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23. Dangerous: The Double Album
> Artist: Morgan Wallen
> Release date: January 8, 2021
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 36
> Copies sold: 1 million
22. Traveller
> Artist: Chris Stapleton
> Release date: May 5, 2015
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 4 million
21. Greatest Hits
> Artist: Kenny Rogers
> Release date: October 18, 1980
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 11
> Copies sold: 12 million
20. The Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: December 1, 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 10 million
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19. The Chase
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: September 14, 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 16
> Copies sold: 10 million
18. Mountain Music
> Artist: Alabama
> Release date: February 25, 1982
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 28
> Copies sold: 5 million
17. Taylor Swift
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: October 24, 2006
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 24
> Copies sold: 7 million
16. What You See Is What You Get
> Artist: Luke Combs
> Release date: November 8, 2019
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 37
> Copies sold: 2 million
15. Blue
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Release date: July 9, 1996
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 28
> Copies sold: 6 million
14. Not a Moment Too Soon
> Artist: Tim McGraw
> Release date: March 14, 1994
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 6 million
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13. Need You Now
> Artist: Lady A
> Release date: August 11, 2009
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 31
> Copies sold: 6 million
12. Some Hearts
> Artist: Carrie Underwood
> Release date: November 15, 2005
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 27
> Copies sold: 8 million
11. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
> Artist: Various Artists
> Release date: December 5, 2000
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 35
> Copies sold: 8 million
10. Always & Forever
> Artist: Randy Travis
> Release date: May 5, 1987
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 43
> Copies sold: 5 million
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9. Some Gave All
> Artist: Billy Ray Cyrus
> Release date: May 19, 1992
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 34
> Copies sold: 9 million
8. This One’s for You
> Artist: Luke Combs
> Release date: June 2, 2017
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 50
> Copies sold: 3 million
7. The Woman in Me
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: February 7, 1995
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 29
> Copies sold: 12 million
6. Double Live
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: November 17, 1998
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 8
> Copies sold: 21 million
5. Fearless
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: November 11, 2008
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 35
> Copies sold: 10 million
4. Fly
> Artist: The Chicks
> Release date: August 31, 1999
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 36
> Copies sold: 11 million
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3. Ropin’ the Wind
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: September 2, 1991
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 33
> Copies sold: 14 million
2. No Fences
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: August 27, 1990
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 41
> Copies sold: 18 million
1. Come On Over
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: November 4, 1997
> Weeks spent at No. 1: 50
> Copies sold: 20 million
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