First Streisand, Then Madonna, Now Taylor Swift—Drum Rolls Puh-lease…
The crown has officially changed hands. The title of best-selling female album artist of all time globally now belongs to none other than Taylor Swift.
Holding the torch once carried by Madonna, who previously boasted a staggering 12 multi-Platinum albums, a feat originally held by Barbra Streisand, Swift has now rewritten the record books.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Taylor Swift became the first female artist in history to surpass 100 million certified album units in the U.S., following a wave of new certifications in September 2025. While she hasn’t broken Madonna’s multi-Platinum album count, Swift’s cumulative sales now place her at the top of the certified album unit leaderboard.
Her top-selling records include:
- 1989 (2014): 14 million units
- Fearless (2008): 11 million units
- Red (2012), Taylor Swift (2006), and The Tortured Poets Department (2024): 8 million units each
With over 105 million albums sold, Swift now stands alongside the likes of The Beatles, Garth Brooks, and Elvis Presley in certified sales rankings. Her latest release, The Life of a Showgirl, is already poised to push those numbers even higher.
Bravo-bravissima Tay Tay! Now who may be next? Rihanna…Shakira… Christina Aguilera?! We shall see!
