Chris Stapleton has hit a new RIAA milestone as his recording of “Tennessee Whiskey” was certified double Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America on Monday (Jan. 12) with more than 20 million units sold, marking the first country song to achieve the feat.
RIAA chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier said in a statement of the song’s milestone, “Chris Stapleton’s undeniable vocal grit and storytelling have connected deeply — driving chart successes, earning major awards and most importantly, resonating with fans. 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.”
In November 2015, Stapleton’s rendition of the Dean Dillon/Linda Hargrove-written “Tennessee Whiskey” made its debut on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 20. That debut followed Stapleton’s breakthrough performance earlier that month at the 49th annual CMA Awards, where he and pop star Justin Timberlake performed a medley of “Tennessee Whiskey” and Timberlake’s “Drink You Away.”
That same evening, Stapleton picked up CMA Awards trophies for album of the year (Traveller), new artist of the year and male vocalist of the year. To date, Stapleton has earned three Hot Country Songs No. 1 hits and seen five projects reach the pinnacle of Billboard‘s top country albums chart.
Stapleton is set to continue his All-American Road Show through the fall, including shows at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Boston’s Fenway Park, Detroit’s Ford Field and Toronto’s Rogers Stadium.
