Controversial Singer Just Became the Highest-Selling Country Artist of All Time
- IAAM Radio
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The singer continues to break streaming and sales records.
2025 has been Morgan Wallen’s year. The 32-year-old controversial country music sensation first gained national attention as a contestant on The Voice in 2014. Despite being eliminated early from the NBC singing competition, Wallen moved to Nashville and signed a record deal. Since then, the “Whiskey Glasses” singer has built a massive fan base and earned accolade after accolade. Now, Morgan Wallen adds another superlative to his growing list, and this one may be the most significant yet.
Morgan Wallen Named Best-Selling Country Artist of All Time.
Influenced by church music, classic rock, and country music as a child, Wallen has built his career through songwriting, touring, and continued radio success. In 2025, he was named iHeartRadio’s Top Country Artist of the Year and scored the most-listened-to album globally on Apple Music, as well as the No. 1 most-listened-to album in the U.S. on Spotify. He also became only the second male country artist in history to be named Billboard’s Top Artist of the Year.
As if 2025 could bring any more success, the “I’m the Problem” singer made history by becoming the highest-selling country artist of all time according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Wallen was also named the third-highest-selling artist of any genre in history, behind only Taylor Swift and Drake.
Wallen has now sold more than 240 million units across his career. He has sold the second-most digital singles by any artist in history and an astounding 26 million albums. His 2025 release I’m the Problem, a 37-track album, contributed heavily to that success and was named Country Album of the Year by both Apple Music and Spotify.
Morgan Wallen Controversies and Public Scrutiny.
Wallen’s career has also been marked by controversy. In October 2020, he was removed as the scheduled musical guest on Saturday Night Live after video surfaced of him partying maskless during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wallen apologized, acknowledged poor judgment, and was invited back to the show in December of that year.
In April 2024, Wallen was arrested in Nashville after allegedly throwing a chair from a rooftop bar, which reportedly landed near police officers below. He was charged with felony reckless endangerment and misdemeanor disorderly conduct, adding to ongoing scrutiny of his offstage behavior.
In February 2021, the country star faced backlash after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur. In response, his record label suspended him and major streaming platforms temporarily removed his music. Wallen publicly apologized and stepped away from the spotlight to “learn and reflect.” He was later reinstated by his label.
Despite the controversies, Wallen’s albums continue to break streaming and sales records, and he remains one of the most commercially successful country artists of all time.