Twenty years after winning “American Idol” and launching her career, Carrie Underwood has officially sold more music than any female country artist in history.
Underwood’s record label, MCA, and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced in a press release on October 30, 2025, that Underwood has “become the highest RIAA Certified female country artist of all time with over 95 million units (22.5 million albums and 72.5 million singles) in the US alone across solo titles and collaborations.”
Record Label President Calls Carrie Underwood’s Milestone ‘Monumental’
Following Underwood’s performances at the Grand Ole Opry on October 24, reps from MCA and the RIAA presented the eight-time Grammy winner with a giant plaque commemorating her history-making milestone. In a statement, Underwood thanked fans for supporting her since her days on “American Idol.”
“Accomplishments like this are more than I would have ever dared to dream of when I was starting out,” she said. “I owe everything to the fans, who have literally voted for me from the beginning of my career and have showed up and given me so much love for over 20 years. I feel truly blessed.”
MCA President and CEO Mike Harris said in a statement, “This monumental achievement solidifies Carrie Underwood’s legacy as a generational talent and a true titan of the music industry. Becoming the highest RIAA certified female country artist of all time is a testament to the unparalleled connection Carrie shares with fans and the enduring power of her artistry.”
Carrie Underwood Has Scored Hit After Hit Since Her ‘American Idol’ Win
GettyUnderwood, who grew up on a farm in the tiny town of Checotah, Oklahoma, earned a Golden Ticket to Hollywood at 21 and boarded her first-ever flight to get there.
“I don’t really know what I thought was gonna come of it,” she said on the “Late Show With Stephen Colbert in 2019. “It was just kind of like, I saw the auditions on the news happening in other towns, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ Worked out all right!”
After skyrocketing to fame and winning “American Idol” in 2005, she released her debut album, “Some Hearts,” which went Platinum nine times, per the RIAA. Her biggest multi-Platinum hits have included “Before He Cheats,” “Blown Away,” “Cowboy Casanova,” “All-American Girl,” and “Church Bells.
She’s also had huge collaborations with other artists, including her most recent, “I’m Gonna Love You’ with Cody Johnson, which they performed on the season 23 finale of “American Idol.”
According to MCA, all 10 of her albums (nine studio albums and “Greatest Hits: Decade #1” released in 2014) have “debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 chart for all genres.”
Fans Are Celebrating Carrie Underwood Making Country Music History
MCA celebrated Underwood’s huge achievement with a social media post on the morning of October 30, and fans filled the comment section with words of congratulations.
One recalled “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell’s prediction that she’d sell more records than any other alum of the show, by writing, “Simon called it right👏 GO CARRIE!!!!!🔥🙌”
Underwood will return to “American Idol” for a second season as a judge alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, with season 24 set to premiere on January 26, 2026.
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