The 1990s saw the rise of a new wave of traditional country music that fans are still enjoying three decades later. As a result, it gave rise to some of the best-selling country artists of all time. Some of the biggest names of the era were giving fans a new album every year or two. The combination of widespread popularity and a consistent release schedule helped these big names sell tens of millions of albums.
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The four artists below are some of the best-selling country acts who rose to fame during the 1990s. All of them sent multiple songs and albums to the top of the country charts and received stacks of Gold and Platinum records from the RIAA. The sales figures below are based on multiple sales certifications earned by the albums released between January 1990 and December 1999.
1. Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks is the best-selling country artist of all time. He has sold more than 160 million albums throughout his career. In the 1990s, Brooks released nine albums, which have sold more than 79 million units combined.
Garth Brooks doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. This year, he wrapped his Las Vegas residency, released the latest installment in his Anthology box set series, and has made several appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. Additionally, he owns Friends in Low Places in downtown Nashville, one of the city’s largest star-owned honky tonks.
2. George Strait
George Strait is among the best-selling artists of all time, has broken concert attendance records, and continues to be the face of the 1990s for countless fans across the nation. The decade saw straight captivate listeners with a string of hit singles and nine timeless albums. Those albums sold around 16.25 million units combined.
Strait is still making rock-solid country music and packing fans into stadiums across the country. He released his most recent album, Cowboys and Dreamers, in 2024. Later this year, he’ll hit the road on a five-show stadium tour with Chris Stapleton. Long live the king.
3. Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire may one of the most popular country stars of the 1990s, let alone being one of the best-selling of the decade. She released some of the most memorable songs of the era and is hailed as one of its biggest stars. She dropped nine albums between 1990 and 1999 that sold more than 18.6 million units combined.
McEntire has been everywhere in recent years. She’s hosted several country award shows and was a coach on The Voice for a time. She left the singing competition show to focus her efforts on her new sitcom Happy’s Place. Additionally, she owns a restaurant called Reba’s Place in Atoka, Oklahoma.
4. Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw entered the 1990s with his self-titled debut album. The album nor its singles did much for him. His sophomore album, Not a Moment Too Soon, made the country world take notice. Singles like “Don’t Take the Girl,” helped make him one of the best-selling country artists of the decade and keep his music in heavy rotation with fans.
McGraw is still at it. He released his most recent album, Standing Room Only, in 2023. This year, he has a full touring schedule with dates across the country.
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