Chris Stapleton made history this week, as his signature song “Tennessee Whiskey” has become the first-ever country song to earn a double diamond certification from the RIAA, the organization announced on Monday.
The feat cements Stapleton’s bluesy signature song as one of the biggest country hits of all time, but it’s a significant achievement in any genre, marking a sale of 20 million overall units. Just two other songs have ever earned that double diamond distinction before today: Bruno Mars’ 2010 classic “Just The Way You Are” and Swae Lee and Post Malone’s smash “Sunflower.”
“Chris Stapleton’s undeniable vocal grit and storytelling have connected deeply — driving chart successes, earning major awards and, most importantly, resonating with fans,” RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier said in a statement. “RIAA is proud to celebrate him alongside MCA as ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ today makes history, becoming the first country single ever to earn a double diamond certification with two million units in the U.S. alone. It’s a remarkable achievement and another defining moment in Stapleton’s career.”
The news comes on the heels of Stapleton announcing 2026 dates for his All American Road Show Tour, which will take him through Nashville, Vancouver, Detroit, Boston and Atlanta among other stops through this fall. His next show will be at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas in February.
Aside from the tour, Stapleton had a big year of songs for screens too. Along with a spot on the F1 soundtrack with his song “Bad as I Used to Be,” he was also featured on the soundtrack for season 2 of Nobody Wants This.
